Katrina Animal Rescue Resources ~ Hotlines, Shelters, Action Updates

Katrina Animals Pets News ~ September 20 to August 28, 2005.


Katrina Animal Rescue Resources is a recap of previously posted information on this weblog and has been updated frequently. Current as of September 21, 2005. You must verify resources and criteria.

Katrina Lost Animal Hotlines / Katrina Stranded Animal Hotlines
Katrina Emergency Animal Shelters / Katrina Temporary Animal Shelters
Katrina Equine/Horse Relief - Shelter Facilities and Veterinary Services / Report Stranded Animals
Katrina National Animal Rescue Groups - Katrina Animal Action Updates
Katrina Animal Rescue Staging Locations
Volunteer for Katrina Animal Rescue
Katrina Foster List
Shipping or Mailing to Katrina Disaster Areas
State Maps: Louisiana :: Mississippi
Louisiana Road Closures (LSP)
See also Animal Rescue Resources on Katrina Help Wiki

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Katrina Lost Animal Hotlines / Katrina Stranded Animal Hotlines
See additional reporting info below this section.

* Louisiana
[See updates below for LSU Vet Med (Sept 12) and Petfinder.com / Animal Emergency Response Network (Sept 9)]

* New Orleans, Louisiana
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.
The New Orleans Louisiana Lost Animal Hotline is 225-578-6111. [9/7 This number goes to LSU/Parker Coliseum and the several times I called it, a message stated lines were busy, then gave various other places to call.]
Addition: Louisiana residents If you are in Louisiana, please call toll-free (888) 773-6489 between 8:00 am and 6:00 pm. All others, please call (225) 925-3980 between 8:00 am and 6:00 pm (a toll-free number for out-of-state callers is being established).
[Update 9/7 and 9/8: I was able to reach an actual person at 225-925-3980 (animal rescue) within 9am to 6pm LA time. That number is NOT listed on the LSU School of Vet Med site. On the 888-773-6489 number, I received a message "unable to complete as dialed" but I understood this number to be toll-free and for use WITHIN Louisiana; I am not in Louisiana. I have asked someone IN Louisiana to try the number.]
[See also Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine
Hurricane Katrina Emergency Animal Shelter at LSU
John M. Parker Coliseum
The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, 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. ]
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New week of September 18: Photos of Rescued Animals at Lamar-Dixon Expo Center

September 12, 2005
Change on http://www.vetmed.lsu.edu/ LSU Vet Med webpage late yesterday (Sept 12):For each category except one*, people are now directed to contact the online Animal Emergency Response Network which is the Petfinder.com database.
* Evacuees Seeking Pets That Were Boarded in Veterinary Clinics - This category contact info remains the same.
Also, several days ago, a reminder that this directive was added to the section:
Request a Rescue of a Pet Left Behind in the Disaster Area
"Residents are now being allowed back into certain parts of the Greater New Orleans areas. While we will do everything we can to rescue as many animals as possible, your pets will have a better chance if you can get in and rescue them yourselves. Please watch the news media for announcements of which areas residents may re-enter.If you do rescue your pet yourself after requesting rescue through this shelter, please notify us so that we can remove your name from the waiting list."
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9/8/05 from Louisiana SPCA
(225) 647-0712 LA/SPCA Animal Search and Rescue (Orleans Parish)
(504) 733-8572 Jefferson Feed, Pet and Garden Center (Jefferson Parish)

* Horse Helpline - 225-578-9501 (Louisiana)

* Jackson, Mississippi area only:
Call 1-800-252-0923 to report missing or found pets.

* In Mississippi, an animal disaster hotline is in operation. The number is 1-888-722-3106. [9/8/05]

* Texas

Austin Hotline for evacuees to Austin needing pet assistance: 512-646-PETS

Houston Hotline for evacuees needing shelter for pets in Houston area: 713-802-0555
The Houston SPCA is now accepting animals from storm victims staying in Houston Area Shelters.

