On Wednesday, one of our Disaster Animal Response Teams in New Orleans
rescued a St. Bernard from a rooftop - a dog they described as the most
emaciated animal they had ever seen in all their years of handling
animals.
The veterinarian who treated the dog was shocked that the animal, who
weighed just 40 pounds, was still alive.
Who helped us rescue this animal? It was several National Guardsmen,
who
heeded our rescuers' pleas to take them through the water on a tank so
they
could get up on the roof to save the dog.
But the troops' actions were not ordered by the National Guard - nor by
the
White House, the Defense Department, the Department of Homeland
Security, or
the State of Louisiana. In fact, despite our repeated requests, none of
these entities has formally agreed to marshal their ground forces to
help
rescue the pets and other animals slowly starving to death in the
affected
areas.
At a press conference just a few hours ago, I implored the federal
government to come up with the nation's first animal rescue plan. Now,
I am
writing to ask you to give them the same
message: Please call or email President Bush and other officials today
and
urge them to help us before it's too late.
(
https://community.hsus.org/ct/ldqdbrd1fR5v/).
Time is running out for these animals. Every hour that passes means
more
pets, locked behind closed doors in the disaster zone, will die of
starvation. Our teams are working as hard as they can to reach as many
pets
as they can - and as we reported to you on Wednesday, we've rescued
thousands. But there are thousands more.
At this 11th hour, when so many lives are at stake, we are asking you
to
help. I urge you to contact these government officials today and ask
them to
help rescue animals before it is too late. Please click here
(
https://community.hsus.org/ct/ldqdbrd1fR5v/) to call or send an email
to
President Bush and other federal and state officials who have the power
to
order National Guardsmen and other responders to save animals.
One of our rescuers said it best: "We should not have to rely on the
compassionate instincts of individual Guardsmen to rescue these
animals. We
need the full commitment of the government."
Members of Congress have also been calling on President Bush and the
federal
agencies to actively assist with direct animal rescue. With most of the
human victims of the catastrophe removed from the city, it's not too
late to
save animals' lives.
It's time for the government to recognize the incredible bond between
people
and their pets, and step in to help.
Thank you so much for your support of our disaster teams, and for all
you do
for animals.
Sincerely,
Wayne Pacelle
President & CEO
The Humane Society of the United States
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