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4/14/07: For The Animals’ Sake, Gulf Coast And Beyond 1) Online Movies About Animals Of Storm |
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1. Online Movies About Animals Of Storm A Place Between Hope And Despair MOVIE: www.kinshipcircle.org/disasters/nola_video.html In Defense of the Peaceful Pit Bull Terriers From: Pam Leavy, tundraleap@msn.com — These are all the videos, beginning with Lamar Dixon just after the storm, thru Dec. of 2006. I'll be doing another one covering Jan - April 2007... 2.ARNO Requires Registration For All NOLA Feeders All ARNO feeders need to register before May 1 Why register? Substitute feeders
Deadline Email your info In your email subject line put: FEEDER. Make sure to send all information together via email to arnoinfo@cox.net. If we are missing any of the above info you will not be granted an ARNO ID card, i.e. you will not be granted a food allotment. Separate emails may delay you getting an ID card, which will delay you in being able to obtain available food. Feeding stations can be listed in the email, or provided in a separate Word document or an Excel spreadsheet. Monitor your food usage Initially we will not be able to calculate all feeders' food allotments, but shortly all will have a food allotment based on number of stations and number of animals sighted for each feeder. Supervisors will be routinely checking different areas to monitor food usage and resident return in order to consolidate and eliminate stations, and facilitate TNR. Feeders will be notified of trapping in their areas and their assistance will be required. Questions?
3. A.R.K. Effort (Animal Rescue After Katrina)
Katrina-Affected Animals Still Need You YOU CAN HELP THEM BY DONATING MONEY OR SUPPLIES: Traci Kestler / ARNO & independents’ Kathy Sweeney / Lakeview Ramona Billot / Plaquemines Parish OR, send checks (no gift cards) via Kinship Circle, a nonprofit org. BY MAIL: Send check made out to Kinship Circle to: Kinship Circle, nonprofit, registered in the state of Missouri To volunteer for FOOD/WATER DISTRIBUTION, contact ARNO’s volunteer coordinator to tell her you want to do food/water 4. Lone Louisiana Needs To Ban Chicken Fighting Now FROM KINSHIP CIRCLE: With cockfighting now outlawed in New Mexico — followed by recent passage of a federal bill that makes the bloodsport a felony — Louisiana is the only state left to condone fatal fights between two drugged birds with razor-sharp gaffs strapped to their feet. 4/13/07, from Bfleb2@aol.com — Chicken Fighting (sorry but I won’t refer to this garbage with the positive term "Cockfighting" term that glorifies it) is still legal in backward state of Louisiana where I reside. There is an effort yet again to make it illegal. Despite an overwhelming majority of people in Louisiana wanting the practice made illegal a powerful group of backward, rural legislators want to continue fighting chickens. 1. SUPPORT SEN. LENTINI’S PROPOSED COCKFIGHTING BAN Senator Arthur J. "Art" Lentini (District 10) leads the effort to ban chicken fighting in Louisiana. He has consistently sponsored bills to outlaw animal abuse and chicken fighting. He is an ardent supporter of humane treatment for animals. Support Senator Lentini’s efforts by thanking him and urging him to continue on behalf of Louisianans and the nationwide majority. 2. ASK JOE SALTER (Speaker of the LA House) TO HEAR BILL Please contact Rep Joe Salter (Speaker of the House) and urge him to move Sen. Lentini's bill into the House Judiciary Committee so it does not die in Agriculture Committee. Gov Blanco has also expressed support for a chicken fighting ban. One proposed bill has a "phase out" period of 3 years, which is of course ridiculous and is simply an attempt by the "chickenfighting" lobby to take the spotlight off the issue and let them repeal this bill at some point during the next 3 years. Do not be fooled by this subterfuge. It’s LA politics at its worst. Senator Lentini will issue a far more encompassing bill to make it illegal to engage in "chicken fighting" or be a spectator at "chicken fights.” This is the bill we must support. These bills traditionally go to the Agriculture Committee where committee members kill them. On the days they dismiss/kill these bills, the Ag Committee even goes so far as to order in fried chicken for lunch as a statement of contempt for the "animal freaks.” This committee should not hear this bill. Instead, it should go to the House Judiciary Committee, which normally handles matters of crime and punishment. 