9/11/06: Another One Named “Unknown”
PAST NEWSLETTERS: http://www.kinshipcircle.org/disasters/default.html
August 29, 2006 – For The Animals & Their Rescuers
http://www.kinshipcircle.org/disasters/gulfcoast/newsletters/8_29_06.html
[updated with more of your feedback & photos]
ANIMAL ISSUE OF THE WEEK
NON-DISASTER ALERT: POM Wonderful – Cruelty In A Cup
Take action: http://www.kinshipcircle.org/letter_library/letter.asp?LetterID=1550&seriesfirst=true
IN THIS ALERT:
- SMALL BITES
- SOS From New Orleans
- UPDATE: Seized Jefferson Parish Dogs Need Help (photos)
- MISSING: Max, Jack Russell Terrier Lost During Katrina
- Lafayette Locals (& Others) Needed To Stop Gassing Of Animals
- Keep Miracles Alive At Roicy Duhon Animal Control
- Remote Reunion Campaign -- Check This Site Regularly
- Little Lights Animal Sanctuary, Lafayette, LA
- LAWSUIT Launched In St. Bernard Pet Massacre
- FOUND: Another One Named “Unknown”
- FOUND: Duke, Carolina Dog, American Staffordshire Terrier Mix
- Still Desperately Searching... Check F/W Mapping Site
- Because Of You... Open Letter To Best Friends
- Hope Waits
1. SMALL BITES
Send small-bite food, or cat food, when donating for Gulf Coast animals.
Katrina Survivor Takes Her Life. Need Home For Her Dog.
SOURCE: http://www.nola.com/forums/animals/index.ssf?artid=182998
44122. EMERGENCY HELP NEEDED, by meimeikitty, 9/6/06 -- My wonderful neighbor who was so full and life and beauty was unable to stand the stress of post-Katrina life. She unfortunately committed suicide yesterday. She was my friend. She'll be missed.
I am keeping her dog which is a full breed Rhodesian Ridgeback. I need to find a good home for him. He is an excellent dog, housetrained, up to date on his shots, well trained...just gorgeous. I wish I could keep him, but I have two big crazy dogs who aren't having it. He must go to a GOOD stable home. If anybody is interested please, please email me at frederickaturner@netscape.net. And please pray for my friend. Thank you.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rescued: Saving Animals From Disaster In Bookstores
SOURCE: Allen and Linda Anderson <AngelAnimals@aol.com>
Rescued: Saving Animals from Disaster
by Allen Anderson, Linda Anderson, John Ensign
To read more: http://www.rescuedsavinganimals.net/
Buy book from any bookstore, or visit:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1577315448/ref=cm_arms_pdp_dp/103-4689184-2263012?ie=UTF8
RESCUED: Saving Animals from Disaster by Allen and Linda Anderson with a
foreword by US Senator John Ensign examines how the largest animal rescue
operation in history reflects the changing view of pets as family members.
American Library Association’s review of the book says, "The volunteers who
waded into the devastation left in Hurricane Katrina's wake came in all
sizes and shapes and redefined our notion of hero." RESCUED contains sixteen
pages of color photos, an index and resource section, and hundreds of
interviews with animal rescuers and disaster survivors who share how to
prepare pets for emergencies. Its white-knuckle stories of courage and
compassion will keep you on the edge of your seat...
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UPDATE: HSL Offers Reward For Arrest In Deliberate Dog Maiming
Kinship Circle Gulf Coast Newsletter: 9/1/06: Hope And Help Still Needed
UPDATE SOURCE: Jeff Dorson <stopcruelty11@gmail.com>
9/4/06, from Humane Society of Louisiana: Suspected to be Charged with
Maiming Toby -- The individual who deliberately set out a rusty trap to
ensnare and maim Toby, a stray dog that was roaming the neighborhood, is
expected to be arrested and charged soon by St. John parish deputies. After
Toby was freed from the trap, the individual fled from his property.
However, he recently resurfaced, and his name and new address have been
forwarded to the sheriff's department. A ranking officer from the sheriff's
department contacted our agency and Linda Allen, director of the St. John
Parish Animal Shelter, and assured us that the individual will be picked up
and charged very soon. Submitted by Jeff Dorson, Director
The Humane Society, based in New Orleans, is asking for donations to help with the cost of Toby’s surgery, which was several thousand dollars.
