Hurricane Katrina Animals Pets

[See also
Katrina Animals Pets ~ September 18 to August 28, 2005
Katrina Animal Rescue Resources
Katrina Animals Pets - September 2, 2005
Katrina Animals Pets - September 3, 2005]

Hurricane Katrina Animal Disaster Response
Hurricane Katrina Animal Rescue
Hurricane Katrina Animal Relief Donations
Hurricane Katrina Animals News
Hurricane Katrina Pets News

News By State: Alabama :: Florida :: Louisiana :: Mississippi :: Texas

This page was created and posted Sunday morning, August 28, 2005 with subsequent daily updates through September 1. Similar, duplicate and speculative animal news articles were not posted.
Hurricane Katrina hit Florida on Friday morning, August 26. It hit New Orleans and Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama on Monday morning, August 29.

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Monetary donations are best unless official and specific requests for physical help or supplies are made. Please check each website for updates.

The list provided here of animal rescue groups to whom one can donate is informational only, not a recommendation. It is also good to give locally. You must research charities. Two resources are guidestar.com and Who Gets The Money? –– 15th annual edition, Animal People News, December 2004.


Noah's Wish - Donations and Rescue Updates
Dedicated exclusively to Rescuing and Sheltering Animals in Disasters
Update: September 2, 2005 1:00 p.m. Louisiana Time
Noah's Wish has setup a Disaster Animal Shelter at the address below:
1325 BAYOU LANE, SLIDELL, LA (LOCATED NEXT TO HERITAGE PARK)

Animal Rescue Group `Noah's Wish' Appeals for Donations to Help ...
PrimeZone (press release), CA - August 31, 2005
NEW YORK, Aug. 31, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Terri Crisp, Founder and Director of Noah's Wish, a not-for-profit organization that works exclusively to save animals after disasters, has set up rescue operations in Slidell, Louisiana. Crisp is being joined by more than 450 trained volunteers from across the nation to assist in the recovery efforts in the destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina. Volunteers include veterinarians, veterinary technicians and grief counselors.
Because most shelters do not allow pets, except for seeing-eye dogs and service animals, most pets are simply abandoned when families flee. Crisp estimates that over the next few weeks she and her team will rescue more than 1,000 pets.
"Noah's Wish exists to help people just as much as we help animals," says Crisp. "We will provide temporary shelter for pets whose owners have lost their homes and hopefully our teams will be able to reunite lost pets with their owners."
In addition, Noah's Wish will assist with the rescue of farm animals.
Americans who want to help can donate online at WWW.NOAHSWISH.ORG.

United Animal Nations - Donations and Rescue Updates
Emergency Animal Rescue Services (EARS)
* Emergency Animal Shelters
* Lost Animal Hotlines
(downloadable pdf off their website)
September 2, 2005: EARS leaders are now staging in Jackson, MS and Houston, TX to assess the situation and determine next steps. UAN is coordinating response efforts with several other organizations that are providing animal disaster relief - including the ASPCA, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), Colorado-based Code 3 Associates, the Humane Society of the United States, American Humane and Best Friends Animal Society. On Saturday morning, responders from these organizations will meet to determine a plan of action for entering the Southern portion of the state. Initial plans for EARS to enter the New Orleans area to assist with animal evacuations have been put on hold due to increasing violence and lack of supplies across Louisiana.
August 31, 2005 BREAKING NEWS: We were just notified this morning that we are being activated to respond to Louisiana. Our first goal is to assist with the rescue of a reported 175 animals who are at a Metairie animal hospital, which is now flooding.

Petfinder.com has set up an emergency Hurricane Katrina Resource page.
katrina.petfinder.com links to a message board for posting or communicating with others about the plight of pets, animals and their owners.
August 28, 2005

Best Friends Animal Sanctuary
Via August 29, 2005 membership e-appeal and website
Special Reports/Updates
Donations
August 31, 2005 : 1:01 PM ET
Best Friends is coordinating efforts with rescue groups to find animals that have been left in Louisiana and Mississippi homes.
Please get the word out to anyone you know who had to leave behind an animal that they can write to hurricane@bestfriends.org or call 435.644.3965 ext.4455 and leave the following information:
Name and current contact information
Address where animal was left
Name of pet
Description of pet (species, breed, distinguishing characteristics)
Photo if available.
We will get this information to emergency command posts in the hope of getting to these houses and getting the animals out. We are doing everything we can to try to make this happen.