3. TELL LOUISIANA’S “BAD GUYS” HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT THEIR BLOODSPORT Rep. Troy Hebert Sen. Donald Cravins Jr. Bad guys in the Chicken Fighting Debate: All House Agricultural Committee members voted the last 2 years to retain "chicken fighting." Among legislators who favor retaining chicken fighting are Rep. Troy Hebert and Sen. Donald Cravins Jr. Both are long time public chicken fighting advocates and say they attend chicken fights and bring their children. Send them letters, faxes and emails with your opinion of chicken fighting. LINKS TO RECENT NEWS STORIES: 5. Louisiana State Police Raid Cockfighting Arenas 4/1/07, from stopcruelty11@gmail.com — For the first time in recent memory, agents from the Louisiana State Police Gaming Enforcement Division raided 2 cockfighting arenas and arrested the owners and some participants, charging them with money laundering, racketeering, illegal gambling, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor, according to Associated Press reports. "It was a cockfighting casino," said Doug Pierrelee, state police spokesperson, about the recently raided Sunrise Game Club. The Sunrise Game Club, located just south of Logansport, and the Milk Dairy Game Club located in the village of Tickfaw in Tangipahoa parish were both recently raided by the state police, after conducting a year old investigation. The Humane Society of Louisiana urges residents of Louisiana and other concerned citizens to thank Colonel Henry L. Whitehorn for his decision to authorize these raids and for overseeing these investigations conducted by the Gaming Enforcement Division. You may also wish to praise the work of Lt. Colonel Dane Morgan, Major Genny May, Captain Joe Lentini, and Lt. Rhett Trahan for their roles in planning, organizing, and/or participating in these investigations for over the past year. CONTACT INFORMATION FOR LETTERS OF SUPPORT: 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 surrounding parishes. Your support enables ARNO to trap/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.
TO FOSTER/SHELTER ANIMALS IN GREATER NEW ORLEANS AREA, CONTACT:
7. Support Landmark CA Law For Mandatory Spay/Neuter ARNO FOR MORE INFORMATION: www.cahealthypets.com/ 4/12/07, from PawAngel@FARescue.org — [You do NOT need to be a California resident to support this proposed state law]. The very cause of the dog/cat overpopulation is lack of spay/neuter. Unless we stop the reproduction, our efforts are no different from scooping water out of a sinking ship. THE WAY to stop unnecessary deaths: Reduce reproduction. Some rescuers oppose this bill because it is not "perfect." But while breeders are exempt at the state level, local jurisdictions can include them in their ordinances. For this very reason, many breeders are pouring all their energy and power into blocking this effort (see bottom). It's time to stop animals' suffering for profit and greed. CAST YOUR VOTE TODAY 4/13/07, forwarded from Zelda, zpenzel@nyc.rr.com — AB1634: PRO-PASSAGE has less THAN 500 SIGNATURES. ANTI-PASSAGE HAS OVER 4,000. PETITION FOR SPAY/NEUTER LEGISLATION FAX SACRAMENTO COMMITTEE MEMBERS RIGHT NOW SEND FAXES TO: 4/11/07, from stopcruelty11@gmail.com — UPDATE: After conditions at St. Bernard shelter were covered extensively in the local media, parish officials admitted they were aware of the problems and were considering options to address the issues. In the meantime, Kathryn Destreza, lead investigator for the LA-SPCA, graciously provided personnel, guidance, and some supplies to assist with the operations at this shelter. The LA-SPCA has assisted our organization on a number of different projects, and they continue to do a fantastic job of assisting the Humane Society of Louisiana and law enforcement agencies around the state. 4/2/07, from stopcruelty11@gmail.com — News Release / Contact person: Jeff Dorson 901-268-4432 ST. BERNARD SHELTER FAILS INSPECTION. Animals, Workers Exposed To Unsanitary And Unsafe Conditions Acting on tips from visitors to the St. Bernard Animal Shelter, based in Chalmette, representatives from the Humane Society of Louisiana recently inspected the facility and found numerous violations of accepted shelter guidelines. "It appears that virtually nothing has been done to improve this shelter after it was damaged by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita," says Jeff Dorson, executive director for the group and its primary shelter inspector. "It appears that the