TO DONATE, call 901-268-4432
TO DONATE BY MAIL: Humane Society of Louisiana
P.O. Box 740321; New Orleans, LA 70174
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
File Reports & Check For Missing/Found Hurricane Animals:
- Nola.com: http://www.nola.com/forums/animals/
- CraigsList: http://neworleans.craigslist.org/pet/
- Petfinder’s Animal Emergency Response Network: http://disaster.petfinder.com/emergency/home.html
- FOUND Katrina/Rita Animals, Still Missing Their People: http://tinyurl.com/ht9c2
- Pet Harbor: http://www.petharbor.com/
- CommunityWalk Maps: Cats/Dogs Sighted in NOLA: http://www.zzcat.com/katrina/ARNO_maps/roaming_pets.htm
- Animal Sightings -- Missing, Found: http://www.communitywalk.com/map/12088
- yepitsme770's photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/yepitsme770/sets/
- Remote Reunion Campaign: http://www.arches.uga.edu/~rrhudy/bfrr/
2. SOS From New Orleans
SOURCE: Traci Kestler <tbkestler@cox.net>
Maria Alvarez <tipster@bellsouth.net>
Traci Kestler <tbkestler@cox.net> writes, 9/606: The animals in N.O. desperately need food and water. Anyone who will help would be WONDERFUL! I am getting reports of dehydration and starvation deaths.
NEEDED:
1. Feeders
2. Warehouse workers
3. Phone workers
4. Computer workers
5. Trappers for TNR
COMMITMENT:
- A minimum ONE DAY PER MONTH.
- Feeding and watering animals is PRIORITY.
- If you don’t want to do food/water stations, we certainly NEED YOU somewhere.
***IF YOU CAN HELP, REPLY TO***
Traci Kestler: tbkestler@aol.com or 504-975-5971
I NEED HELP WITH GETTING FOOD AND WATER TO THE ANIMALS only one day per month, 12 DAYS PER YEAR, not even full days. I need to relieve the feeders who are going every week so they too can only do one day per month. Anyone without a f/w partner, I will pair with someone. PLEASE HELP. Thanks, Traci
Maria Alvarez <tipster@bellsouth.net> writes, 9/7: This is what the animals in New Orleans are still enduring today; wasting away is a horribly slow and cruel death. Starvation, deprivation of food forces the body to feed on itself, causing abnormalities of the mucosal lining of the digestive system, resulting in dizziness, weakness and loss of bone mass, leading to malnutrition. As starvation progresses, death eventually ensues.
Dehydration, caused by loosing too much fluid, not drinking enough water or fluids, or both. Signs include increasing thirst, dry mouth, weakness or lightheadedness (particularly worse on standing), rapid drop in weight and a darkening of the urine or a decrease in urination, leading to changes in the body's chemistry where death eventually ensues. The best way to treat dehydration is to prevent it from occurring.
***IF YOU CAN HELP, REPLY TO***
Traci Kestler: tbkestler@aol.com or 504-975-5971
3. UPDATE: Seized Jefferson Parish Dogs Need Help
Jefferson Parish law enforcers recently raided a Marrero kennel run by Patsy Chism, 61, of 2501 Colorado Drive. Officials seized 80 dogs, and sadly, due to severe health reasons, five dogs were euthanized. One puppy actually belonged to someone. Chism faces four counts of aggravated animal cruelty and 76 counts of simple abuse of animals.
KINSHIP CIRCLE’S ORIGINAL SAMPLE-LETTER ALERT HERE:
http://www.kinshipcircle.org/letter_library/letter.asp?LetterID=1556&seriesfirst=true
UPDATE SOURCE: Laurel Ley <LaurelLey@AnimalReliefResource.org>
Animal Relief Resource, 904-571-6135
WHAT WILL BECOME OF THE SEIZED DOGS?
On Sunday (9/10), Southern Animal Foundation (SAF) will evaluate animals to determine who is adoptable and who needs rescue. No animals will be euthanized for space.
Some dogs are in bad shape, with dental or eye problems. Most are females (all but four) ranging in age from 3 to 7. The older dogs are in worse condition. Most dogs confiscated from Chism are Chihuahuas.
THE DOGS ARE SAFE NOW, BUT VOLUNTEER HELP IS APPRECIATED:- NEED Donated Veterinary Services -- ideally in area where groups take animals
- NEED Foster For The Dogs
- NEED Adoption Into Forever Homes For The Dogs**
- NEED Donations to Cover Extensive Medical Costs
- NEED Transportation to New Homes
**All dogs are under owner surrender, so none can be returned to Patsy Chism. PetSmart Charities will help with some of the medical costs. However donations are critical to offset expenses. *SEE PHOTOS BELOW
SEND DONATIONS TO:
Jefferson Parish
P.O. Box 10460; Jefferson, Louisiana 70181-0640
ATTN: Elena, RE: Chism Chihuahuas
TO OFFER VETERINARY AID, SHELTER/FOSTER OR ADOPTION FOR SEIZED DOGS,
CONTACT: Elena Jones, Director, 504-736-6111, ejones@jeffsparish.net
*Please do not contact Elena unless you are serious about helping. Do not send activist emails or general questions because Elena’s plate is full.