Dallas Metro: If you have an animal and need a place for it to stay, call 972-562-7297 ext 123.

Wildlife Hotline 205-621-3333 (an Alabama number)

Additional Reporting of Katrina Lost, Stranded Animals

Petfinder Update: Tuesday, 20 September 2005, 10:00 am EST
Workers at Lamar Dixon inform us there are close to 4000 records waiting to be entered into the Animal Emergency Rescue Network. These are the records of the animals at the facility as well as those who have been transported to other facilities. Those responsible for the data entry hope it will be complete at the end of this week. Each day there will be more data, so please keep checking if you have lost your pet.
Several well-meaning organizations have rescued many animals, but did not process them through the Louisiana SPCA or Lamar-Dixon. There is no record of those animals. Please encourage all humane organizations in your area that have returned with Katrina animal victims to register their charges with disaster.petfinder.org. This will give the owners a chance to find their pet BEFORE any adoptions take place. The primary goal should be reuniting not adopting. Again, please encourage all organizations to seek reuniting BEFORE adoption. Have all Katrina animal victims registered at disaster.petfinder.org

September 9, 2005: The Petfinder.com database to help Katrina pets is now online:
Animal Emergency Response Network
This is for pet owners/guardians: to request pet rescue, find foster or temporary care for their pet, find lost pets or request help with their pets.
You can sign up to foster or volunteer.
You can report found pets in the diasaster region.
Rescue workers can search the database.
Petfinder.com Update: [katrina.petfinder.com]
Tuesday, September 6, 2005, 7:00 am
Our programmers are currently hard at work developing a comprehensive database to aid the pets affected by Hurricane Katrina. We plan to have it operational within the next few days.
National Hotline for reporting lost pets 1-888-pets-911 [not sure how this fits into the mix]

* United Animal Nations (UAN) / Emergency Animal Rescue Services (EARS)
REPORTING LOST ANIMALS:
If you need to report a lost animal or an animal needing rescue in LOUISIANA, please call toll-free (888) 773-6489 between 8:00 am and 6:00 pm or e-mail Katrina@ldaf.louisiana.gov. For Mississippi animals, we are collecting rescue requests from evacuees and others who are unsure of the whereabouts of their animals. Those requests are daily being compiled with requests reported to other organizations with whom we are coordinating to form a master database. Once teams are deployed, these requests will be forwarded to those in the area who can perform rescue efforts. Submit an online form with necessary information [here].

* ASPCA American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
People who left pets stranded in their homes can contact the ASPCA at 212-876-7700, ext. 4700.
September 3, 2005 Press Release: To help aid the people affected by Hurricane Katrina, the ASPCA has set up a database to help families find their lost pets. In order to register your pet, please send your contact information and a description of the pet including name and breed to disaster@aspca.org or register via telephone at (212)876-7700, ext 4700. Pictures of lost pets are unable to be accepted at this time.

* 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.

* Humane Society of the United States (HSUS)
Individuals who learn of stranded pets are urged to call the HSUS phone bank at 1-800-HUMANE-1, provided they have location information that can be relayed to the teams in the field.

* Alley Cat Allies
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

Displaced pets finding shelter, too
Dallas Morning News (subscription), TX
TEXAS Resources:
* If you have an animal and need a place for it to stay, call 972-562-7297 ext 123.
* If you left an animal behind and want to alert rescuers to its location, call 1-800-HUMANE-1.
* If you want to be a foster family for an animal needing a temporary home in North Texas, call 214-651-9611 ext. 123.
* If you want to adopt an animal - which would help make room for animals needing temporary quarters - call 1-888-ANIMALS.
The SPCA of Texas is reducing its adoption fees to $40 for all animals Sunday in order to help make room for animals needing temporary shelter after their owners were displaced by Hurricane Katrina. (Usual fees ranged from $80 for cats to $185 for small dogs.) To take advantage of this offer, call 1-888-ANIMALS or go online at www.spca.org for shelter locations. Shelters will be open Sunday from noon until 6 p.m.

Media Advisory -- Alert to Pet Owners in Slidell, La.: Come to Heritage Park to Claim Rescued Animals or Report Stranded Pets
PrimeZone (press release), CA
[Excerpt]
NEW YORK, Sept. 3, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Noah's Wish, a not-for-profit organization that works exclusively to rescue and shelter animals in disasters, is rescuing animals from evacuated homes in Slidell, Louisiana. The pets are being housed at a temporary animal shelter and Noah's Wish is working with Slidell Animal Control to coordinate the rescue of hundreds of abandoned and stranded pets in the city of Slidell. The Animal Control building sustained extensive damage during Hurricane Katrina. Noah's Wish staff and volunteers on the ground do not have phone, cell phone or web access at this time and are unable to communicate outside the Slidell area. Noah's Wish is asking that pet owners from Slidell not call or send email, as communication is limited. Pet owners who live in Slidell need to come to Heritage Park to report a lost or stranded pet. Noah's Wish staff will be at Heritage Park from 8am to 7pm every day for at least the next 3 weeks. Pet owners must come in person to determine if their pet is at the shelter, as the number of pets being rescued is expected to reach the hundreds.
This temporary shelter will have the ability to house hundreds of animals. Trained Noah's Wish volunteers, veterinarians, and veterinary technicians will work around the clock to provide medical services, care and much-needed love and affection to these traumatized animals. Pet owners may pick up food and supplies from Noah's Wish volunteers in Heritage Park. Donations of pet food, blankets, dog kennels etc. may be left at Heritage Park.

Katrina Emergency Animal Shelters (from News and UAN list)
See additional shelters below this section.

LOUISIANA [State Map]

Abbeville: Boys and Girls Club, Fruit of the Loom Factory, 337-893-0235
Alexandria: Farmers Market, 225-578-9900
Baton Rouge: LSU Agriculture Center/Parker Coliseum, 225-578-9900
Franklinton: Fairgrounds
Gonzales: Lamar Dixon Horse Expo Center, 225-413-8813
Lafayette: Blackham Coliseum (near Cajundome), 337-291-5644
Lake Charles: Calcasieu Parish Animal Services, 337-439-8879
Lake Charles: Lake Charles Civic Center
Monroe: Monroe Civic Center (small animals), 225-578-9900
Monroe: Ike Hamilton Center (large animals), 225-578-9900
Natchitoches: Natchitoches Animal Shelter (FULL)
Shreveport: Hirsch Coliseum at Louisiana State Fairgrounds

MISSISSIPPI [State Map]

Gautier: Jackson County Animal Shelter

Hattiesburg: Forrest County Multipurpose Center,952 Sullivan Drive, Barn E
Hattiesburg, MS 39401

Jackson: Fairgrounds/Coliseum

TEXAS [State Map]

Austin: Animal Staging Area identified (Human shelter is at Toney Berger Center)


Additional Animal Shelters from News: Temporary or Emergency or Assisting

ALABAMA

Various cities: VCA Animal Hospitals, 1-800-VCA-PETS or www.vcapets.com
(free boarding on a space available basis to house pets from areas hardest hit by hurricane)
Montgomery: Montgomery County HS (taking evacuees animals)
Cullman: Dog Gone Resort, 734-4256 (offering free boarding for pets of hurricane victims; 10 minutes from downtown Cullman)

FLORIDA

Various cities: VCA Animal Hospitals, 1-800-VCA-PETS or www.vcapets.com
(free boarding on a space available basis to house pets from areas hardest hit by hurricane)

LOUISIANA

Shreveport: LSU (Tent shelter outside of gym; human Red Cross Shelter)
Slidell: Warehouse, 1325 Bayou Lane (next to Heritage Park)