American Humane Association (AHA)
Latest update from Incident Command - September 1, 2005
American Humane Association's Animal Rescue Rig Deploys Today
Yahoo! News (press release) - August 31, 2005
Hurricane Katrina heads inland - August 30, 2005
American Humane's Animal Emergency Services is staging on the scene and organizing teams. Attention shelters and animal control officers: If you need support, contact American Humane's Animal Emergency Services program manager at (509) 869-1455! More details to follow!

Humane Society of the United States Disaster Relief Fund (HSUS)
Via sponsored Google link and membership e-appeal August 30, 2005
The HSUS is in Miss. Helping Animal Victims of Hurricane Katrina - September 1, 2005

PETCO Holds 'Round-Up' to Aid Animal Victims of Hurricane Katrina
PR Newswire (press release), NY - August 30, 2005
... Customers may also donate to Hurricane Katrina Disaster Relief on-line at http://www.petco.com. "We are consistently there for pets in need and thereby helping ...

ASPCA puts out a call for disaster relief Funds for Animal Shelters Affected by Hurricane Katrina
“With the funds raised, the ASPCA, working through its National Outreach program, will grant the money to shelters most in need of financial support after this week’s hurricane.”
Via website August 30 and press releases August 31, 2005

Alley Cat Allies
Help Cats in the Wake of Hurricane Katrina
If you know of cats, caregivers, or a rescue group in need, call Alley Cat Allies at 240-482-1980, ext. 125, and ask for Vanessa or e-mail alleycat@alleycat.org. We want to help.
Please donate to Alley Cat Allies’ Compassion Fund to assist the community-based cat rescue groups providing on-the-ground support for these displaced cats over the next weeks and months.
Click here to make a donation or send your gift by U.S. Postal Service. Be sure to designate the Compassion Fund. Please make your check payable to Alley Cat Allies and mail it to:
Alley Cat Allies
7920 Norfolk Avenue, Suite 600
Bethesda, MD 20814-2525
PLEASE NOTE: Due to the generous response to this crisis, the "click here" link above may not go through. In that case, please call Elise Ravenscroft of Alley Cat Allies at 240-482-1983. Elise can take your donation information over the phone.
Thank you!
Watch our website for updates and news.
[Via e-appeal August 31, 2005]

Long Island Sending Help To Katrina Victims
CBS New York, United States - August 31, 2005
... In Port Washington the North Shore Animal League has been swamped with requests from shelters in Louisiana and Mississippi. Volunteers ...
[North Shore Animal League Updates]

PetSmart Charities Mobilizes National Disaster Relief Effort for ...
Market Wire (press release) - September 1, 2005
The public can make tax-deductible donations to help the pet victims of Hurricane Katrina and other disasters one of three ways:
-- Make a credit card donation at the PetSmart Charities home page at
http://www.petsmartcharities.org/.
-- Make a cash donation at the Charity Dog receptacle inside any U.S.
PetSmart store between Aug. 30 and Sept. 30, 2005.
-- Mail in a check donation directly to: PetSmart Charities
Attn: Disaster Relief
19601 North 27th Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85027
(Customers are asked to write "Disaster Relief" in the memo section on their check.)

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VCA Animal Hospitals in Texas Provide Free Boarding to Animals Victimized by Hurricane Katrina
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 1, 2005--In the shadow of the devastating impact of Hurricane Katrina, VCA Animal Hospitals is taking an immediate step to aid victims by providing free boarding to house pets from the areas hardest hit by the hurricane. With a national network of 375 animal hospitals, VCA facilities in Alabama, Florida and Texas have joined together to help provide a safe haven for pets that have been impacted. The approximately 65 VCA hospitals are offering this valuable service on a space available basis to try to ease the emotional and financial burden many pet owners are now facing.
For further information and to locate a VCA hospital in Alabama, Florida or Texas, please call 1-800-VCA-PETS or visit the Web site at www.vcapets.com

Katrina Claims 55 Lives, Floods New Orleans
Environment News Service - August 30, 2005
[As part of the FEMA National Disaster Medical System teams sent to specified staging areas]
... Two veterinary medical assistance teams have also been deployed to support and rescue pets, and provide any needed veterinary medical care for rescue dogs. ...