parish accepted a substantial amount of funds, which were donated by national humane organizations immediately after the 2005 hurricane season, but it appears that the funds have not been used for their intended purposes," adds Dorson. The American SPCA, based out of New York City, and the Humane Society of the United States, which is not affiliated with the Humane Society of Louisiana, donated $70,000 directly to the parish and another $100,000 to a non-profit group that worked closely with the shelter prior to Katrina. "We made several attempts to review our findings with Mr. Chris Merkel, supervisor of the St. Bernard shelter, but he refused to talk to us. We also wanted to know specifically what happened to the funds that were given to this administration and why they were not used. These same 2 national groups pledged to donate an additional $500,000 to build a new shelter for the parish. However, in light of these developments, these funds may be in jeopardy," says Dorson. The Humane Society's inspection report was sent to administration officials last week and copies were also forwarded to the
Office of the Attorney General for comment. The report listed serious structural and operational problems, among them: "The eyes of the nation continue to shine on St. Bernard parish and its treatment of animals. Recently, a grand jury indicted 2 sheriff's deputies who have been charged with shooting peoples' pets during Katrina. A civil lawsuit has also been filed in federal court, alleging the same actions," concludes Dorson. Mr. Dorson is available at 901-268-4432 for interviews.
I have discussed today's topic with many clients over the past year and a half. You won't find any scientific data on the subject, whether indexed in veterinary publications or Internet searches. It’s simplya result of conversations with clients in my exam rooms. The topic is that of stress in the pets who endured Hurricane Katrina and the recovery period of their pet owners since then. There is no doubt many pets have scars that parallel emotions of their human owners. I'll share some of the situations I've heard about. Post-Katrina dog aggression There have been cases surfacing in which dogs who never showed aggression toward people or other dogs have started showing aggression since the hurricane. No doubt, frustration from having to endure abnormal containment (or lack of) in the days following the storm resulted in behavioral changes for some dogs. Furthermore, moves to FEMA trailers, other residences, or sometimes relocations to other states before returning home left permanent changes in these dogs. We have yet to see if time will change these behavioral patterns once things normalize a while. Cats post-Katrina There is no doubt that cats are creatures of habit, and they do not like changes. I see that at my home, which remained intact for the most part post-Katrina. However, rebuilding or substantial remodeling of a home is enough to shake up the delicate psyche of a feline. Just think about what a radical change a complete relocation or relocation followed by a homecoming would do. No doubt, there have been these and other behavioral changes in many cats of the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Of course, depression because of loss of fellow pets (who perished in Katrina), has been a common thread in many communities along the Coast. I have regularly seen 3-5 month periods of depression in pets when other pets were lost in households where there were strong emotional bonds with a fellow pet. I have used antidepressants on some of these pets, but in most cases, I have just allowed for a tincture of time. So what's been the most surprising behavioral change as part of the post-Katrina stress syndrome that I've seen in practice? Increasing neuroses like tail-chewing and the acral lick dermatitis (a.k.a. lick granuloma complex-habitual licking of the paws). Some of my clients have attributed the paw-licking to seawater-linked infections after the storm, but there have not been any nasty lingering infections that I've had to treat on them. As a result, I am concluding that the problem is emotional, not physical. Once again, we'll see if time will literally heal these wounds. Any other syndromes you might have seen in your pet(s) post- Katrina? Share them with me at bamc@datasync.com. I'd like to add them to my list of post-Katrina traumatic stresses that have been prevalent in our pets. Dr. Chris Duke is a veterinarian at Bienville Animal Medical Center in Ocean Springs, MS.
