"we are witnessing the most incredible reunions of pets and their people"

[Mairead]

*************************************
Humane Society of the United States
DISASTER UPDATE: ANIMAL RESCUES CONTINUE IN RAVAGED AREAS
*************************************

As our Hurricane Katrina response heads into its 20th day, our
Disaster Animal Response Teams continue their quest to rescue
stranded pets while we brace for the potential arrival of
Hurricane Rita.

+ Three weeks after Katrina struck the region and the flood
waters rose in New Orleans, our rescue teams are doing all they
can to reach stranded pets in time. We've rescued nearly 6,000
pets and other animals so far. Many animals are in remarkably
good shape, but others are severely dehydrated or have wounds or
chemical burns. For some, we are arriving too late to help.
While individual National Guardsmen and military units have
helped us, the federal government has refused to formally make
animal rescue a top priority. (emph. added)

+ The temporary animal shelter at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center in
Gonzales, Louisiana, remains at capacity. To make room for new
rescues, we've transported more than 1,500 animals out of the
facility to other shelters. Our top animal sheltering
professionals are finding the task of running the massive
facility to be the most challenging assignment of their lives.
Despite the federal government's lack of response in helping
with rescues, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Public
Health Service have been a tremendous help at this facility, as
have officials from the state of Louisiana. We're still in need
of volunteers to help with the task of managing what has become
the nation's largest animal shelter!

+ Amid the stress and hardship here, our staff and volunteers
are witnessing the most incredible reunions of pets and their
people - more than 400 so far. At our temporary shelter in
Hattiesburg, Mississippi, a bell near the entrance is rung each
time an animal is reunited with her owner. When that bell rings,
cheers and applause break out through the facility.

+ While our on-the-ground response remains our top priority, we
have begun looking toward the future. Yesterday, the American
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) and The
HSUS announced the creation of a reconstruction fund to rebuild
animal shelters damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. Each
organization is donating an initial $2.5 million, for a total
of $5 million. We hope to eventually build that fund to at
least $10 million.

To stay on top of everything that's happening in the region,
please bookmark www.hsus.org and be sure to visit it frequently.
We are adding new stories, information, and photos every day.

Finally, I can't tell you enough how much your generosity has
meant to us here in the devastated region. On behalf of all the
staff and the incredibly dedicated volunteers, I send a grateful
"thank you" for making our work possible.

[Skittles]

1. the policies on pets during disasters needs to be revisited bigtime

it is psychological torture to force people - especially children - to part with their pets.

[Lisa]

6. there's got to be a better way to do things ...

Besides the fact that leaving pets behind adds yet more trauma ... we already have laws against animal neglect. The authorities have concluded that if individual people let bad things happen to animals, this is a serious matter. So how about if an entire society lets this happen, when it could have been prevented?

Cuba seems to be able to do mass evacuations with pets (even having veterinarians assigned to shelters). Surely the US has the resources and ingenuity to do this too.
http://www.medicc.org/medicc_review/1004/pages/top_story.html

I know that many feel that pets shouldn't come before people -- and while I agree that saving one's poodle or budgie while making the deliberate decision to let another human being die WOULD be a terrible thing, I can't believe that the vast majority of pet owners would want this to happen. Letting it get to that stage would clearly show that the system has failed.

If people get used to the idea of abandoned animals drowning or starving to death ... my fear is that it makes it that much easier to watch the same thing happen to human beings.

[liberal43110]

7. Simply cruel

The only thing I disagree with you is "especially the children." For many ADULTS, their pet is their only family member, their best friend, their constant companion.

I think leaving cherished family members to die affects all people. If anything, I think it could affect adults more.

[karlrschneider]

9. I agree with you. Not to sound insensitive, but adults are just as

susceptible to mental trauma, if not more, than children are as concerns pets.

edit: to add a couple words...

[Skittles]

11. I guess you are right

I know I could not bear to part with my pets - no way

[me b zola]

2. This is good news

I think about Swamp Rat's dog and hope that it is ok. I haven't seen him posting so I often wonder if he went back to look for his dog.

I would be so broken hearted if I were in that situation it has been horrible for everyone down there.

[leftchick]

3. Wonderful news!

http://www.hsus2.org/slideshow-katrina/

A lot of happy photos there!

Thank you Mairead!

:hi:

[Maple]

4. Did they ever reunite Snowball

and the little boy?

[Carolab]

5. Yes! According to this report:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threadselect.jsp?fid=1&tid=34674560

[roguevalley]

8. if people don't already understand this, I pity them. some of the people

have reported being saved by dogs and their pets. I salute them all. God bless them. 6000 is so few compare to what exists there. I hope they all are saved. This has hurt my heart unlike anything I've ever experienced.

[Maple]

10. Thank you !

:woohoo: