1/17/07: Gift Of Life For Animals Left Behind

More than 16 months after Katrina ravaged the Gulf Coast, aid is still needed in New Orleans and surrounding areas. Rebuilding is slow, demolition somewhat random. Today’s food/water station is tomorrow’s leveled slab. But for the animals left behind (and their ample offspring) food, water and rescue are essential.

From February 16-22, 2007 Brenda and a small Kinship Circle team will cover as much ground as we physically can -- ferrying food and water to ever-changing stations, some unfilled for weeks or longer... We’ll work our way from the 9th Ward, Central City, Uptown...to Lakeview, Plaquemines Parish, St. Bernard Parish.

DONATIONS:
Please send donations earmarked for Katrina Rescue/Food so we can purchase enough food, trays, water jugs to cover our weeklong effort AND leave any extra with ARNO in New Orleans.

ONLINE DONATIONS:
http://www.kinshipcircle.org/donation/

BY MAIL:
Send check made out to Kinship Circle (a nonprofit organization) to:
Kinship Circle
7380 Kingsbury Blvd.
Saint Louis, MO 63130
memo: Katrina Rescue/Food

Do you have DRY CAT FOOD to donate or know someone who does?
CONTACT: Brenda Shoss, disasteraid@kinshipcircle.org, 314-863-9445

...We’ve ALL been through a lot together in the last couple years. We lost Shannon Moore, whom I worked so closely with on Louisiana’s Pet Evacuation Bill... We’ve shed tears, anger, frustration... And JOY over the miraculous reunions that still happen.

But for the animal (and human) victims of Katrina, it’s not quite over... Please, if you can, donate from your heart so we can bring much needed food and supplies to animals.

With heartfelt thanks, Brenda Shoss, Kinship Circle

Caring about innocent animals caught in Katrina’s wrath doesn’t diminish human suffering. It makes us human.

The Humane Society of Louisiana, in collaboration with Animal Rescue New Orleans, the Coalition of Louisiana Animal Advocates, and Pet Aid proudly announce the first annual statewide conference on strategic planning:

WHEN: Saturday, January 20, 2007 - 9:00am to 4:00pm
WHERE: Denham Springs City Hall
941 Government St; Denham Springs, LA

TO REGISTER: Send $15.00 to the Humane Society of Louisiana, (write "statewide conference" on check memo),
and mail to:
P.O. Box 740321, New Orleans, La 70174
The cost includes a vegetarian lunch and refreshments.

DISPLAY TABLES: To reserve a display table for your organization, contact stopcruelty11@gmail.com

The conference will address 3 areas of general concern to those working or volunteering in the animal protection field:
1. How do we adequately respond to animal cruelty complaints?
2. How do we encourage more pet owners to sterilize their companion animals?
3. How do we increase our adoption rates?

1/17/07, Pam Leavy tundraleap@msn.com — Kittens are being born in the dead of winter. This should not be happening, but it is, along with other strange occurrences. Many long-term effects of Katrina are yet to be seen.

The email below is from Ramona Billot, a dedicated animal relief worker since the storm. The distress, frustration and concern in her email is quite obvious. She has carried a very heavy load for a very long time. We, the feeders, have become the guardians for these thousands of homeless dogs and cats we care for. They depend on us -- we are all they have.

If the kittens being born now survive, they encounter harsh living conditions, including hunger, illness, toxins, & collapsing buildings, and dogs are killing cats and kittens. In addition, the cold weather will take many lives. Although N.O. has mild winters, there are occasional cold fronts which drop the temperatures below freezing. Currently, the temp in N.O. is 38 degrees, with a high today in the mid 40's.

PLEASE CONTACT:
* Ramona Billot - ramonabillot@yahoo.com
* ARNO - http://www.animalrescueneworleans.com
* Cody - http://www.threewishesfoundation.org

...Or perhaps you can help with donations, transports, adoptions, sheltering, or if you can physically volunteer time for feeding and trapping. Since kitten season is over in most areas, many shelters may have space available for our babies. Please forward this email on to others. Pam Leavy (Ramona's email below)

EDITED FOR LENGTH - Read full version: http://rrhudy.myweb.uga.edu/bfrr/arno.html These are an estimated 200 cats still roaming in Lakeview, just one of the areas of New Orleans hardest hit by Katrina in August 2005. These felines have been struggling for survival since the levees broke. Many of them were much-loved family pets...

For almost a year and a half, Animal Rescue New Orleans (ARNO) volunteers have done their best to fill "stations" with food/water, hopefully where some shelter is available, to provide hay when cold temperatures are predicted, and, if possible, to humanely trap those requiring medical attention. Some Lakeview residents have provided assistance in caretaking. Still, this system is constantly challenged when donations for food run low, when kittens present more mouths to feed, when roaming dogs prey upon kittens and cats, and when countless other obstacles occur unexpectedly...