Rescuing Animal Victims Of Hurricane Katrina
WBAL Channel.com, MD - August 30, 2005
[Excerpt]
BALTIMORE -- The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore plans to raise funds to help zoos impacted by Hurricane Katrina. Additionally, many Marylanders hope to come to the aid of stray animals. According to zoo officials, as many as four Louisiana zoos, one Mississippi zoo and two Alabama zoos may need help.
As a result, the Maryland Zoo plans to contribute all proceeds from a new recycling program to the zoos' hurricane relief funds.
The zoo said the funds will come from the recycling of specially-marked cans of Diet Coke brought to the Baltimore campus between September and December.

Wildlife Care Center Needs Help After Katrina
Click10.com, FL - August 30, 2005
If you're still looking for a way to help with recovery from Hurricane Katrina, workers, volunteers and animals sure can use it at the Fort Lauderdale Wildlife Care Center ...

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Animal News by State

ALABAMA

Hurricane Katrina Shelter Information
WSFA, AL - August 29, 2005
Montgomery Co. Humane Society will take evacuees' domestic animals starting at 6 am .
Monday Equine Evacuations - Laura Simmons – private land owner will allow horses to evacuate to her pasture in North Crenshaw County home: 334-537-4247 cell: 334-429-1633
We have an 80 acre ranch just north of Wetumpka, in the Titus area. We would like to offer, to those who may need it, boarding for horses during this disastrous time. The name of the farm is Coosa Ridge Ranch and the phone number is 256-377-1341 (ask for Sheri) or 256-377-2479 (ask for Fran).
To pasture you horse or house your dog in Lowndesboro, call 278-3381.
FLORIDA

Tree cutters, roofers, grinders, carpenters roll toward ...
Orlando Sentinel, FL - August 31, 1005
... SeaWorld is poised to help with stranded animals. ... And Gatorland, which last year captured a rogue alligator in Alabama after Hurricane Ivan, will respond if called -- even though its head wrangler is on the road. ...

Katrina takes toll on Florida's beaches, wildlife, scientists say
Sun-Sentinel.com, FL - Aug 27, 2005
... hurricanes approach, bringing a drop in air pressure, animals seek safety ... wetlands, coral reefs and other ecosystems coping with Hurricane Katrina are shrunken ...

Local10.com - Weather - New Orleans Braces For Katrina
[Scroll down to]
Before the Storm
... Miami-Dade Hotels That Accept Pets · Broward PetBoarding; Hotels-Motels Allowing Pets (pdf files) · Supplies For Your Home

Emergency Hurricane Katrina information: Pinellas County
Pet shelter: Pinellas County can now offer an alternative to pet owners who must seek public shelter during an emergency. The St. Petersburg Judicial Building, located at 545 1st Ave. N. in St. Petersburg, will serve as a shelter for people and their pets during mandatory evacuations only. Pre-registration will be required. The shelter is intended for pet owners who have no other options and are at risk if they stay home with their pets. Download pre-registration form

Hurricane Info
Miami Beach - Hurricane Katrina Advisory #4 - August 26, 2005
Pet-friendly Evacuation Center - Miami-Dade County has designated a hurricane shelter for pre-registered Miami Beach (and other A, B & C zones) evacuees and their pets. The shelter is located at the Sunshine Pavilion, Miami-Dade County Fair & Exposition, 10901 SW 24 Street. The Pavilion can hold 150 pets and 350 people. For more information click http://www.miamidade.gov/oem/library/eligiblity_criteria.pdf or call 786-331-5354 to register.

Levy County, Florida
The animal shelter will be opened on 8/28/05 at 6:00 PM. The shelter is located in Chiefland at 510 SE 4th CT. Signs will be posted on US 19 & Alt. 27. DUE TO LIMITED SPACE ONLY PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO THE DESIGNATED SHELTERS/POINTS OF DISTRIBUTION, IN LEVY COUNTY WILL BE ALLOWED TO USE THIS ANIMAL SHELTER. PLEASE BRING YOUR PETS FOOD, WATER AND CRATE.

Weather: Without Fido, some won't flee
Most Florida hurricane shelters don't accept pets, and as a result, some people just won't get out of harm's way.
St. Petersburg Times, FL - August 26, 2005
[Excerpt]
The pet effect in evacuations is not just anecdotal. In 1997, authorities in Yuba County, Calif., ordered the evacuation of 64,000 people after a broken levee threatened to flood them out.
A later study of 863 households did not measure age, but showed that people with pets and no children were 50 percent more likely to stay put than people without pets.

