Please help! ****NOLA Pet Rescue**** Resources and Action Update 9/18

[iconoclastic cat]

The original thread by nicknameless is reposted below:

PLEASE HELP !!! *** NOLA Pet Rescue *** ACTION UPDATE *** 9/15

by nicknameless

These dying pets still need our help! Some outdoor pets are being fed by kind-hearted members of the military and rescue groups that can get to them. Indoor pets are dying horrible deaths ... still waiting to be rescued.

There were promises by the Governor and Homeland Security that rescues would be ramped up.
There was to be a press release on 9/14...

But, in typical governmental fashion -- red tape and PR spin took over. Gov. Blanco decided to instead have a press conference on the 16th to publicize what was already being done. In other words, no increase in the rescue operation -- just PR spin about the work that was already being done. ... Which has been GROSSLY inadequate.



WHAT WE CAN DO:

Keep up the pressure on these people. Call, email, fax, etc.. Urge the feds to get the DOD (all branches of government, including DHS, FEMA and USCG) involved in rescuing animals on a massive scale.

Urge Gov. Blanco to get the National Guard involved -- also on a much larger scale. For some time now, there has been a handful of NG and other military involved. But a handful isn’t going to do it. These animals are dying and must be helped NOW!

The National Guard is anxious to help -- but Governor Blanco needs to issue formal orders. There are TENS OF THOUSANDS of animals that await rescue.


If these people can’t muster any compassion or empathy for dying animals, there are at least two other angles:

First: Pets are family members, and they are dying due to the inaction of idiots in power. People on the left and the right are PISSED!!! Whoever is seen as blocking these rescues is going to be hurt politically. Whoever orders and facilitates the massive rescue that’s needed is going to be seen as a hero. Do these politicians want to be remembered as the one who was responsible for their constituents’ pets death or rescue? Hero or villain? Haven't these idiots figured out yet that they are faced with that simple choice?

Second: The public health issue. Pets dying will add to the contamination of the area. That’s basically the message in a letter sent to Dubya this week ... So okay, crises make strange bedfellows. People on both the left and the right love their furbabies. So, with that warning to your gag reflex:

Senator Santorum (R-Penn) and Senator Ensign (R-Nev) delivered a letter on Tuesday to the Whitehouse, asking the Federal Government to assist the HSUS etc. with animal rescue in the flood zones.

Link to the letter: http://www.hsus.org/web-files/PDF/KatrinaAnimals.pdf
(Again, their appeal is more about public health than compassion and empathy ... They’re repugs, what did you expect?)



ACTION TO TAKE:

1. PLEASE call and write (email and fax) your Senators and your Congressional Representative, and urge them to join these two senators in this desperately needed effort.


2. Keep calling and emailing the Whitehouse
Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
FAX: [phone]
[e-mail]


3. Call FEMA (on the ground):
225-267-2500


4. Call & email LA Governor Blanco's office:
225-925-7339
866-310-7617
225-342-7015
225-925-1938
email (from her website): http://www.gov.state.la.us/govemail.asp


5. Others to call:

US Coast Guard Public Information Officer: 314-539-3900 x 2264

John Minick, Homeland Security (a very nice person, BTW) 202-282-9120

Sherry Landry, NOLA City Atty: 504-658-9800 and 504-565-7691

Office of Emergency Preparedness: 225-925-7350

Major Snodgrass; Head of National Guard Operations in NOLA: 678-255-3403


6. Blast the Media with pleas for them to cover the REAL story instead of sanitizing it and giving us happy, feel-good B.S.
Two great DU blaster resources below. If you know others, please use them!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=106x22579

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=106x8816#8820

As it stands now:
Despite thousands of calls, the Governor did not ask for the DOD's help (DOD = military and DHS);

The DOD is nonetheless helping out already after being asked for help by OTHER LA state agencies such as Dept of Ag and the State Vet.

The DOD will continue to help with animal rescue efforts and will use federal resources to do so.

Also despite thousands of calls to the White House, Bush has done nothing to help in this matter either. (Insert requisite guffaw here)


Please don't give up. Please think of the little lives that are still awaiting rescue. We need to keep up the pressure on these jerks in DC and in LA. Let them know that it's in their political best interest to do something. And please don't think that it's too late. Every day rescuers are pulling pets -- very weak, but still-alive, from these homes.


Questions about who is deserving of donations? Opinions may vary. But my three favorites are:
http://www.BestFriends.org
http://www.PasadoSafeHaven.org
http://www.iberiahumane.com /

GulfSailsBlogspot.com also recommends http://www.arfla.org

Thank you.

In the comments, there were many great resources. I will comb through them and repost them as comments on this thread. If you have resources that might help, please add them as well.