*There will be some media coverage with the parish people for groups who can help these dogs.
===============================
D. Theis <itsgwiff@yahoo.com> writes, 9/10/06: We (SAF) went to the Jefferson Parish Animal Shelter today to vet check the nearly 80 Chihuahuas that came from the breeder case here recently. We were able to check 45 today (exam, vaccinate, deworm, heartworm test, nail trim). It was heartbreaking for us, to say the least. Many of these dogs were obviously neglected of any social interaction, as well as regular care. * Note some of the horrific nail lengths on the dogs. They were ALL like that. *
All dogs are in desperate need of dentals. Some have eye ulcers. Some have skin conditions. Most have ear mites, but amazingly none had heartworms (out of 45 we checked). We think the breeder kept them up on doses of ivermectin, in order to be able to breed/birth without too many complications. They range from 3 lbs to the largest topping the scales at 8 lbs. All colors, shapes, sizes. More females than males, and all of the males are tiny. The large majority of them are very sweet and were thrilled to be held and talked to. Some looked at us in fear, probably never had so much human contact before. Only a few were "snappy", but even that was just fear.
We left the shelter with 26 of them. It was all we could do not to take more. The remaining dogs are being brought to our clinic tomorrow morning for us to physical/vaccinate them.
If any of you know anyone that would be interested in adopting one of these little ones, please contact us at SAF. We feel that most of them will be much healthier just getting spay/neutered, dentals, and a good bath and diet. We're starting on all of those procedures tomorrow. If we can get the 26 we now have placed soon, we can go back and retrieve more of them out of the horrible shelter environment.
We're doing a kitten transport to California in the next 2 weeks. We'd be happy to deliver if someone is near our transport path.
CONTACT: Southern Animal Foundation
1823 Magazine Street; New Orleans, LA 70130
Office: 504-671-8235; Fax: 504-671-8238
email: animallover@southernanimalfoundation.org
4. MISSING: Max, Jack Russell Terrier Lost During Katrina
SOURCE: http://helpbringmaxhome.bravehost.com/
CONTACT MAX’S MOM WITH ANY INFO, NO MATTER HOW SMALL:
glenda.smith@cox.net or 504-913-8971
HAVE YOU SEEN ME?
This is me MAX at Lamar Dixon.
I am very much missed and loved. My mom asked the New Orleans Humane Society to pick me up, along with my fur sibling Zak. A lady named Louisa PROMISED she would bring us back to the NOHS. That NEVER happened. (Louisa is no longer at the shelter). Instead the SPCA picked us up and took us from our home and brought us to Lamar Dixon. Mom came to get us on 09-12-05. She was very upset because I was not there. Zak was there and tried to tell her who TOOK me without leaving any information about where I was going! He tried and tried. My paper work was on the floor, all wet, lying in water on the ground. It showed my approx age and breed. That’s all I could leave my mommy to let her know I had been there. She looked everywhere for me. And not one person could tell her where I went. Not a one.
There was a nice man who helped many animals to safety, chartering his own plane and paying for it. His name was Boone Pickens, the oil tycoon. There have been many clues that suggest I was on that plane heading to California. Many people were involved with this air flight. Mr. Pickens’ sister-in-law Christine Penrod told a very nice lady who is helping my mommy search for me she thought she had me and would get back with her and return me. But when she called back she said it wasn't me, but she would buy my mommy another Jack Russell Terrier. While that was a nice gesture, the answer is nope. No Way, No How. I am irreplaceable! I am family! I have my own bed! I have LOTS of love waiting for me at my home! My mommy has tried to get an answer from the HSUS and SPCA many times. No one will help me get to my home! I dream about going home. I love my mommy and daddy. I miss them. I miss Zak. I miss their kisses and hugs. Please someone, help me get back home! I have LOTS of love to give to my mommy for never giving up on me.
DESCRIPTION: JACK RUSSELL TERRIER
Age (YRS): 7
Color(s) & Markings: White/brown with brown face/ears with a thin line down
center of face, and a patch of white on upper left muzzle. 1/2 brown saddle
on right shoulder, full brown saddle mid-back, large brown spot on butt and
tail with white and has been cropped. Legs are short and coat is slick.
Sex: Male and was intact at time but very possible I am neutered now.
LAST KNOWN LOCATION:
Max "disappeared" from Lamar Dixon Shelter, New Orleans on/about 9-10-05.
CONTACT MAX’S MOM WITH ANY INFO, NO MATTER HOW SMALL:
glenda.smith@cox.net or 504-913-8971
5. Lafayette Locals (& Others) Needed To Stop Gassing Of Animals
SOURCE: http://lafayette.craigslist.org/pet/204491710.html
REPLY TO: Karen O’Toole - Cougy@aol.com or 602-549-1115
Date: 2006-09-08 -- We are assembling a team of people to help stop the
gassing of pets in Louisiana, including Lafayette. We need locals, there on
the ground, to help launch this. This is not a petition writing campaign,
this is a head-on legal battle to put an end to this barbaric practice.
We cannot do this without area residents who believe, as we do, that gassing animals is inhumane and barbaric. We need the Lafayette community behind us. Please write me if you are interested in joining our team.
We are also hoping other people from the state of Louisiana will join us. All kinds of help will be needed. We aren't asking for money, we are hoping to find LA residents who will back and support us in this effort.
If you’re not a resident of Louisiana -- your help is also needed, so please don't hesitate to contact me and join our team. Thank you, Karen O'Toole
REPLY TO: Karen O’Toole - Cougy@aol.com or 602-549-1115
6. Keep Miracles Alive At Roicy Duhon Animal Control
SOURCE: Debbie, rescuerealtor@cox.net
Roicy Duhon Animal Control Center
613 Pont Des Mouton Road, Lafayette, LA 70507
REPLY TO:
Phone: 337-291-5645 * Fax: 337-291-7051
Email Contact: Debbie, rescuerealtor@cox.net
Email Contact: Jennifer, whippetdogs@yahoo.com
New Email Contact: roicyvolunteers@gmail.com
Petfinder Address: http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/LA40.html
Roicy Duhon Animal Control is a rabies control facility in Lafayette Parish. They kill by gas twice a week because of space limitations. They are rabies control vs. adoption, meaning their function is to get the strays off the street and control disease, not to adopt them out.
VIEW ANIMALS: http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/LA40.html
Debbie <rescuerealtor@cox.net> writes 9/9: Roicy pics are up. As always there are a great group of animals. Everybody was held over, except for one cat and two sick kittens, and some, the red Heeler in particular, have been held over several times.
Our adoption/rescue rate continues to be very good thanks to all of those both locally and from out of town who work so hard to find a place for these animals. We also have many Roicy alums...vetted dogs, and especially cats who need a place to go.
RESCUE ORGS / SHELTERS
If you are an organization with an excellent reputation and references, high
adoption rate and could take several vetted animals -- please let me know.
Ideally we are looking for orgs within no more than a day’s drive away, but
we have done longer.
FLYERS
If you’re a local who would like a flyer to put up at your vets, etc.,
email: rescuerealtor@cox.net
SPONSORING Roicy does not accept sponsorships since they are an animal control facility, not an adoption facility. But a sponsorship can help a pulling org pay for vetting, especially heartworm treatment. Any donation offers would go directly to the pulling org or their vet/boarding facility.
OUT-OF-TOWN ADOPTERS & RESCUE GROUPS DEFINITELY WELCOME!
• You must come in person OR have assistance of a local friend, relative, rescue group.
• Rescues must furnish proof of 501(c)(3) status, spay/neuther policies, adoption policies.
• Fax above forms in advance to Virginia Lee: fax - 337-291-7051.
Roicy cannot adopt an animal over the phone to you and ship the animal. You
must come in person or send someone. And, speaking of that, thanks to
members of ACD rescue for a fantastic effort to facilitate an adoption for
one special, scared little blue girl -- held numerous times -- who is now
going to the BEACH in Florida! She deserves it, and you guys made it
possible. God bless you!
VIEW REST OF ANIMALS: http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/LA40.html
There continue to be many emails circulating containing misstatements of fact about this shelter. Keep in mind that witch hunts cost animals their lives as the public’s attention is taken off the animals. If you have questions about Roicy, ASK... Me, Nancy Marcantel and Missy Trahan with ARF, April Reeves with Lafayette Animal Aid, Diane Amoroso with APAWS, Lou Weiner with CHiPP, Barbara with Acadiana Humane Society, Jill Guidry foster for 1 At A Time of Vancouver, Jennifer Rohrbach foster coordinator of ARNO, Sue Rabeaux of The Cat Ranch....ask those who know. Or call the shelter and ask Virginia or Harry. Better yet, come down and see for yourself, and bring a cargo van, some crates and your 501 papers...lol. This facility is light years ahead of where we were even a year ago. Yes we have a long way to go, but we are pressing forward...