[Response to above:]
Sticking with the cats
St. Petersburg Times, FL - August 30, 2005
... very well not make it through the next hurricane, while he ... your paper Friday morning to see where Katrina was heading ... who won't leave because of a pet, I was ...


LOUISIANA

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Animal Evacuation and Recovery Plan for New Orleans
The Louisiana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (LA/SPCA), the Louisiana Veterinary Medical Association (LVMA), the Louisiana Animal Control Association (LACA), and the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine (SVM) are managing animal evacuations and recovery plans for New Orleans pets and displaced animals.

PETS TRAVELING WITH OWNERS
The LVMA is currently accepting pets at the Blackham Coliseum [next to CajunDome] in Lafayette, LSU in Shreveport, the Monroe Civic Center for small animals and the Ike Hamilton Center for large animals in Monroe, the Farmer?s Market in Alexandria, and the LSU Agriculture Center/Parker Coliseum in Baton Rouge. Owners must be housed in a Red Cross shelter; owners are responsible for caring for their animals, including feeding and cleaning. Animals will be accepted 24 hours a day. Veterinarians will be on hand to handle any medical needs.

While owners are responsible for the feeding and cleaning of their pets at the Parker Coliseum in Baton Rouge, the SVM, along with volunteers from the Baton Rouge Veterinary Medical Association, will provide veterinary care. If for some reason, an owner is unable to care for a pet sheltered in the Parker Coliseum (e.g., the owner is housed in a special needs shelter), SVM student volunteers will provide primary care, such as feeding and cleaning. The East Baton Rouge Animal Control Center will be taking stray animals.

The Parker Coliseum will be staffed 24 hours a day by a supervising veterinarian and student volunteers from the School of Veterinary Medicine. Pets in the Coliseum will be given physical exams and Bordetella (kennel cough) vaccinations. If a pet requires medical attention and veterinary monitoring, it will be sent to the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine?s Veterinary Teaching Hospital.

PEOPLE WITH PETS WHO ARE CURRENTLY EVACUATING NEW ORLEANS
The LA/SPCA will transport animals from pick-up points in New Orleans to the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center. The pick-up points have not yet been determined and are being coordinated with the agency charged with transporting people from New Orleans to other areas.

The Lamar-Dixon Expo Center, 9039 St. Landry Rd., Gonzales, La., will serve as the primary staging area. Once the shelter is full, animals will be moved to temporary shelters in other areas of Louisiana and Texas.

The LA/SPCA Dorothy Dorsett Mobile Veterinary Center will be at the Lamar-Dixon Center to treat incoming animals as needed.

CONFINED PETS STILL IN DISASTER AREA
Beginning on September 1, residents who left pets in their homes may call a hot line to leave information about the number of animals, species, and their confined location. As soon as the hotline number is obtained, we will advise the media. WE CANNOT ENTER NEW ORLEANS UNTIL APPROVAL IS GRANTED BY STATE OFFICIALS.
[Feral Cat Blog! Note: The New Orleans Louisiana Lost Animal Hotline is 225-578-6111.]

DONATIONS
Financial donations are being accepted to fund the animals? care through the Dr. Walter J. Ernst, Jr. Veterinary Memorial Foundation at the Louisiana Veterinary Medical Association at 1-800-524-2996. Make checks payable to the LVMA Dr. Walter J. Ernst Veterinary Memorial Foundation (write Disaster Relief Fund on the memo line) and send to the LVMA, 8550 United Plaza Blvd., Suite 1001, Baton Rouge, LA 70809. They will be able to use these funds quickly.

A regional donation center is being established. Our needs include: large air kennels and metal cages, leashes, disposable bowls, canned cat and dog food, disposable litter pans, spray bleach, paper towels, sheets, towels, locks, hoses, bottled water, trash cans, trash bags, pooper scoopers, cat litter, extension cords, fans. The most urgent needs are kennels and monetary donations. The media will be advised of the address once determined. At least 175 animals are currently en route to Baton Rouge.

For more information or to make donations of the materials listed above, please call the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine at 225-578-9900 (www.vetmed.lsu.edu) or the LVMA at 1-800-524-2996 (www.lvma.org).