Save the helpless pets!

[iconoclastic cat]

1. I am going to paste all the important info from old thread below:

Please add your own resources as replies to the OP.

[iconoclastic cat]

2. LSU rescue info

mopinko
Fri Sep-16-05 08:51 AM
Response to Original message
15. is any money getting to lsu?


i know that the vet school ended up with most of the exotics and birds. if you can imagine birds surviving this. their website had a mail-in thing, but no online.

chavi
Fri Sep-16-05 01:16 PM
Response to Reply #15
27. Yes!!!

They now have links for internet and phone donations!
http://www.vetmed.lsu.edu/#DONATIONS

[iconoclastic cat]

3. ASPCA donations

chavi
Fri Sep-16-05 09:32 AM
Response to Original message
18. Donations...

Thank you Nick for the charities that you recommended! I knew about ASPCA (I volunteer locally for them) and HSUS but I did not know about these three.

Wow! They're doing some impressive "on the ground" work! I just donated to all three!

For those that are skitty about donating with their credit card, Posado also lets you donate via Paypal. You can purchase gift cards from Walmart or Office Depot for box fans, cleaning supplies, etc.
http://www.pasadosafehaven.org/NEWS/NEWS.htm

[iconoclastic cat]

4. Katrina pet benefit site

iconoclastic cat
Fri Sep-16-05 09:59 AM
Response to Original message
20. Good site:

http://www.stephaniepiro.com /

She's doing some Katrina pet benefit work there. Check it out.

[iconoclastic cat]

5. More info on other towns

iconoclastic cat
Fri Sep-16-05 02:22 PM
Response to Original message
31. More info on other towns on this post by CC

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=145x5425

[iconoclastic cat]

6. Action needed now

iconoclastic cat
Fri Sep-16-05 03:03 PM
Response to Original message
35. Action needed now:

From this thread:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=106x23629

Humane Society begs for callers to the President, Gov, for help


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.

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 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 assist with food drops, help supply our own operations, and do whatever else it takes 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

P.S. Do you have a question about our disaster response for animals? Then please read our frequently asked questions. If you don’t find your answer there, then call us at 1-800-HUMANE-1 between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. Eastern time, or reply to this email ([e-mail] ) with the topic of your question identified in the subject line. Thank you!

https://community.hsus.org/campaign/katrina_governmentresponse

[iconoclastic cat]

7. Hotels that accept pets; other pet travel info

sweetjake
Fri Sep-16-05 07:28 PM
Response to Reply #65
79. I could never leave my pets, NEVER


But I would make every effort to leave that I could. I also have a daughter that I'm responsible for.

I use these websites:

http://www.pettravel.com /
http://www.petswelcome.com /

and this one that I've paid $1.95 to register at http://www.takeyourpet.com /

To find hotels that accomodate pets. I've never had a problem finding a place. Even in remote areas. I scour the internet for B&Bs as well. Many of them (especially cabin-style places) allow pets in an emergency situation. I lived in Florida growing up and my family always had pets that we brought with us when we evacuated. My mom had 6 kids--she wouldn't have left the pets any more than she would have left one of us!

Thank you all for listing the places where I can donate money.

[Maru Kitteh]

37. It would be great if we could convince the pet friendly chains to donate

food, money, kennels, whatever they have since they get increased revenue from pet owners. Time to show you REALLY care and give back? Yes?

[iconoclastic cat]

8. More news

nicknameless
Fri Sep-16-05 08:54 PM
Response to Original message
96. Amazing as it may seem, many pets that are still being rescued out of


homes, are still very much alive -- after 3 weeks -- and healing under care.

Bless the determined and compassionate heroes that are rescuing these babies -- on very little sleep, with almost no warm meals, and under conditions that are pretty rough.

There were new requests from Pasado today and yesterday (forgot to mention that these guys are from Seattle, and are doing incredible work very far away from home!). They are in need of some kind words and a hot meal. If you're interested, both can be provided at their website.

http://www.pasadosafehaven.org/NEWS/NEWS.htm

[iconoclastic cat]

9. And more news

leftchick
Sat Sep-17-05 12:58 PM
Response to Original message
117. 175 dogs and cats flown out on Friday! Pic...................



A female Chihuahua mix is hugged and comforted by vet tech Michelle Cammack onboard a plane as vet tech Robinne Leggett prepares an IV for the dehydrated puppy September 16, 2005. About 175 dogs and cats were flown out of Metro Airport in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to San Francisco on Friday. The dog was found on Thursday evening after spending 18 days in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina. The pets were transported on a 737 jet in the passenger area and cargo holds. REUTERS/Allen Fredrickson

[iconoclastic cat]

10. Petfinder

fleabert
Sat Sep-17-05 01:09 PM
Response to Reply #117
118. do you know where in SF these pets went?


