Katrina Animals Pets Issues ~ September 9, 2005

* Reminder: Limited time periods for guardians / owners to claim pets from the various Emergency or Temporary Animal Shelters. Some are two weeks; Slidell, LA shelter (Noah’s Wish) was three weeks.

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* Priority - Save living animals who are still waiting, slowly dying, in New Orleans, especially needed boat rescues for still-flooded areas. It’s been ELEVEN agonizing days as of September 9. Can you not feel their betrayal, complete discomfort, hunger, thirst, confusion, fear, bewilderment -- each moment an eternity.
Good that finally now pets are being allowed with remaining NO evacuees -- what about all the other animals left behind that are still stranded in homes, buildings, on roofs, in the streets??????

This week I've phoned and e-mailed the White House, the Governor of Louisiana, news media, and other government agencies about the animals slowly dying in New Orleans particularly. The Governor's office advised me to call the Animal Rescue number. I advised them that ANIMAL RESCUERS KNOW!!! and need immediate help from government agencies.

A Petition to Protect the Animal Victims of Hurricane Katrina

* Where are other water rescuers? Other New Orleans animal rescuers?

From the Humane Society of Louisiana September 8:
New Orleans Animal Rescue in Peril. Help urgently required!

Best Friends - Note several reports

* Dogs being shot

Dallas News video
Requires QuickTime (available from Apple website for free for Mac and PC). Video takes almost minute to start.

St. Bernard residents told to leave, or else
Atlantic Journal Constitution:

Forum discussions: NOLA.com Animal Chat Forum/Pet Rescue and others

Best Friends - Note several reports

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* Animal / pet national television news coverage:

While grateful for attention being focused on animals, the national television coverage about pets and animals seems lame, not getting the point, no urgency when there are animals SLOWLY DYING. Tossing a bone to pacify animal advocates.

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* Concern about Katrina animals available for adoption so early:

These are/should be either pets that were already available for adoption who were evacuated from disaster area shelters or those surrendered by guardians/owners because of Hurricane Katrina.

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* Future Issues that some are working on now:

Making sure this animal/pet disaster never happens again:

Include pet-friendly or animal shelters in disaster plans.
Animals/pets must be evacuated with people.

PETA AD BLASTS GOVERNMENT'S BETRAYAL OF KATRINA'S ANIMAL VICTIMS
PETA (press release)

Animal Victims of Natural Disasters
Urge Congress to make a plan to rescue the animal victims of future natural disasters.
Doris Day Animal League