ANIMAL EVACUATION AND RECOVERY PLAN CONTACT INFORMATION

Louisiana SPCA contact,Laura Maloney, 225-413-8813

East Baton Rouge Animal Control Center, Hilton Cole, 225-774-7700

LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Becky Adcock, 225-578-9900

Louisiana Veterinary Medical Association, 225-928-5862
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'Noah's Wish' to Save Pets
KATC, LA - August 31, 2005
[Excerpt]
The Louisiana Veterinary Medical Association is currently accepting pets at the Blackham Coliseum in Lafayette [next to CajunDome], LSU in Shreveport, the Monroe Civic Center for small animals and the Ike Hamilton Center for large animals in Monroe.
Pets are also being accepted at the Farmer's Market in Alexandria, and the LSU Agriculture Center at Parker Coliseum in Baton Rouge.
Owners must be housed in a Red Cross shelter and are responsible for caring for their animals, including feeding and cleaning. Animals will be accepted 24 hours a day, and veterinarians will be on hand to handle any medical needs.

Equine Rescue Group Helping Louisiana's Horses
Eworldwire (press release), NJ - August 31, 2005

Madison County prosecutor to lead pet rescue in Louisiana
KWQC TV 6, Iowa - August 31, 2005
[Excerpt]
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. A Madison County prosecutor is leaving this week for the Gulf Coast to offer assistance to some lower profile hurricane victims -- family pets.
Amy Maher is a coordinator for a national organization called Noah's Wish, which works to save as many pets as possible during such catastrophes.
She says she expects more than a hundred Noah's Wish volunteers to arrive in Louisiana tomorrow.

~ ~ ~ Audubon Zoo and Aquarium News, New Orleans, Louisiana ~ ~ ~

Some landmarks took a beating
Dallas Morning News (subscription), TX - September 1, 2005 12am
LOUISIANA
Audubon Zoo and Audubon Aquarium: Both appeared to have suffered little damage. Zoo director Ron Forman said the animals were fine and the only major damage appeared to be downed trees. But the zoo faces a dwindling supply of food and other necessities, and pumps are overheating. Zoo staff took refuge in the reptile house, which was designed to withstand a major hurricane.

American Zoo and Aquariam Association Hurricane Update
Hurricane Update
This is what we know about the status of AZA member institutions in the affected area as of 5:00 pm, 1 September 2005
Audubon ZooAZA has gotten an update on the Audubon Zoo situation from Dr. Betsy Dresser, director of the Audubon Center for the Research in Endangered Species (ACRES) facility. A crew of 12 are on site at the Zoo. She reports that they are in good spirits. They have supplies and currently the generators are operational. They do not believe there is a need to move the animals from the Zoo at present. The Zoo is coordinating its future supply needs through Dr. Dresser, who is working with the AZA.
Aquarium of the AmericasIn the past 24 hours, staff has had to vacate the Aquarium of the Americas. The Aquarium is in the area of the city where there is much looting and violence. Ron Forman, President and CEO of the Audubon Nature Institute is coordinating efforts to keep the Aquarium safe through the NO police and fire departments. Once the area around the Aquarium stabilizes, Aquarium staff will return to the facility.
This is what we know about the status of AZA member institutions in the affected area as of 5:00 pm, August 31. [emphasis added]
[Excerpt]
Audubon Nature Institute
The staff of the Audubon Nature Institute is safe. The physical plants at both the Zoo and the Aquarium suffered little damage. The staff will continue to assess the impact on the animal collections at all the Audubon facilities.

Area couple's fears eased
Palladium-Item, IN - August 31, 2005
[Excerpt]
What they knew was that their daughter, Suzanne Albes, was holed up in the Aquarium of Americas in downtown New Orleans, fighting to keep more than 10,000 species of fish, birds and reptiles alive while Hurricane Katrina marched savagely up the Gulf Coast.
Finally, around 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, the phone rang at the Stevens' home, breaking the silence and slicing through 36 hours of worry.
It was Suzanne.
She was safe.
Albes is a marine biologist at the aquarium. She and two other staffers volunteered to stay behind and try to keep the animals alive as the winds howled, the rain lashed buildings and water swirled everywhere.
The aquarium is located on Canal Street on the banks of the Mississippi River, a few blocks from the city's French Quarter. A majority of downtown New Orleans is flooded.
Suzanne told her mother that when the aquarium lost power Monday, they quickly fired a generator. They had plenty of food and fresh water and, thus far, flood waters had not entered the building.