I know a bunch of folks here in Sac that can foster if they need help...

leftchick
Sat Sep-17-05 02:04 PM
Response to Reply #118
120. I do not know but...


I bet if you called any local rescue group they would know. Rescue groups across the country are networking on the Katrina effort.

Here is a great link with many groups .... http://www.petfinder.com/disaster/

[iconoclastic cat]

11. Destinations of some pets flown out

nicknameless
Sat Sep-17-05 07:15 PM
Response to Reply #118
121. Hi fleabert.


A lot of rescues are being flown into SF airport and trasported to Marin Humane Society. Those wanting to foster can get info here:

http://marinij.com/marin/ci_3034986

If there is more information that I come across, I'll pass it along too.

[iconoclastic cat]

12. Red tape

nicknameless
Sat Sep-17-05 10:34 PM
Response to Reply #123
124. I missed it, but there has been a ton of read tape.


Blanco needs to give orders for a full-scale rescue to occur -- specifically, she needs to get the National Guard to help.

Some cops, etc. have been barring rescuers' entry into certain areas.

The main shelter at Gonzales (Lamar-Dixon) barred additional animals' entry, saying that it was too crowded. But today, when Boone Pickens tried to get animals onto his flight out of the state, the State & HSUS wouldn't let him take any from Gonzales.

Classic example of counter-productive red-tape BS at this excerpt:
http://www.projectstarfish.org/latest.php

Some of the dogs that are deemed as non-critical are given food and water and a note is made to pick them up tomorrow or whenever. This is especially true for the dogs who are indoors. The reason they cannot take them all is because there is not room at Lamar. This is the most frustrating part, according to Cynthia. There are many places all over the country wanting to take huge amounts of dogs and space could be freed up at Lamar to go out and get animals still out in the city. Unfortunately, all the regulations now put in place on taking dogs out of the state prevent this.

These ridiculous policies, IMO, will make them directly responsible for the deaths of countless pets.

[iconoclastic cat]

13. Another rescue group

natrat
Sun Sep-18-05 10:48 AM
Response to Original message
130. they thanked me for a donation which i thought was nice


http://www.iberiahumane.com/

[nicknameless]

29. Iberia Humane Society is wonderful

Can't give enough props to these small groups, who are working their butts off, going without sleep and warm meals,
working in horrible conditions, and doing the VAST MAJORITY of the rescues! These people are angels!

[iconoclastic cat]

17. Noah's Wish

KrazyKat
Sun Sep-18-05 08:08 PM
Response to Original message
141. Noah's Wish also doing an outstanding job w/rescue of NO animals...


It's a terrific non-profit, one that exists solely to keep animals alive during disasters.

http://www.noahswish.org/Hurricane%20Katrina.htm
Update: September 18, 2005 4:00 p.m. Pacific Time
Press Release

642 ANIMALS RESCUED & BEING CARED FOR BY NOAH’S WISH AND SLIDELL ANIMAL CONTROL IN LOUISIANA

(SLIDELL, LA.) September 18, 2005 – Noah’s Wish, a not-for-profit organization that works exclusively to rescue and shelter animals in disasters, is caring for 642 rescued animals at a temporary shelter in Slidell, Louisiana. Cats, dogs, rabbits, ducks, chickens, geese, a rat, a snake, a turtle, hamsters, a scorpion, a tarantula and one emu are among the animals that have been rescued in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina by Noah’s Wish and Slidell Animal Control. At the request of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), Noah’s Wish has taken 49 owned cats from the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center in Gonzalez, Louisiana. The cats will be cared for at the temporary shelter in Slidell until they can be reunited with their owners.

[iconoclastic cat]

14. Does anyone have more resources? Ideas? Want to talk? Anything?

Kick for pets!

[elfin]

15. Gave my only donation thus far

to this cause - debating about habitat for another one - but just may add to some of the orgs. posted instead. This makes me cry more that the plight of humans who may be able to scratch out survival via other ais mechanisms.

[iconoclastic cat]

16. I agree. Children and animals always just kill me.

I can't take seeing any helpless living thing suffer.

[Maru Kitteh]

18. And the worst part is you can't just explain to them why these horrible

things have happened. It just rips my heart out. I'll try to keep this kicked some more with you.

[iconoclastic cat]

19. If you find important information, pics, or whatever, feel free to post.

DU is a bit slow tonight; tomorrow we'll try to get some more kicks, comments and contributions.