REPLY TO:
Phone: 337-291-5645
Email Contact: Debbie, rescuerealtor@cox.net
Email Contact: Jennifer, whippetdogs@yahoo.com
New Email Contact: roicyvolunteers@gmail.com
Petfinder Address: http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/LA40.html
7. Remote Reunion Campaign -- Check This Site Regularly
SOURCE: http://rrhudy.myweb.uga.edu/bfrr/index.html
Remote Reunion Campaign: http://www.arches.uga.edu/~rrhudy/bfrr/ If these animals now, or have previously been, in your care...and you can provide ANY leads as to their whereabouts, please contact the specific volunteers listed on the website. (Please check this site at regular intervals in case additional lost/missing pets are added).
Questions/comments concerning the Remote Reunion Campaign,
CONTACT: Valerie Sharma, psharma@austin.rr.com
To add pets to “FOUND” section or website-related issues,
CONTACT: Halle Amick, amick@med.unc.edu
MAX - LOST IN THE SYSTEM
Breed: Rottweiler-Labrador mix
Gender: Male intact / Age: 6 years / Weight: 75 lbs
Lost ID: PF54691
Petfinder lost link:
http://disaster.petfinder.com/emergency/rescue/reportDetail.cgi?id=54691
DESCRIPTION: The picture at left is NOT Max, but it very closely resembles him. His head is shaped more like a Lab's than a Rottie's, and his points are dark brown, not tan. Closely docked tail (1/2"-1"). One bottom canine tooth has a flat tip, not pointed. Calloused elbows, lots of energy, likes to jump.
LAST SEEN: Backyard of Home on Stemway Drive, New Orleans, 70126 (Orleans Parish). There was a wooden fence around yard but he may have gotten out. There was a SPCA “Stop Feeding Sign” and a "dog rescued" notice posted on neighbors door at 4715 Stemway. The address could be off by a couple of numbers because the neighbors did not have pets.
CONTACT: Laura Marinari, 610-630-8908 or lrmbigl@msn.com
===============================
TERRYTOWN STRAY -- FOUND
Breed: Hound mix?
Gender: Male / Age: Young, possibly born after Katrina / Weight: Medium-sized
DESCRIPTION: This cute boy has been spotted wandering around the "D" streets area of Terrytown (70056). He is very friendly with dogs and people. Short reddish-brown coat with a T-shaped white mark on chest and a tail that curls up over his rear end. He likes to stick his head between people's knees. Very sweet and lovable - if no owner is found, he will need a home!
CONTACT:ncolombo@timespicayune.com
===============================
VIEW OTHER DOGS LOST IN THE SYSTEM:
http://www.arches.uga.edu/~rrhudy/bfrr/dogs.html
VIEW OTHER CATS LOST IN THE SYSTEM:
http://www.arches.uga.edu/~rrhudy/bfrr/cats.html
VIEW FOUND PETS:
http://rrhudy.myweb.uga.edu/bfrr/found.html
8. Little Lights Animal Sanctuary, Lafayette, LA
SOURCE: http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/littlelights.html
LLAS is a no-kill, non-profit organization specializing in new-births, emergency rescues and retirement of all animals both wildlife and domestic. Currently LLAS is working on a new 24-hour emergency clinic (with emr transportation) as well as their city's first and only pet cemetery (with memorial gardens). LLAS is located in Louisiana and was deeply affected by both Hurricanes Rita and Katrina.
Little Lights Animal Sanctuary, Inc.
P.O. Box 62743; Lafayette, LA 70596-2743
ph: 337-289-5253
FELINES: littlelights4you@msn.com
K-9's: bsilva@aol.com
VIEW ANIMALS AT LLAS:
http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/littlelights.html
OUR FEATURED PETS: Trick & Treat
These sprightly young kittens are in desperate need of good homes. They get
along well with dogs and are extremely lovable. If you are looking to enrich
your life with a new companion, please consider these beautiful felines.
They would greatly appreciate your love and compassion.
Trick & Treat / 337-981-2300, bsilvas@aol.com
NEWS
On Monday, August 28, we will begin an emergency park rescue mission to trap
a family of felines currently living in a mobile home park that is shutting
down. We have only 30 days to collect these animals. Without our help these
animals will suffer certain starvation and death.
Traps are needed along with donations to help with neuters, shots, health tests, etc. Please consider helping out with this mission. Your generosity will be most appreciated. To donate safely online click Little Lights. Checks should be sent to the address below and direct deposits can be made at Regions bank on Johnston by the mall. Thank you kindly.