City is damaged, damp - and lucky [New Orleans]
Baltimore Sun, United States - August 30, 2005
[Excerpt]
Forman, president and chief executive of the Audubon Nature Institute, was happy his charges stayed inside. He oversees the Audubon Zoo, the aquarium and other facilities, which he said fared well in the storm.
A few flamingos died, but he said there was little other loss of animal life.
[Feral Cat Blog! Note: I believe this was published before the levee failed and waters flooded ~80% of New Orleans so not sure of the zoo and aquarium status. Haven't seen an update yet.]

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Health expert: New Orleans residents stay away
CNN - August 30, 2005
One expert says New Orleans residents would face 'wilderness'
(CNN) -- Louisiana officials Monday urged the hundreds of thousands of people in the state who fled Hurricane Katrina to stay where they are.
[Excerpt]
Van Heerden ticked off the problems anyone returning to the city would find: "no sewage, no drinking water, contamination, threat of rapid increase in mosquitoes, roads are impassible, downed power lines everywhere, trees, debris from houses in the roads, no way to go shopping, no gas."
The water also has dislodged fire ants and thousands of snakes -- including poisonous water moccasins -- from their homes.

Pet Evacuee Shelters
KSLA-TV, LA - August 29, 2005
[Excerpt]
Scores of pets have made the long journey to the Arklatex with their owners who evacuated from Hurricane Katrina. But, many hotels either don't allow pets or charge a hefty price. That's why there are animal shelters helping take in these animals.To their owners, they are as precious as gold. And, people have taken great care in getting their pets to the tent Shelter outside the Red Cross Shelter at the gym of LSU-Shreveport.

Area groups provide shelter for animals displaced by storm
Shreveport Times, LA - August 29, 2005
[Excerpt]
The Krewe of Barkus & Meoux, along with the Humane Society and several local veterinarians organized a tent to shelter animals of those evacuees being housed at the American Red Cross shelter in the LSUS Health and Physical Education Building."This is the first time we've had an animal shelter available to us," said Michelle Davidson with the northwest Louisiana chapter of the Red Cross. "They've been growing just as fast as we are."And that's a relief for both Davidson and the people she and Red Cross volunteers want to help."That is often an obstacle for people to overcome when it comes to getting them to evacuate," she said. "Unfortunately, we can't accept animals (in Red Cross shelters)."Having their pets so close by has been a great comfort for many evacuees, Davidson said."They have appreciated the opportunity," she said. "A lot go out and play with the animals to make them feel a little better and I think it probably soothes them as much as the animals. "Nancy Bardwell with the Northwest Louisiana Humane Society said the community support of the evacuees and their pets has been tremendous."We can accommodate a lot more than what's here," she said of the 30 animals including a parrot and a canary they were housing Sunday evening. "If we run over, there are local animal shelters and horse stables that are ready to step in and help. We've gotten so many donations, we can hold out as long as we need to."The Caddo Commission's animal services division sent several cages to the shelter at LSUS and also opened up its doors to help house evacuees' pets.The parish began accepting dogs and cats free of charge about noon Sunday and would continue to do so until they filled up the 60 vacancies they had available, said Anita Mills, spokeswoman for the division.

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Louisiana SPCA shelter animals moved to Houston, Texas
See also TEXAS news.

Animals Evacuate Ahead Of Katrina
WDSU.com - WDSU News Channel 6, New Orleans, Louisiana
POSTED: 3:42 pm CDT August 28, 2005
[Includes hurricane and evacuation news]
Thousands of animals are being evacuated from New Orleans as Hurricane Katrina heads toward the Louisiana coastline.
Shelter workers recommend anyone leaving town should take their pets with them and make sure animals have ID tags, WDSU NewsChannel 6 reported.
Pet owners should also carry a photo of their pet in the event the animal becomes lost. Several animal shelters evacuated to Houston to wait out the storm.
"Normally, we'll evacuate all of our adoptable animals to Lake Charles, where Houston will meet us and take them. Then we'll come back, load our strays, take them to Jackson and our own animals to Baton Rouge. There's such a small window of opportunity this time that everything's going west with us, we're all going to Houston," Louisiana Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals representative Kate Pika said.

