Update on our Katrina pet rescue operation

[Lorien]

As some of you know, the rescue group I work with is doing a convoy up to Gulfport -with stops along the way- bringing 9 cargo vans and a couple of trucks (plus one Semi on Tuesday for the "leftovers" that wouldn't fit)tomorrow morning. I managed to get Pookie's bow wow bakery, the small natural pet food shop where I do my adoptions, to accept donations for the effort for the past two weeks.Who knew we would be THIS successful!!These photos show just SOME of the donations were took in at Pookie's alone; the other rescue members filled 7 ADDITIONAL storage units (10'x10' to 20'x20')with food, carriers, collars, medical supplies, etc.from about a dozen other donation locations, including three PetsMarts. I've also made four trips to Goodwill with "human quality" blankets, sheets, towels etc. that were donated and still have many more.The vans will return with pets from NOLA and other areas Monday, after our volunteers spend Sunday relieving the ASPCA workers from their duties at the new shelter in Tylertown.

Here's Melissa and Jane, our Pookie's volunteers, with one of our vans that is halfway full (it's our "carrier and crate van"):



It's full now!



Some of the "leftover" food to be taken there Tuesday:



I've been sorting, boxing, loading, unloading, and loading all week. Whew!

In addition, we've taken in around $6,000 JUST at Pookie's for the vet bills when we return with the pets!I have no idea how much came in from the dozen or so other donation locations and on our website; www.petrescuebyjudy.com .

I won't be driving up with them because I've never driven a large vehicle before (and there's no room for passengers). :-( Oh well, there's still much to do when they return, plus I have a sick kitten to care for this weekend.

Thanks, all, for your donations!

[Lorien]

1. Kick

[Samurai_Writer]

2. OMG, Lorien that is AWESOME!!!

If everyone doesn't know by now, I adopted Sterling a few months ago from Lorien's pet rescue. You guys are so wonderful! I donated via the website a couple of weeks ago, I think.

Wish I could help even more and go with you guys to rescue pets, but I'm leaving to move to Colorado on Tuesday!

[BrklynLiberal]

3. You guys are incredible!!!!!!!!

[shireen]

4. Thanks! Also pls write Congress!

WRITE CONGRESS!!!!
... especially if you're a volunteer ... insist on talking to a legislative staff member and give them a earful. Staff contacts for Shays and Lantos are included below.

Rep. Tom Lantos (CA, 12th Congressional District)
Sponsor, amendment to HR3858, Sept 22 '05
Co-chair, Congressional Friends of Animals Caucus
Website: http://lantos.house.gov/hor/ca12/home.htm
Email: only for constituents, http://lantos.house.gov/HoR/CA12/Contact+Tom /
Phone: [phone] (Washington DC)
Staff Contact for this issue: Guido Zucconi x53531

Rep. Christopher Shays (CT, 4th Congressional District)
Co-chair, Congressional Friends of Animals Caucus
Co-sponsor, amendment to HR3858, Sept 22 '05
Website: http://www.house.gov/shays /
Email: http://www.house.gov/shays/contact/index.htm
Phone: [phone] (Washington DC)
Staff Contact for this issue: (Kristy Crooks x55541)

Congressman Don Young (AK, Congressman At Large)
Co-sponsor, amendment to HR3858, Sept 22 '05
Website: http://donyoung.house.gov /
Email: http://donyoung.house.gov/opinions.htm
Phone: [phone] (Washington DC)

Congressman James Oberstar (MN, 8th Congressional District))
Co-sponsor, amendment to HR3858, Sept 22 '05
Website: http://www.oberstar.house.gov /
Email: Constituents only, http://wwwc.house.gov/oberstar/zipauth.htm
Phone: [phone] (Washington DC)

Barney Frank (MA, 4th Congressional District)
Co-sponsor, amendment to HR3858, Sept 22 '05
Website: http://www.house.gov/frank /
Email: Constituents only, http://www.house.gov/writerep /
Phone: [phone] (Washington DC)

Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ - 7th Congressional District)
Member, Congressional Friends of Animals Caucus
Website: http://www.house.gov/grijalva /
Email: http://www.house.gov/grijalva/contact.html
Phone: [phone] (Washington DC)

Congressman Earl Blumenauer (OR-3rd Congressional District)
Member, Congressional Friends of Animals Caucus
Website: http://blumenauer.house.gov /
Email: http://blumenauer.house.gov/about/Contact.shtml
Phone: [phone] (Washington DC)

Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-6th Congressional District)
Member, Congressional Friends of Animals Caucus
Website: http://www.house.gov/pallone /
Email: Constituents only, http://www.house.gov/writerep
Phone: [phone] (Washington DC)

Congressman Fred Upton (MI-6th Congressional District)
Member, Congressional Friends of Animals Caucus
Website: http://www.house.gov/upton/index.html
Email: Constituents only, http://www.house.gov/writerep
Phone: [phone]

Congressman Michael E. Capuano (MA, 8th Congressional District)
Member, Congressional Friends of Animals Caucus
Website: http://www.house.gov/capuano/index.shtml
Email: Constituents only, http://www.house.gov/writerep
Phone: [phone]



Note: Amendment to H.R.3858, introduced Sept 22 '05: To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to ensure that State and local emergency preparedness operational plans address the needs of individuals with household pets and service animals following a major disaster or emergency. Sponsor: Lantos. Co-sponsors: Shays, Oberstar, Young, Frank.

[Lorien]

6. Already did so this morning. n/t

[newsguyatl]

5. amazing!!!

great work lorien!

[Lorien]

7. Another update

I just talked to Jane (pictured above) and she's on the road with several vans of dogs and seven cats (she said the cats faired much better than dogs in NOLA so most of them will stay in LA until their owners can reclaim them). Jane said that the past three days have been the most amazing experience of her life. The "shelter" was set up in huge tents on a farm-cows were even wandering into the encampment and stealing dog food (ew)! They had armed guards posted around the parameter because people were stealing Rotties and pitbull (WTF?) not to mention supplies. They worked an "assembly line" where dogs were brought in from NOLA, decontaminated, then examined by vets. One sweet Rottie that they found had tags-they tracked down the family but his owner had perished in the floods. :-( Most did not have ID so they all were photo graphed and posted online.

The dogs in the vans now are skin and bones, and most have only been out of NOLA for 12 hours! They'll arrive in Orlando around 1am, and a local cable channel will be there to document the entire thing. The president of the LAASPCA was so impressed with the volunteers of Pet Rescue by Judy that they've begged them to come back in three weeks! They are planning to do just that. :-)

Thanks again all!

[Princess Turandot]

8. Is Tylertown the St. Francis Sanctuary shelter?..

we've been trying to get info on a cat that meets many of Patch's features thru the hopeless Petfinder system, which is responding to no one it seems. I have someone from the ASPCA trying to help us (someone from their NY area operations) track her down by number.

[Lorien]

9. No, this is one set up by the ASPCA

Though I can send info and photos of Patches with the team in the coming weeks if you have the info.

[Princess Turandot]

10. here is some info..I also posted below about her.

She looks somewhat like a tortie or calico siamese mix from her photos. 7 to 8 months old. She is very distinctive looking and as described in a post below, has only one blue eye.







Thanks.

Good work!

[Princess Turandot]

11. Here's another photo which I hadn't seen before..

Joseph is obviously on the right.

[demnan]

12. Awesome work!

Thank you for all you do!

[Lorien]

13. Hey, the effort made the local news!

I called all the local news affiliates last night as the team was on their way back, but only ABC showed up with a cameraman at 2:30am. They've been running the footage on the news all day, with the number for pet adoption. These guys should find homes in no time!

[ernstbass]

14. Congrats -- great work!!!