While i know the situation in n.o. is horrible for humans I can't help but wonder about all the pets left behind. Does anyone know if any agency is helping them?

We've been worrying about the same thing. I don't think so. I just saw a report where helicopters were rescuing people off a bridge but refused to take their pets. Some of the people were in tears. I felt so sorry for them having lost everything and now expected to even leave their animals to a certain death. Some of them refused to go.
I thought that was very unfair. Not only did it take so long for any of these poor people to get help help but then no one even thought that many took their little furry loved ones with them and no provisions were made for them. Talk about an ongoing trauma for them.
There was this poor eldery man saying all he had was his little dog, whom he held in his arms.
Made me furious.

What??!!???
The people in New Orleans being rescued were not allowed to bring their pets??????????
OMG, that upsets me so much. Just when I was starting to feel that the government
was FINALLY picking up the pace and saving people, I hear this garbage. I am soooo
disgusted with the majority of the human race when it comes to their disregard of helpless
animals.
When I read Samhains' post, I immediatley put myself in the position of someone needing rescuing.
What would I do if my rescuer told me to leave my dogs behind???? I'd have to stay with them...
how could anyone in their right mind get in a helicopter and lift off, only to watch your
dogs standing there helpless and alone. I couldn't do it.
I guess I'd have to loot stores for dog food and food for myself.....
And I would do it....NO DOUBT about it.
How cruel that the rescuers won't allow the animals.
The human race never ceases to amaze me. And I mean that in a mean way.

I know the Humane Society is trying to do rescues. They sent in people to help medically and physically rescue. I made a donation today.

I know after September 11th there was a do%%entary on telly about the pets being rescued, im sure that everything that can be is being done.

A Donation to the Humane society is a good idea i think that will be my next stop.

www.humanesociety.com


humans can run but the animals will have been tied up and locked in.

Love Sue

Lots and lots of good work started being done on the 1st September and is gathering momentum. You may need to click on the Katrina links once you arrive. Read all about what is already being done by the below organisations.

It's heart warming to know that so much is being done already. You can make donations on any of the below sites and the money will go DIRECTLY to helping the Katrina affected animals.

Noah's Wish is an organisation specifically to rescue animals in these sort of disasters

The Louisiana Veterniary University is already on the case and taking in animals.

Best Friends is getting people down and into the area with supplies etc.

http://www.noahswish.org

http://www.vetmed.lsu.edu/

http://www.bestfriends.org

http://www.caaws.org/


with love
jilly

oh Jilly, Thank you so much for posting those links. I read about people having to leave their animals behind last night before going to sleep, and I couldn't sleep all night thinking about it. I know I could never have left Freeway behind, no way!!! I'd die with him before I'd leave him to die, at least then he wouldn't have been alone!
I am going to make a donation to one or 2 of those organizations now, and I urge all animal lovers to do the same if you are able! Everyone thinks about the people, well what about the animals? People had a chance to get out, or go to shelters, many decided not to... animals had NO chance, nothing - they were either taken or left behind (and GRRRRRRRRRRRRRR to those who left them behind!!!)... You know, it just sickens me... can you imagine sitting on a roof with your dog for 4 days.. cold, hungry, scared.. watching the flood waters rise... all of a sudden, there's a helicopter, and your heart jumps because you're saved... only to find that they won't let you bring your pet... If it was your child they'd never make you leave it behind! For many, pets ARE our children!
Thank you again for restoring some of my faith... This whole disaster is just horrible.. I read on one of those sites about a small dog who was found in the sink.. after flood waters receded he was stuck in the sink for who know's how long.. all I can think about is the absolute terror that little one must have felt.

I clicked on some of those links and feel better that something is being done. I need to make a donation TODAY.
I've seen pics on the internet of these dogs there, swimming aimlessly, looking terrified. I often wonder if the cameraman or reporter doing the story bothers to help the animal after they get their footage???
They never show it, so I don't know. God, I HOPE so!!
There was a pic this morning on the internet of a dog tied to the overpass of a freeway. He was
howling and looked so scared. I hope the one who took the picture saved him.
Thanks for the links, Jilly.
It helped me to learn that there are some there who DO care for the helpless animals.
Dana

Most of the agencies seem to be working together to coordinate efforts.
Also think about donating directly to the Houston SPCA, which is where over 700 pets have brought to already. They're offering free boarding to those affected by the hurricane with pets:
http://www.spcahouston.org/spcahouston/Default.asp

here's a few more links that are message boards where I have gotten the most up to date info:

http://uan.infopop.cc/groupee/forums/a/frm/f/124103991 - this one is getting updated periodically by staff members of the group (UAN/EARS) in answer to some of the postings

http://www.acmepettransport.com/forum/inde...ex.php?board=56

and...

ASPCA's diary: http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagen...hurricane_diary

Humane society: www.hsus.org

-Tammy

Thank God something is being done-----although not enough!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I made a donation too. My heart is just breaking to hear of those stories. I can't stand it.

I feel exactly as you do (Dana and others). There's absolutely no way I'd leave my babies behind. They are my children, and I wouldn't even want to, or be able to, live if I left them behind.

Thank you all so much for posting those links. I was so disturbed after watching that news report and seeing all those poor people who were clinging to their poor pets.
My pets are an important part of the family I would never leave without them.
I am so grateful for having found this site after my Spicey passed away. It does the soul good to know there are more people who feel this way.
God Bless...

samhaincat,

that is the just the sweetest picture I have ever seen!

-Tammy

saw a report on CNN last night about the lost pets. although, sadly, many have been reported to die, they will be rescuing what animals they can find during search and recover efforts. the reporter said they didnt know where they would house the found pets, however.

it is unfortunate that rescuers had to make the survivors leave their pets behind. heartbreaking. but the rescuers had the pets' human caregivers topmost on their minds, and needed to ensure their (the humans) survival prior to considering the pets. overall, i think the furbabies would approve. i hope that many pets are recovered and end up with their original owners, or, at very least, in good foster homes.

I just saw the most horrible news report last night on the hurricane, they filmed (I don't know they could just film and not rescue) dogs clinging to logs and pieces of debris, they showed one dog who lost his grip and later was floating dead. Some of the problems rescuers encounter are large breed dogs like Rotti's that rescuers are too afraid to get close to. I hope they don't let these poor creatures just die ...it was heartbreaking. I hope more rescue agencies are involved because if one looks at the numbers of pets they all need to work together.

I had just read a report somewhere on yahoo that said they were trying to rescue as many animals as they possibly could. Unfortunately many of the shelters are just being flooded with animals. They were updating the plight of that little boy with his dog Snowball. They think they may have located the dog but now they dont know where the little boy is. Its heartbreaking..... If I couldn't take Loki with me I would have started out on foot. No questions asked. I would not have left him behind. Wouldnt matter how long it took me to walk.. the blisters and pain would be worth me still having my baby. Donations and prayers are about as much as we can do to help right now. I hope that these animals can be reunited with their owners, or like MD said, at least end up in good foster homes and not just put down...

It breaks my heart to know that thousands (yes, thousands!) of animals have died in this terrible disaster. Of course I find the whole situation pathetic (the unforgivable lack of immediate response and coordinated action) regarding the rescue and housing of displaced people, but to tell already panic striken and overwhelmed people that they cannot take their pets to shelters is like delivering the final blow.

What does this say about us as a society? Should we value "property" more than living beings? Photographs are priceless, no doubt, but what about the suffering of an animal left behind? A photograph doesn't "feel" or experience pain and terror. How could anyone who loves these creatures allow someone else to dictate their fate? I wouldn't. Had I been naive enough to live in the path of nature's fury, I would have evacuated the minute I got news that this storm was a category 5 hurricane! No one could have kept me there--no one! I'd have found some way to load up my animals and leave the area. I might not know where I would end up, but my beloved companions would be with me! Until society places a higher value on animals, these horrible, unthinkable situations will occur again and again!

Thank God for people like the volunteers of Noah's Wish, the Humane Societies, United Animal Nations, International Fund for Animal Welfare and countless others. Without these kind, dedicated, fearless souls, the number of animal deaths would be just too numerous to contemplate. Yes, we have yet to experience the real horror of this tragedy of epic proportions--the receding of the waters and the discovery of countless humans who perished.

I pray we will learn from this tragedy but it will require more than a government issuing a warning about living so close to the ocean. People do not perceive danger in a familiar place. Until they overcome that deceptive sense of security, there will be untold loss of life.

There is no where on this planet that one can exist without a threat of some form of natural disaster, but we CAN minimize the risk!

Susan

The best way those of us that cannot do anything physically can do is to picture NO as being whole again with everyone well and every pet, plant and human cared for and loved.