From the Yahoo raccoon list I’m on:
6:49 AM ET
Hi All,
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We are going to have to leave since the storm has taken that northerly turn..we are located about 45mins. north of I-10 I don’t think that’s far enough from the storm and we are in a mobile home.
We are moving our livestock (goats, chickens, ducks, and horses) to a safe location today..Then tomorrow we are loading up all the house animals and our coonie [raccoon] and heading out. I hope we have something to come back to, but not sure. I have seen all the damage that Katrina did to NO and the mobile homes were smashed many miles from there .. so i think it is not safe here for my family and our four-legged babies..We have prayers going out to all those that can’t leave (for whatever the reason is) .. I hope everyone stays safe. I really am in a daze right now .. with all that has already happened and what’s about to come .. and just don’t know anymore … MAY GOD BE WITH ALL OF US. Stay safe everyone. Debbie, La
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8:44 AM ET
Well we have everything under control.. lol.. I have carriers and kennels
for all our house pets which are 6 cats, 6 dogs and 2 puppies, and a
coonie.. lol .. they r all going with us … our stock has a safe place to
go.
I’m going to mark all my goats with some spray paint so if they get mixed up with other goats…we will be able to pick them out..lol.so
all our babies r going to be safe..we will have a load in 2 vehecles — a
suburban, and a chevy pickup)..anyone know of places (shelters. hotels., etc. .. available that allow animals? … lol.. we are in
DeRidder, La. .. we will have 5 children and all our fur kids in these two
vehicles.. lol .. ?
Debbie, La
Her anxiety is palpable. Several people on the list — including a woman in Virginia and others in places like Minnesota — have offered their homes and land to her and her entire family. If Debbie can get that far. . . . Below the fold, two reports, from Betsy, a border terrier breeder, and a report from an AKC delegate who was in Baton Rouge:
As I post this, I realize — as do you — that this will happen all over again throughout other parts of Louisiana and large portions of Texas (and wherever else Rita hits). HSUS is building shelters and giving hard cash to local shelters, as well as bringing in its many teams of volunteers. And so is PETA, which has been working around the clock in Louisiana. (“Over 30 dogs rescued from New Orleans are now calling PETA’s Norfolk, Virginia, headquarters home. Watch footage of their arrival and see pictures of these lucky survivors.”)
Mon, 19 Sep 2005 23:32:50 -0400
To:
TheBorderT-L@yahoogroups.com,
USBorderBreeders@yahoogroups.com,
BorderTerrierXtra@yahoogroups.com,
GlobalBorderTerrierBreeders@yahoogroups.com
Betsy Kirkpatrick, half of Bendywood BTs in Virginia, sent this story
tonight, about HER experiences going into the New Orleans area. She
gave permission to crosspost.
————————————–
Jo, can you send to the list if you feel appropriate. Thanks. Betsy
I have just returned from a week in Hattisburg, MS, Gonzales, LA and St. Bernards Parrish, LA. at the shelters set up for the animal victims of Katrina. I went down in the RV with hopes of transporting dogs out of that area to wherever they needed to go. We had the capacity to move 55 dogs. I went with 2 vets from VA one from TN., 3 vet techs and two other “normal” people like me with no medical training. Both the Hattisburg and Gonzales facility were incredible. The facilities for the dogs, cats, horses, etc. and care they were given were great.
We stayed in Hattisburg for two days, then went to Gonzales where we
heard there was a great need to move animals out. There was so much red tape it was incredible. We were told we’d have to wait 48 hours before any animals could be moved and that they had 4 – 5 air-conditioned tractor trailors ready to move animals to the Houston shelter for distribution to other sites. They would only let the animals go to a know SPCA and not to foster families that the vets in VA had lined up. There was another lady from CA there trying to take out cats and they turned her away too.
It was very, very frustrating. I also spoke to an AKC representative in Hattisburg and asked him about the rumors of animals being euthanized in Gonzales. He said that was
only happening to animals that were very sick or that were vicious.
A girl in my group had been asked by a friend to pick up her three cats
she had to leave in NO. She went with one of our vets and got the cats. He had lived in the area in the past and they actually drove into parts of NO. They ended up in St. Bernards Parrish.
There was an old gentleman there with $14 in his pocket and an old van with 1/2 tank of gas. They found him in an old dilapidated warehouse where he had rescued 14 stray animals from the area and had made make shift cages to try and keep them in to protect them. Neither could get the picture out of their mind.
I was sent to Gonzales with two people and we ran into all the red tape about transporting dogs. We called the vet and told him our predicament. He said bring the RV to NO. We had to verbally fight at many barricades but were finally able to make it to our destination.