[Maru Kitteh]

25. I have a hard time seeing them

Being a member of PETA and a contributor to varioous animal charities my email has been just bombed with photos of desperate and tragic photos of poor animals.

:cry:

[iconoclastic cat]

20. Animal and human rescue groups on this dKos post:

You Choose: Alternatives to the Red Cross

This is mostly crossposted over at my blog, but I wanted to put it here for two reasons:

1. To update people on the money raised by Kossacks in the Great Charity Bracelet Explode-o-rama of 2005.
2. To give people (whether they want a bracelet or not) a resource for some giving alternatives to the Red Cross (there are some on this list I haven't seen mentioned here before)

(more)

[caligirl]

21. I have called the numbers for Blanco and the WH but get no

response. I think its because its Sunday night. I will be up early tomorrow and will call again. Sending the WH a fax now though. Giant Schnauzer mom here.

[iconoclastic cat]

22. They come in "giant"?

Now, that would be a great dog.

Thanks for faxing!

[caligirl]

24. photo of my dogs daddy. I don't have a place to post my photos.

My dog is 4 and looks just like his dad.

http://www.skansen.com/giant/fame/superman.htm

[leftchick]

23. Thank you so much ic!

from myself and all of the critters in need! You and nick are the best!

:loveya:

[Dastard Stepchild]

26. late night kitty kick

:kick:

[nicknameless]

27. IC, you've been busy!

Thank you so much for doing this! :hug:
The only thing I would have left out would have been Major Snodgrass's phone number ... He's getting a little crabby.

I'll post more later. Kick & nom for now :)


Can we get this onto the Greatest page for these poor, dying furbabies?

[Piperay]

28. Kick for the animals!

:kick:

[Mairead]

30. Is there an email address for the general who's in charge? He has the

authority to act.

[iconoclastic cat]

32. Looking and kick

[nicknameless]

36. General Honore.

He promised full-scale animal rescue help, but there has only been minimal help from the National Guard ... not sure if any of it has been by Honore's direction. Other State agencies have requested and received some NG assistance.

Honore's phone number has now been forwarded to HSUS, which means no additional help.

People have looked, but no email address has been found for him. If I come across one, I'll certainly post it.

[leftchick]

31. A man and his dog rescued yesterday.....

Thirty-nine-year-old Reyne Johnson (3rd R) walks to a National Guard vehicle after being rescued from his home in New Orleans Parish in New Orleans September 18, 2005. Johnson, afraid to come out of his home, had been holed up with his dog since Hurricane Katrina hit. REUTERS/J.P. Moczulski



Miami-Dade rescuers feed water to a dog belonging to 39-year-old Reyne Johnson, who was freed from his home in New Orleans Parish, in New Orleans, September 18, 2005. Johnson, afraid to come out of his home, had been holed up with his dog since Hurricane Katrina hit. The death toll from Hurricane Katrina climbed to 883 on Sunday after Louisiana officials raised the number of confirmed fatalities in that state to 646, up from 579 at the last count on Friday. REUTERS/J.P. Moczulski

[Maru Kitteh]

35. Poor babies, I hope one of the NUMEROUS lessons that come out of this

catastrophe is that if CUBA can manage to evacuate it's animals and pets with it's citizens we could too.

It is IMPORTANT to HUMAN LIFE that we allow people to bring their non-human family members with them. For so many, these animals ARE their family and literally all they have left in the world.

God help us all.

[Mairead]

33. YAB

[nicknameless]

34. Another kick for these dying pets!

Let's help these furbabies get rescued



:cry:

[iconoclastic cat]

38. I'm really busy today, everyone. Yesterday, too.

Should we come up with some sort of plan of action for the week? I think without some organization, this thread will just be an annoyance.

Ideas?

I have two job interviews today, so I won't be around until much, much later (if at all). See what we could do in the way of organization.

[nicknameless]

40. I've been working on something that I'll be posting ASAP.

There have been endless problems at nola.com. MANY people have gotten kicked off for unknown reasons and those still on have had to act as go-betweens. We're trying to switch to Craigslist.

Sorry I haven't been here more.

I've come to the conclusion that the "authorities" won't do anything unless they're shamed into it. This to me means media blasting. We need to make the public aware of the CRIMES being committed here. And these *are* crimes. I'll post more about that later. ... Still gathering info.

iconoclastic cat:hug: for keeping up the fight!

[iconoclastic cat]

39. General question before I have to leave:

Should we continue this thread, or should we allow it to drop off? Is it still useful?

[nicknameless]

41. Hi, IC :)

For now, let's just keep posting here. Like I mentioned above, I'll be starting a new thread soon.
I really think we need a new plan of action -- turning our focus towards the media, primarily ... IMO