Every effort is being made to reunite these cats with their owners. Jeanette Althans and Kathy Sweeney, ARNO volunteers who feed and sometimes trap in Lakeview, also photograph the cats regularly... About a dozen Remote Reunion Campaign volunteers are currently working with them to determine potential matches. These matches will be verified when the cats can be trapped. If the matches are exact, some will finally make it home...

Lakeview is only one of the many parts of New Orleans still devastated. The destruction caused by Katrina continues for 650 square miles and there are many hungry, homeless animals in grave need. Please look at the faces of the cats <http://rrhudy.myweb.uga.edu/bfrr/lakeviewcats.html> If you can help in any way, please do so immediately...

The focus of this alert is on the Lakeview area of Orleans Parish because the number of cats there are within reach, with your assistance, to rescue sooner than later. HELP: http://rrhudy.myweb.uga.edu/bfrr/helparno.html

ONLINE / Pay Pal: http://www.animalrescueneworleans.org
BY MAIL / check or Walmart gift card to:
Animal Rescue New Orleans
1219 Coliseum Street
New Orleans, LA 70130

HOW TO HELP: http://rrhudy.myweb.uga.edu/bfrr/helparno.html

If you would be kind enough to sponsor one of Lakeview's "Forgotten" Cats, please see Jeanette Althans’ photos/text below and [LARGER, FULL VERSION] at <http://rrhudy.myweb.uga.edu/bfrr/lakeviewcats.html>

For those still roaming, your contributions may be gifts of life.

1. Lakeview, New Orleans is one of many areas caught in Katrina’s destruction — and by no means represents the only urgent area for animals.

2. KINSHIP CIRCLE does not represent any particular rescue organization working in the Gulf Coast. We compile/circulate information from various groups and individuals.

Foster/Adopt For Animal Rescue New Orleans ARNO has an ongoing need for foster homes to provide animals a safe and loving environment until transport, reunion and adoption arrangements can be made. Help us continue saving animals from the streets of New Orleans and many surrounding parishes. Your support enables ARNO to trap and rescue more animals from animal control facilities and kill shelters. The surrounding parishes have experienced a drastic increase in Katrina owner surrenders, as many people cannot find new places to live that allow pets.

* ARNO FOSTER CARE APPLICATION: http://www.animalrescueneworleans.com/foster_form.html
* More ARNO foster info and contacts: http://www.animalrescueneworleans.com/fosterinfo.html
* ARNO ADOPTION APPLICATION: http://www.animalrescueneworleans.com/adoptions.html
* ARNO (Animal Rescue New Orleans) 504-571-1900 / Adoptions email: adoptfromarno@yahoo.com

* CONTACT RAMONA BILLOT: ramonabillot@yahoo.com

We are understaffed and need people who can help us with animal care. Duties include 'dishes' (litter pans and food/water bowl scrubbing), laundry, cat cages cleaned, puppy pens cleaned, dogs walked... but mostly we need help with dishes and the cats...

SHELTER NEEDS:
Dry cat food / Kitten food / Cat litter, non-clumping
Bleach / Liquid disinfectant, lemon scent
Paper towels / Parvosol or Rocal, hospital disinfectant

ANIMAL RESCUE NEW ORLEANS SHELTER
271 Plauche Street; New Orleans, LA 70123
In the Elmwood business park area, off Edwards Ave.
Robin Beaulieu, ARNO Shelter Director/Rescue Coordinator:
504-913-2328
Volunteer for ARNO: http://animalrescueneworleans.org/volunteer.html

EXPERIENCED VET TECHS, CONTACT:
arnoinfo@cox.net
Type in subject line: VET TECH

Mattie is a great little dog who disappeared after the car he was in was stolen from the University City Loop November 7, 2006. His owners, Tom and Alice Matthews from Michigan, were visiting St. Louis and were window shopping in the Loop at the time. The purpose of Mattie’s website is to truly answer the question, "Where in the world is Mattie?" If you can help volunteer to find Mattie, or if you have any information, please email whereintheworldismattie@gmail.com

From Kinship Circle — While this dog’s tragedy began in St. Louis, he could be anywhere in the country now... So, to all you dog-loving list members, please look into Mattie’s face and visit Mattie’s website for instructions on how you can help.

whereintheworldismattie@gmail.com
St. Louis Volunteer: 314-795-2363
Mattie’s Family: 616-706-6026
Anonymous Third-Party Line (call this is you have any tips): 800-357-2547

Download/Distribute Mattie Flyers:
http://www.whereintheworldismattie.blogspot.com/

From Audry, aud1975@yahoo.com — Clearly a very loved and missed companion dog!! So think back to any transports you've done for rescues, any dogs you remember seeing in shelters. Mattie has been missing for 2 months, could be anywhere! Please visit the website for instructions if you have seen Mattie, or email whereintheworldismattie@gmail.com
Thank you!