And don't forget the continued care of our current residents. Even $10.00 a month will help us effectively provide for better animal welfare. Keep in mind that we are a sanctuary, not just a shelter, which means that many of our current animals (those with physical/mental disabilities which will not allow for them to be adopted out) will spend their lives here with us...
Send checks and money orders to:
LLAS, Inc., P.O. Box 62743; Lafayette, LA 70596-2743
9. LAWSUIT Launched In St. Bernard Pet Massacre
SOURCE: Susan Michaels <susan@pasadosafehaven.org>
Good news to announce in the St. Bernard Pet Massacre... In case you need background: In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, while Pasado's Safe Haven was in New Orleans rescuing 1200 animals, our lead investigator (Mark Steinway) got a call about three schools, in St. Bernard Parish, where hurricane evacuees had temporarily lived. They were forced to leave all of their pets behind - dogs tied up on leashes, cats in carriers.
The call Mark received reported all the animals, 33 dogs and cats, had been shot to death. We called the Louisiana State Attorney General's Office. Investigators joined Mark at the schools. We went to the local Wal-Mart and bought 33 Rubbermaid tubs, in which to scoop up the remains of the bodies for forensic investigation. We returned to the schools, and under the watchful eyes of AG Office Investigators, recovered all the bodies, shell casings and other evidence. It was found that dogs had been shot in the body cavity, neck, joints, and legs, creating prolonged suffering for them.
We drove all of the remains, which had literally melted into the floors in the heat, to the State of Louisiana's Veterinary Teaching Hospital for necropsies. Pasado's Safe Haven paid for $7700.00 for necropsies to prove the animals suffered. The Louisiana State Attorney General launched an investigation but so far, nothing has come of it. Go to <http://www.pasadosafehaven.org> for history.
GREAT NEWS ANNOUNCED 9/9/06!
As we've patiently waited for the wheels of justice to turn in a criminal
case, Pasado's has been delighted to work with a passionate attorney in New
Orleans to see this case through as a civil matter on behalf of the people
whose pets were killed. Today's Los Angeles Times article describes the
civil suit that we're supporting with time, investigation, interviews with
witnesses, the necropsy reports and one of our staff members (a paralegal)
and all filing fees to bring this case to court. Eileen Comiskey, the
brilliant New Orleans attorney, is leading the efforts on behalf of
plaintiffs. Many people, including Jennifer Bishton, Marilyn McGee, and many
others are doing so much foot-work to assist. Our deepest gratitude to ALL
who are making this happen!
DONATIONS APPRECIATED
Pasado's Safe Haven is attempting to help the attorney in this case and we
are a small non-profit. The attorney is donating hundreds of her hours. We
need filing fees, fees for depositions, air miles, and pre-paid
long-distance phone cards. Can you help?
PLEASE DONATE HERE:
http://www.pasadosafehaven.org/DONATIONS/Donation_Form.htm
We need those who committed this horrible act to pay. For all of the animals who died, and their guardians who mourn for them, thank you! For the animals, Susan Michaels, Co-Founder, Pasado's Safe Haven
http://www.pasadosafehaven.org/
===============================
Katrina Evacuees Sue Over Killing Of Pets
by Ann M. Simmons, Los Angeles Times -- New Orleans: John Bozes still pines
for Angel Girl, the black Labrador retriever he called his baby. The dog was
among more than 30 canines found shot to death at three schools in St.
Bernard Parish after Hurricane Katrina.
Bozes is one of several pet owners who believe that deputies from the parish’s sheriff’s office intentionally killed their animals. And now they plan to sue. “I want the families of those officers that did this to suffer the way I did,” said Bozes, a former resident of the parish who lives in Brookhaven, Miss. “I want them tortured the way those poor animals were... And I’m going to make sure justice is served.”
Attorney Eileen Comiskey said Bozes and other pet owners left their animals at area schools when they were forced to evacuate temporary shelters after Katrina hit on Aug. 29. Thirty-three dogs and two cats were later found dead at Beauregard Middle School, St. Bernard High School, and Sebastien Roy Elementary School. At least a third of the dogs appeared to have been shot, Comiskey said.
The suit that Comiskey plans to file in civil district court on Monday would name as defendants the parish’s sheriff, Jack A. Stephens, at least one deputy and a sergeant, she said. It will charge destruction of property and failure to safeguard property as an authorized custodian of the animals; the intentional infliction of emotional distress; and negligent hiring, training and supervision on the part of the sheriff’s office.