Thursday we drove to St. Bernards Parrish and set up a temporary shelter. Within two days we had over 160 animals. We had no water and no electricty. The RV supplied the small amount of light we had. The National Guard brought in water for the animals and on
Friday a water tank that we could bath the most needy dogs in was set up. The fire departmant came at 10:00 each day to help us wash out
crates and bowls. When I left they were trying to either find another
facility or ways of getting animals to Gonzales. The firemen from the
Parrish, National Guard troops, the Army and many people from all over the country were there to help walk and exercise the dogs.
This was a very rewarding and emotional trip.
There were a few reunions where the owners actually came and found their pets. They were the great moments of joy. There were many more where they left the shelter in tears because there beloved friends were not to be found. We always told them don’t give up hope because they may be brought in tomorrrow.
The most needed items were bowls and towels. Of course any monetary donations are very needed. Our vets are leaving at the end of the week. I don’t know if the shelter will continue or not but if anyone can offer help I’m sure it would be greatly appreciated. I’m not sure if there is a site for the St. Bernard Parrish. I think it is being helped by the HSUS but I’m not 100% sure.
The soldiers named this site CAMP LUCKY. I know I am blessed to have
gone there and played a minor part. Please pray for all those still to be found.
Best to all, Betsy Kirkpatrick, Bendywood Borders
PS. I felt so lucky to be home Sunday night and sleep with many of my
four-legged friends. I just hope many others will be able to have
that same opportunity soon.
……………………………………………………………
Jo Wolf
Martinez, Georgia
I returned last weekend from Baton Rouge; I had been volunteering at the LSU Vet School since 9/10. LSU is treating all hurricane animals brought in from Lamar Dixon, Parker Ag Center(LSU on site shelter set up for owned animals) and animals evacuated with owners. They are operating 24 hrs a day and they are treating any animal brought in without regard for ability to pay or owner contact information. As you may realize Louisiana is not a rich state and the vet school and campus is at best underfunded to meet this enormous challenge.
While I was in Baton Rouge, I contacted AKC and learned that Steve Robinson and Jason Miller were headed through Mississippi, stopping at shelters in Jackson and Hattiesburg, to meet up with the local AKC Field Inspector and check on AKC breeders/owners in the affected area before arriving in Baton Rouge and Lamar Dixon.
At LSU, Parker AG Center was in desperate need of perimeter fencing for two reasons: One to keep dogs from escaping while being moved for exercise and cleaning and two to keep the curious public from wondering in and out and possibly taking dogs or cats without permission. AKC was on site and agreed to donate the temporary fencing for Parker and to provide follow up to make sure that the fencing was in place as soon as possible. By the time I left on Friday afternoon, the fence was up, an AKC banner placed on it and everyone at Parker was so pleased and grateful to have this security in place to protect the animals.
At the Vet School, AKC staff toured the Small Animal ICU and wards housing hurricane animals, they quickly realized that money was needed to restore health to so many patients. They met with Dr. Mc Curnin and Dr. Amy Grooters along with LSU vet faculty, staff and students and agreed to contact CAR to donate money directly to the Small Animal Unit to be used expressly for the care of hurricane related illness in small animals. Again a direct contact was made to follow up on the use of the AKC/CAR money to be certain it got directly to where it was most needed and not lost in a “fund” somewhere.
The staff, faculty and students at the LSU Vet School were amazed that AKC/CAR was on site and actually they were floored that the AKC would care so much and was willing to donate to help all dogs. They are very, very grateful for the aid. LSU vet med press liaison, Dr. Beckie Adcock, was talking with AKC PR staff in Raleigh and referring writers and reporters to AKC.
A great challenge in any disaster is getting the appropriate supplies to the right locations in a timely manner. One place needs crates another needs fans and power strips, massive amounts of dog food arrive, but there are no bowls to put it in; donated items arrive, but no one has the time to sort through all of the varied items. Jason and Steve had a truck filled with AKC supplies following them into the storm area. At each stop they made, they assessed the needs of that particular location then contacted the truck to direct it where to stop and which supplies to leave.
When I left Louisiana last Friday, Steve Robinson was extending his stay at least until the end of this week. He said will continue to interface with all parties in various shelters, including Lamar Dixon, and provide help where needed and to get first hand information regarding continued rescue efforts to all of us connected to AKC.
I thank Dennis and Carmen for sending staff into the Katrina affected area and acting so quickly on monetary requests; I want to also thank Steve and Jason for their efforts to get help directly to places where it is most needed and to provide an AKC presence. I wanted the Delegates to know that I have first hand experience that AKC is helping to save and care for Katrina’s animal victims.
Susan LaCroix Hamil
Shoreline Dog Fancier’s of Orange County (California)
Permission to cross-post granted