*Mattie’s a mixed breed, all white, small dog with Eskimo dog type thick hair.

Thousands of pets were rescued after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast. Many remain in shelters, waiting for adoption or for their owners to be located. Do you know of an owner still searching for his or her lost pet? Do you have pictures of animals still waiting to be placed? Send us your rescue stories and photos.

To send files from your computer, use CNN form at: http://www.cnn.com/exchange/ireports/topics/forms/2006/12/rescue.stories.html
Or email ireport@cnn.com from your cell phone.

Some of the videos, photos and audio submitted may be selected for use on CNN.com, in CNN television programming or other CNN programming services, so by sending information you are agreeing to our terms of use.

12/25/06 / Op-Ed Columnist / By BOB HERBERT: Spike Lee, who has made a stunning six-hour documentary about New Orleans and Hurricane Katrina, was telling me the other day about his first visit to the city's Lower Ninth Ward, which was annihilated by the flood that followed the storm.

After more than a year his voice was still filled with a sense of horrified wonder. "To see it with your own eyes," he said, "and you're doing a 360-degree turn, and you see nothing but devastation .... I wasn't born until 1957 but I automatically thought about Hiroshima or Nagasaki or Berlin after the war.

"It looked like someone had dropped a nuclear bomb. It was all brown, and there was the smell, the stench. It was horrible."

His words echoed the comments of a woman I had met on a recent trip to New Orleans. She remembered standing in the Ninth Ward after the waters had receded. "Everything was covered in brown crud," she said. "There was nothing living. No birds. No dogs. There was no sound. And none of the fragrance that's usually associated with New Orleans, like jasmine and gardenias and sweet olives. It was just a ruin, all death and destruction."

Said Mr. Lee: "You couldn't believe that this was the United States of America."

The film, which was produced by HBO and has been released in a boxed set of DVDs, is called "When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts." It's Mr. Lee's best work, an informative, infuriating and heartbreaking record of a cataclysmic historical event ˜ the loss of a great American city.

What boggles the mind now is the way the nation seems to be taking this loss in stride. Much of New Orleans is still a ruin. More than half of its population is gone and an enormous percentage of the people who are still in town are suffering.

As Mr. Lee noted, the public face of the city is to some extent a deceptive feel-good story. The Superdome, a chamber of horrors during the flood, has been made new again. And the city's football team, the Saints, has turned its fortunes around and is sprinting into the National Football League playoffs. (They beat the Giants in New York yesterday, 30-7.)

"They spent the money on the Superdome, and you can get drunk in the French Quarter again, and some of the conventions are coming back," Mr. Lee said, "so people are trying to say that everything's O.K. But that's a lie.

"They need to stop this focus on downtown and the Superdome because it does a disservice to all those people who are still in very deep trouble. They need to get the cameras out of the French Quarter and go to New Orleans East, or the Lower Ninth Ward. Or go to St. Bernard Parish. You'll see that everything is not O.K. Far from it."

Vast acreages of ruined homes and staggering amounts of garbage and filth still burden the city. Scores of thousands of people remain jobless and homeless. The public schools that are open, for the most part, are a scandal. And the mental health situation, for the people in New Orleans and the evacuees scattered across the rest of the U.S., is yet another burgeoning tragedy.

There's actually a fifth act, only recently completed, to "When the Levees Broke," in which a number of people reflect on what has been happening since the storm. Wynton Marsalis, ordinarily the mildest of individuals, looks into the camera with an expression of anger and deep disgust. "What is the government doing?" he asks. "They're trying to figure out how to hand out contracts. How to lower the minimum wage so the subcontractors can make all the money. Steal money from me and you, man. We're paying taxes, you understand what I'm saying?"

For most of America, Katrina is an old story. In Mr. Lee's words, people are suffering from "Katrina fatigue." They're not much interested in how the levees have only been patched up to pre-Katrina levels of safety, or how the insurance companies have ripped off thousands upon thousands of hard-working homeowners who are now destitute, or how, as USA Today reported, "One $7.5 billion Louisiana program to help people rebuild or relocate has put money in the hands of just 87 of the 89,403 homeowners who applied."

There are other matters vying for attention. The war in Iraq is going badly. Donald Trump and Rosie O'Donnell are feuding. And, after all, it's Christmas.

"You know how Americans are," Mr. Lee said. "We're on to the next thing."