San Leon shelter desperate to place 80 animals in 90 min- PET HELP

[DS1]

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/metropolitan/3363388

GALVESTON -- As the shelter here smoothly evacuated 107 cats and dogs out of the path of hurricane Rita this morning, a shelter in San Leon was frantically trying to find refuge for about 80 animals.

The Bay Area Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals shelter was preparing animals to ride out the storm after failing to find foster homes for 40 dogs, 20 cats, five rabbits, two guinea pigs, six gerbils and six parrots, Executive Director Travis Demarest said.

"I don't know what options I have," Demarest said.

Shelter Board member Kat Joel-Reich said she had asked for help from the Houston SPCA, but was told they were evacuating their animals to other cities.

"We're doing everything in our power to keep the animals safe," Joel-Reich said.

Demarest, three staff members and about seven volunteers have desperately sought foster homes in hurricane-safe areas.

They found homes for about 20 and hoped to place another 20 before they evacuate at 5 p.m., he said.

[iconoclastic cat]

1. kick

[AnnieBW]

2. Wish I could help

But I'm too far away. Unless you want to put a couple of kitties on a plane to Baltimore for me.

[displacedtexan]

3. Me, too. Downtown Baltimore. (n/t)

[intheflow]

4. Did you post this in the Texas forum?

They might actually be able to do something. I know a lot of them are evacuating from the Bay Area. They might be able to take some animals with them to inland shelters.

[DS1]

5. I did, and learned that rescuing pets is a bad idea

[intheflow]

6. I came to your defense there.

But you're right -- there's always one! :eyes:

[DS1]

8. It's also interesting to note that it's that poster's SINGLE post

in the Texas forum, seconds after I posted it :eyes:

[Lisa]

11. I'm glad you posted ...

It's become evident that we need to consider BOTH animal and human evacuations, when planning for disasters. As other posters have pointed out, if people know their pets are going to be taken care of, it makes everything so much easier.

[shireen]

14. and if no one believes that, have I got a link for you ...

www.nola.com animal rescue forum

pleas for help from pet owners with missing pets, rescuers begging for more people and resources, sad stories about how beloved pets did not survive, and the occasional reunited pet & human.

The situation for animals in NOLA and surrounding areas is HORRENDOUS. Go there, read it and weep.

Animals MUST be evacuated with humans from now on!

[A-Possum]

7. Don't worry, keep posting

As you said, there's always one. I posted there about how the mayor of Galveston is specifically allowing pets on buses, and mentioned it several times. She said it was a lesson learned from Katrina.

[jilln]

12. Not a bad idea...

but some people think it should only be done after all humans are safe, we've found a cure for cancer, there's no poverty left on earth and everyone can read. I call these people unicompassionate, as opposed to omnicompassionate.

[jilln]

13. Not a bad idea...

but some people think it should only be done after all humans are safe, we've found a cure for cancer, there's no poverty left on earth and everyone can read. I call these people unicompassionate, as opposed to omnicompassionate.

[Double T]

9. These Pet, Animal and Hurricane Stories Are Absolutely Sad.....

There has got to be a better answer and ability to deal with evacuating and protecting these animals. Some Advanced Planning and Organization could eliminate some of this last minute panic and save animals lives.

[shireen]

15. when this immediate emergency is over,

we must fight hard to change policy so animals are saved with people. It can be done!

[jilln]

10. But they still have time.... why are they leaving at 5???

It's not supposed to hit until Friday night. And all those animals except the dogs would fit into pretty much any car, can't they rent a van and drive them a few hours away to a different shelter???

That page wouldn't load for me so I don't know if any of this was answered in the article...