TEXAS

Dallas: Reunion Arena
Dallas: Dallas SPCA McKinney Facility, Pet Haven
Longview: Maude Cobb Convention & Activity Center (Animals and livestock)
Texarkana: Southwest Center grounds
Various cities: VCA Animal Hospitals, 1-800-VCA-PETS or www.vcapets.com
(free boarding on a space available basis to house pets from areas hardest hit by hurricane)


Katrina Equine / Horse Relief
United States Equine Federation
* Place Your Facility on the USEF Hurricane Equine Relief List
* Download USEF Hurricane Equine Relief List
(List of Shelter Facilities and Veterinary Services for Hurricane Katrina Equine Refugees)

* Horse Helpline - 225-578-9501 (Louisiana)

TheHorse.com Creates Emergency Database to Report Animals Stranded By Hurricane Katrina
TheHorse.com, KY - September 7, 2005 1pm
In response to a request from the American Veterinary Medical Association’s Veterinary Medical Assistance Teams (VMATs), http://www.thehorse.com/ has created a database for citizens to report stranded animals in Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi. This list will be used by the VMATs to direct their searches for large and small animals for rescue.
If you were forced to leave pets or livestock in hurricane-stricken areas, please visit http://www.thehorse.com/ and fill out the available form. [click at left on Report Stranded Animals or View Listed Animals. These submissions will be reviewed by our staff, then posted ASAP on the web site, where VMATs will access them.
Be as complete as possible about the location, number, and types of animals left stranded and include current contact information so team members can contact you if they recover your animals or have questions.
Remember: Most signs are gone. Help rescuers find your pets and livestock by being thorough in your directions; include crossroads, firegate or 911 identifying markers, and GPS coordinates if you have them.


Katrina National Animal Rescue Groups - Katrina Animal Action Updates:

* Noah’s Wish
* UAN/EARS
* HSUS
* Best Friends
* ASPCA
* AHA
* Katrina.Petfinder.com

Volunteer for Katrina Animal Rescue

ASPCA
ASPCA has set up a database for people who would like to volunteer with the animal relief efforts. Please register via email at disaster@aspca.org or via telephone at (212) 876-7700, ext 4700. Leave your contact information and special skills you possess to help with animal relief.
Also online form: Hurricane Katrina Volunteer Registration
[This includes volunteer for foster care - see also Foster section below.]

Best Friends Activity
Check this section regularly for their needs.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED IMMEDIATELY!
September 4, 2005 : 4:23 PM ET
Best Friends is looking for volunteers who are trained, experienced shelter workers with emergency rescue experience or animal control officers, to help with the rescue of animals in the disaster zone. If you are available, please call 435.644.3965 ext. 4242.

Any animal handling professionals or animal control officers who wish to assist with search and rescue missions going into flooded areas, please visit the Louisiana Animal Control Association Newsblog at www.lacanews.blogspot.com for more information. Please note: this will be a dangerous, dirty job and not one that members of the general public can assist us with. Only trained professionals can be
used for this task.

Katrina Foster List

* ASPCA
ASPCA has set up a database for people who would like to volunteer (includes fostering) with the animal relief efforts. Please register via email at disaster@aspca.org or via telephone at (212) 876-7700, ext 4700. Leave your contact information and special skills you possess to help with animal relief.
Also online form: Hurricane Katrina Volunteer Registration

* 1-800-Save-A-Pet.com is compiling a fostering list to share with ASPCA and animal disaster groups on the ground.
Katrina Animal Foster Home Sign-up
We have offered to put together a database of foster homes for the ASPCA disaster teams and other organizations working on the front lines, and they have accepted our offer.
If you live outside of the region affected by the hurricane, you are still welcome and encouraged to sign up. Please know, though, that you will be expected to provide a way to transport the pet(s) to you. If you are asked to travel to the region to pick up your foster pet(s), you will be responsible for all travel costs, arrangements, and accommodations during your trip.


Shipping/Mailing to Katrina Disaster Areas
Katrina Service Updates

United States Postal Service (USPS)

United Parcel Service (UPS)