10. Noah’s Wish No More? Dear Noah's Wish Volunteers, Supporters, and Friends: In response to the California Attorney General, Noah's Wish has set aside the disputed funds and agreed not to use those funds pending final resolution of the investigation. Noah's Wish is unable to predict when the matter will be resolved. Because Noah's Wish does not presently have access to the disputed funds, it is unable at this time to continue with its efforts to provide disaster preparedness services and volunteer training. We will provide you with an update once we have resolved this matter. We appreciate your patience and also wish to express our
gratitude for all that you have done to support Noah's Wish in carrying out our charitable mission. Announcement, March 28, 2007 NOLA KITTIES FIND FOREVER HOMES IN ST. LOUIS
On 2/22/07, Kinship Circle gently loaded 13 NOLA cats into the back of an SUV for a 10-hour drive to St. Louis. Baby Noah lives with KC’s Brenda Shoss. The remaining cats, fostered by Nancy Lupia of Felines Forever, have ALL BEEN ADOPTED. One pregnant kitty, Rita, gave birth on 3/16/07... DEVOTED VOLUNTEERS MOVE ABOUT 60 NOLA KITTIES TO ARIZONA 3/25/07, from kathybsweeney@yahoo.com — Thanks to all that helped Jeanette and I make this transport of about 50 ARNO cats plus 8 others cats from fosters. All cats and kittens will go directly into fosters or into 4 Petsmart stores for adoption. 3/24/07, from arneworleans@aol.com — This transport was made possible by Jeanette Althans, Kathy Sweeney, Linda Graf in AZ, Karen O'Toole in AZ. All I did was gather the paperwork. Thank you ladies for making it happen. Also, thanks to all volunteers who responded to calls for help, especially Aleta, who made carriers as comfortable as possible. Dion and Tom, our drivers, Jackie, Melinda, Lisa Dimarco, Leigh Schmidt, and Anastasia, the good mommy! Lise Mc, who lost about 5 pounds helping us walk dogs tonite, and all of you who lifted us with your good thoughts and helped us to get thru these last few days... Hugs, Robin SAMMIE RESETTLES IN ST. LOUIS
3/31/07, Jill Carles, kindhrtdone@yahoo.com (Sammie’s new mom) — Sammie is great. He is such a sweetie like you said. He greets me everyday at the door when I come in. Many times he follows me around. He is quite social. At night when we go to bed, if he is not in the bed with me already, I just call him and he comes in and lays down. He is a real joy and quite some company when my son is not here. The other day I gave him some wet food and he didn't like it so much. I left it in the bowl for maybe 2 days thinking he would eventually eat it. Instead, I found that he had tore open a hole in his big food bag in the basement and was feeding himself. Ha! He showed me, huh? He loves playing with plastic soda caps too.
HAPPY REUNION IN LAKEVIEW This past week, Lisa trapped a gray and white tuxedo about 8-10 blocks from Shorty's home. She brought him to ARNO, along with another trapped cat, for TNR. On Tuesday night, Kathy and Jeanette went to ARNO and took photos of the trapped cats in order to forward to the remote reunion volunteers that they are working with. After looking at the gray and white tuxedo, Kathy remembered that Shorty was missing from the area where the cat was trapped. Wednesday morning Jeanette called Eileen and told her that a cat that matched Shorty's description had been trapped and was scheduled to be released later that day. Eileen related that Shorty had been her husband's "baby" and her husband had just passed away Sunday morning. Eileen thought this might be a sign from God. When Eileen went to ARNO, she met with Robin and discovered that the trapped cat was indeed Shorty. Because Eileen is in the middle of funeral arrangements for her husband, ARNO will keep the cat for a few days until she can take him home. Eileen believes this is truly a miracle.
HURRICANE DIRECTORY: Missing/Found Animals, Rescue, Reunion 
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Sammie is among the 13 cats Kinship Circle transported from NOLA to St. Louis in late February.