Shelter Closing; Animals are Being Moved as Katrina Approaches
NEW ORLEANS (8/27/05) – The LA/SPCA will be closing at 5pm today and plans to reopen on Tuesday, weather permitting. The shelter only evacuates for Category 3 or higher hurricanes.Twenty-five dogs that are being held pending court cases are on their way to Baton Rouge Animal Control to ride out Hurricane Katrina. Approximately 250 animals, strays and adoptables, will be moved to the Houston SPCA this evening in two 16’ climate-controlled trucks. Moving large number of animals is labor and time intensive and requires tremendous planning. The animals will return to Japonica Street on Tuesday, weather and building permitting. (Note: Japonica Street shelter floods extremely easily and may not be ready for inhabitants immediately following the storm.) The LA/SPCA recommends that all animals be evacuated should the family decide to leave the city. Be sure your pet is properly fitted with a collar and identification tags. Also take along a photo of you and your pet in the event you become separated. Familiar pet toys and food will help keep your pet calm when in unfamiliar territory. Please remember that Red Cross shelters do not accept pets and the SPCA does not board animals under any circumstances. Pets cannot survive if left to fend for themselves or tied to a stationary object. Those people who choose to abandon their pets will be charged with cruelty to animals. All trapping of animals like raccoons, stray cats, and the like should be discontinued until the storm passes. The Louisiana SPCA, a private non-profit organization chartered for the state of Louisiana in 1888, is dedicated to ending animal cruelty, eliminating animal overpopulation, providing quality low-cost veterinary care, and promoting the human and animal bond.
# # #
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MISSISSIPPI

WASHINGTON, Sept. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- The Humane Society of the United States Disaster Animal Response Team (DART), in conjunction with the Mississippi Board of Animal Health, is in Mississippi assisting with a pet-friendly shelter that has been established at the Coliseum in Jackson, which currently houses more than 80 animals. For the Jackson, Miss. area only, a phone number has been established to call to report missing or found pets.
The number is 1-800-252-0923.

ANIMAL CARE
Gulfport Veterinary Hospital and Pass Road Veterinary Hospital will be open with generator power today and Saturday from noon to 2 p.m. The animal clinics are owned by Dr. Johnny Geotes, who has a third clinic in Saucier but has been unable to contact it.
"If people have injured or sick animals, or if people need pet medication or health certificates if they want to take the animal on an airplane, we will help as much as we can until things like pet tranquilizers or inoculations run out," Geotes said Thursday afternoon, the first day he opened for the two-hour stretch.
Gulfport Veterinary is at 204 Pass Road. Pass Road Veterinary in Biloxi is at 2709 Pass Road.
The Humane Society is in need of volunteers to help feed and water animals left in the ruins. They reported the new U.S. 49 location may be used to shelter animals.

Maryland Man To Help Animals Stranded By 'Katrina' [horses]
WJXX, FL - August 31, 2005
... from Mother Nature, such as last year's multiple hurricane hits in ... they're taking Schwartz to Mississippi to rescue animals stranded by 'Katrina'. ...

Dolphins moved from hotel swimming pools to Panhandle marine park
SunHerald.com, MS - August 31, 2005
... evacuated to swimming pools at two Mississippi hotels when Hurricane Katrina threatened a ... Park in Panama City and the Gulfarium brought the animals to Florida ...

Dolphins spend hurricane in Gulfport hotel pool
SunHerald.com, MS - August 30, 2005...
the beachside Marine Life park were moved to a local hotel pool to weather Hurricane Katrina. ... This isn't the first time the sea animals have been hotel guests. ...

Region prepares to house storm evacuees
Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, MS - August 29, 2005
... of evacuating his home state because of Hurricane Katrina. ... with evacuees to provide discounts to house animals. ... "Nobody's really even mentioning the hurricane. ...
Pets will not be allowed at the Red Cross shelter, but Tucker said Dilworth Small Animal Hospital had contacted her and would work with evacuees to provide discounts to house animals.


TEXAS

75,000 Katrina refugees bound for Texas [Reunion Arena, Dallas]
WFAA (subscription), TX - September 1, 2005
... will be the temporary home for at least 25,000 Hurricane Katrina refugees from ...
Dallas has built a makeshift animal shelter in a Reunion parking garage, complete with food, water and veterinarian care for dozens of displaced pets, said Ade Williams, assistant director of Dallas' Department of Code Compliance.

