Animal rescue after Katrina
This was cross-posted in one of my Yahoo groups. I am just so sad right now, thinking about what all those people have gone through, PLUS having the added burden of having to leave beloved pets behind. I can't even imagine going through that.
Here is an email from someone involved in the rescue efforts (www.bestfriends.org). It is heartbreaking.
There are confilcting reports re the shooting of animals, and the Fish & Game dept is denying that this is happeniung.
Lets give our families and furkids an extra hug today, and keep these rescue workers in our prayers :(
PLEASE CROSS POST.....TIME IS RUNNING OUT. WE NEED HELP. BEST FRIENDS
ANIMAL SOCIETY.
September 9, 2005 : 1:14 PM ET
From Paul Berry: We had two teams out on boats on Thursday. Troy Snow has
written about his crew in an earlier posting. Ours was similar, so I’ll keep
this brief.
Our team was me and Dr. Debbie Rykoff DVM. Also aboard and helping out was a
crew from the Salt Lake Tribune. Leah Hogsten took photos for the Trib and
gave these to us. (Thanks, Leah.)
The thing I want to say is simply that there are thousands upon thousands of
animals stuck out here, on car roofs, on porches, cats on roofs of houses.
We saw no other animal rescue orgs anywhere. I know they’re all doing good
work on the peripheries … but, oh man … you see and hear these fluff pieces on
TV of people being reunited with their pets, and you look around out here on
the boats at this vast, endless wasteland of toxic water and animals hanging
on, 11 days after the hurricane, and their time is running out.
What on earth is going on? Why is no one out here to help them? We’re just
on two boats. Heard about a veterinarian who’s on another boat. We need a
whole freaking navy!
This is the story that’s not being told. Animals clinging to life, and dead
human bodies lying and floating all around.
Please call your local media and tell them to get on to this. We just got a
call from German TV – ZDF. Trying to hook up with us for today’s marathon on
the water.
The only other boat we saw yesterday was an airboat from Fish & Game. They
were scouting the ground behind. Rumors are they’re beginning to shoot the
animals today. I believe these stories are now true. That’s what’s going to be
happening.
WE NEED ALL THE OTHER ANIMAL RESCUE ORGS TO BUY/BORROW BOATS AND FOCUS ON
THIS. These animals only have days at most, and are clinging to life. They are
the forgotten ones. We can only manage about 10 at a time. They’re emaciated,
starved, dehydrated. Literally “water water everywhere and not a drop to
drink.” Dr. Debbie revives them in the boat as they start to lose consciousness.
Gives them fluids. All those we took yesterday have survived.
Keep us in your prayers,