Richard Baumy, a spokesman for the sheriff’s office, would not comment on the claims. But shortly after the incident last year, Baumy was quoted as saying that “as far as the information we have now, our deputies did not shoot the dogs.”
10. FOUND: Another One Named “Unknown”
SOURCE: http://disaster.petfinder.com/emergency/rescue/reportDetail.cgi?id=63429
TYPE: Found / STATUS: Open / Disaster: KATRINA
PETFINDER SYSTEM I.D.: PF63429 / Date Posted: 2006-09-09
DESCRIPTION: Cat American Shorthair
Color(s): dark brindle light brindle
Markings: cataract in her left eye
Size: S / Weight: 7 lbs
Sex: female, spayed
This kitty is very old. She is quite comfortable in her bed and does not have to leave us ever. If her owners cannot take her home we just want them to know that she is safe and happy.
IF YOU RECOGNIZE THIS CAT, OR WANT TO INQUIRE ABOUT HER,
CONTACT: 512-791-9731
Email the person or organization who entered this cat’s information:
http://disaster.petfinder.com/emergency/rescue/reportDetail.cgi?id=63429
11. FOUND: Duke, Carolina Dog, American Staffordshire Terrier Mix
SOURCE: http://disaster.petfinder.com/emergency/rescue/reportDetail.cgi?id=63393
TYPE: Found / STATUS: Open / Disaster: KATRINA
PETFINDER SYSTEM I.D.: PF63393 / Date Posted: 2006-08-26
DESCRIPTION: Carolina Dog, American Staffordshire Terrier Mix
Color(s): tan, white
Markings: scars on his face that appear to be from buckshot
Size: M / Sex: M
Duke loves people! His favorite things are being in someone's lap and looking up at people. He has some very primitive sounds and habits.
LAST KNOWN LOCATION: New Orleans, LA 70112
Duke was found in a deserted building in October by the National Guard and taken to Best Friends in Tylertown.
IF YOU RECOGNIZE DUKE, OR WANT TO INQUIRE ABOUT HIM,
CONTACT: 920-499-7475
Email the person or organization who entered Minnie’s information:
http://disaster.petfinder.com/emergency/rescue/reportDetail.cgi?id=63393
12. Still Desperately Searching... Check F/W Mapping Site
SOURCE: LeAnne G. <yepitsme770@yahoo.com>
F/W MAPPING SITE: CommunityWalk Maps / Cats & Dogs Sighted in NOLA
http://www.zzcat.com/katrina/ARNO_maps/roaming_pets.htm
LeAnne G. <yepitsme770@yahoo.com> writes 9/10: Finding original owners of these pets would also help food/water groups. There are so many still desperately searching. Just last month two roaming pets went home to owners who’d been heartbroken over the loss of their pets and had all but given up.
AT http://www.zzcat.com/katrina/ARNO_maps/roaming_pets.htm
DOWNLOAD AND VIEW:
Animal Sightings, Animal Missing Maps
Sections B/C ARNO Animal Sightings (Chalmette)
Section 9 ARNO Animal Sightings
Section 10 ARNO Animal Sightings
Section 11 ARNO Animal Sightings
Sections 12 - 17 and 27 ARNO Animal Sightings
Section 20 ARNO Animal Sightings
Sections 25/26 ARNO Animal Sightings (Lakeview)
LAKEVIEW AREA MAP is the most active and updated regularly. (Shows both missing and sighted): http://www.communitywalk.com/map/12088
Other Maps
F/W stations in Lakeview
ARNO sections overview map (PDF) - Check this map to see the location of each section.
Previous PDF Maps
http://www.zzcat.com/katrina/ARNO_maps/roaming_pets.htm
Clicking one of the links will open a PDF ARNO map with the location of cats and dogs being sighted and/or fed in NOLA.
Section 8 (Audubon, Uptown, Milan)
Section 10 (Hollygrove, Dixon)
Section 11 (Mid-City north-west)
Section 20 (B.W. Cooper Apts Neighborhood, Central City)
Section 25 (Lakeview South – b/t Metairie Rd/City Park Ave and Harrison Ave)
Section 26 (Lakeview North - North of Harrison Ave)
Section 27 (Mid-City Fairgrounds Neighborhood)
Section 33 (Read Blvd West)
Section 35 (Desire Area)
13. Because Of You... Open Letter To Best Friends
SOURCE: Chris McLaughlin <chris@animalrescuefront.net>
9/8/06: Dear ARF,
It has been one year since we began our animal rescue efforts on the Gulf
Coast. In the first weeks these reports came out daily telling you of the
devastation of New Orleans and the heroic efforts of so many people who
rushed to the gulf coast to rescue the animal victims of Katrina. As our
work continued the reports were less frequent as we busied ourselves with
the task at hand - saving as many animals as possible. Many of you cried
with us as we told you about the reality of the work. You prayed for us, you
adopted our animals and you donated money and supplies so we could continue
to save animals. Today I am sending you what may very well be our last
report and a report which will serve to acknowledge, to all of you, the
organization that made our efforts possible.