Katrina’s victims have four legs, too
Daily News - Galveston County, TX - August 31, 2005
Those animals that are not allowed to stay in hotels or with friends or family have been taken to Galveston County’s animal shelters.

Evacuated cats, dogs available for adoption
Bryan College Station Eagle, Texas - September 1, 2005
Twenty dogs and 10 cats rescued from the New Orleans Humane Society before the hurricane hit arrived Monday in Bryan and are up for adoption.
The Brazos Animal Shelter, 2207 Finfeather Road, is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
For more information, call 979-775-5755.

Cajun cats, dogs come to Houston to escape Katrina
KVUE (subscription), TX - August 29, 2005
... Louisiana. Maloney heads Louisiana's SPCA. She and 13 staff members never hesitated to get their animals out of Katrina's way. "Our ...
[See also LOUISIANA news.]

NEW: SPCA of Bexar County to assist with animal relief
San Antonio Express (subscription), TX - August 30, 2005
The Humane Society SPCA of Bexar County left for Houston this afternoon to pick up about six dozen dogs and cats evacuated from Hurricane Katrina's path this ...

In Houston, it's raining cats and dogs
Houston Chronicle, United States - August 30, 2005
... milled about the lobby with their owners who fled Hurricane Katrina's wrath. ... hotel spokeswoman Anna Drake, who estimated more than 100 animals, including birds ...

Hotels relax policies on pets
Denton Record Chronicle (subscription), TX - August 30, 2005
Hotels have relaxed their policies, allowing Hurricane Katrina evacuees to keep their pets with ... Anna Drake, who estimated more than 100 animals, including birds ...

Hurricane Katrina evacuees flee to Longview, area
News Journal, TX - August 29, 2005
... "I think a hurricane is one of the better ones because at least we have a good advanced warning. ... "Everybody is welcome, including animals and livestock ...
Local hotel officials reported that very few, if any, rooms are available in Longview, Marshall and Tyler; however, the local Red Cross opened up a shelter at Maude Cobb Convention and Activity Center on Sunday afternoon for those looking for a place to stay.
Mandy Burks, emergency services director with the Red Cross, said the center can hold up to 800 people, and plenty of space is available.
"Everybody is welcome, including animals and livestock," she said.

FLOODED REGION - NO STATE YET SPECIFIED

Safe Havens and Veterinary Services Needed for Hurricane Katrina's Equine Refugees
TheHorse.com, KY - August 31, 2005
(Lexington, KY) – As Americans view the newscasts of the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina it is clear that both humans and animals require immediate ...
Place Your Facility on the USEF Hurricane Equine Relief List
[Download the USEF Hurricane Equine Relief List off their website.]

Residents Prepare To Assist Refugees, Injured
Carolina Channel.com, SC - August 31, 2005
[Excerpt]
The rescue group Pets In Peril is working out details with officials to send volunteers to the flooded region to help round up lost and injured family pets.
"You've got literally tens of thousands of animals in attics right now or swimming around on pieces of wood hanging on. These animals will die if no one rescues them," Pets In Peril leader Joe Renna said. "We need volunteers to drive the vans and perform rescue operations. We need able bodied people."
Renna said people wanting more information about volunteering or donating supplies should call (864) 222-1641.

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Animal Safety - Pets and Disaster: Be Prepared
American Red Cross
A Final Word
If you must evacuate, do not leave your animals behind. Evacuate them to a prearranged safe location if they cannot stay with your during the evacuation period (remember, pets are not allowed in Red Cross shelters.) If there is a possibility that disaster may strike while you are out of the house, there are precautions you can take to increase your pets' chances of survival, but they are not a substitute for evacuating with your pets.

Protect your pets and animals
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Decide now what to do with your pets in the event of a hurricane. The choices are to keep the pet with you at home, take it with you if you evacuate, leave it with a friend, or board it at a kennel.
Shelters do not allow pets. Don't plan on taking your pet to a public emergency shelter. Because of safety and public health concerns, public shelters don't allow pets, except Seeing Eye dogs and disability work dogs.
Leave pets alone at home only as a last resort, and then be sure to leave them enough food and water. Never leave a pet at home on a tether.

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State Emergency Management Links [from FEMA]
These links are for local issues and concerns on evacuations, preparations, shelters and safety. Please refer to the appropriate state.
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