In total ARF rescued 594 four-leggeds since late Sept. of 2005. Not bad for a few humans who had never done anything like this before and had to rely on our wits, our brains, and our credit cards to keep us going. But that doesn't tell the whole story. In March of 2006, when it looked like we would not be given any grant money to continue our work in Waveland, Best Friends stepped in. They asked me what I needed to help Waveland - and then they sent a check. And they continued to send a check even after they had exhausted their own Katrina donations reserve. They covered all medical expenses for the Waveland kids...they paid drivers for transports when we ran out of volunteers...they covered the gas, the crates, the latex gloves, and the vaccinations our kids needed to stay healthy in a shelter that was severely compromised and irreparably polluted as a result of Katrina. Since Best Friends became involved they are directly responsible for saving 472 Waveland four-leggeds. This letter is for them.
Dear Best Friends,
Tomorrow I will be going to a party in honor of Buddy. You may remember him.
He is the young pup we found in Waveland last January with the shattered
femur and the dislocated hip. He was in very bad shape. When Pia Salk called
Francis at Best Friends and asked if you guys would cover his medical
expenses Francis didn't skip a beat and immediately consented. Tomorrow I
will watch him run around his new fenced in yard in Orleans, Mass. He'll be
running on four good legs because of you...
Yesterday I was at my vet's office. You remember them because they have sent you thousands of dollars in bills for the Waveland kids. Bills that you paid...and while I was there I saw a poster that Jill Coleda from Brewster, Mass. put on the bulletin board thanking them for saving Teddy. I know you remember Teddy. He was so sick with heartworm and parasites that he almost didn't make it - not once, but twice. You made sure that we could get him the medical attention he needed. Today he is healthy...and more importantly he is loved.
Because of you guys 472 animals got out of Waveland, MS. Waveland was "Ground Zero" for Katrina and largely ignored by many...sure they had their problems but that didn't stop you from helping. They needed us more than anyone did because they had nothing when the tide receded....
Because of Best Friends Princess in North Carolina no longer has heartworm and she has a really wonderful home. Brownie lives in upstate NY and Cole, Cyrus, Max, Ester, Anthony, Madison and Herbie are in the Pacific Northwest. Of course, that's not all of the kids you helped us send there but these are the ones that come to mind! There are many, many more... Sailor Pete, Lola, Bailey Blue, Henry, Meggie, Katrina x2, Peeka and Boo, Spunky, Fergus, Little Boo, Walker, Coco, Daisy, Loki, Ricky, Sinatra, Sammy, Ella, the list goes on and on....they are all in good homes. They are loved, they are cared for and they won't reproduce on the streets of MS.
You helped me....many times when I called you Amy or Kathi always had an ear...and when we asked if we could continue with the work when the initial three months ended you said "yes." I wasn't ready then to let go of the work then...thank you for ensuring I didn't have to.
Next weekend Hancock County MS will be having a free spay/neuter clinic for the animals of Waveland, MS. Southern Animal Foundation in New Orleans is providing the van...PAWS Chicago is paying for the supplies, the vets and the marketing, and the Friends of the Animal Shelter of Hancock County are putting up flyers, answering the phones to take appointments and volunteering on-site. I'm told the phone is ringing off the hook and PAWS is considering doing this for Waveland on an ongoing basis. Because of you this is happening....
You are the best damn animal welfare organization in this country. Your were the first to arrive and the last to leave. On behalf of the four-leggeds who didn't have a voice I thank you from the bottom of my heart....this experience not only changed their lives, but it changed mine as well....
With the utmost respect,
Chris, Founder, Animal Rescue Front
http://www.animalrescuefront.net
14. Hope Waits
SOURCE: http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/09/03/3mutt.html?Found_Session=true
Lawsuit over cocker spaniel underscores Katrina rescue problems.
By Eric Dexheimer / AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF, Sunday, September 3, 2006 --
Tiffany Madura keeps Hope inside. The chubby black cocker spaniel
enthusiastically defends her oversized chew toy and flops onto a dog bed in
the living room. But the two-acre fenced yard outside the Austin ranch-style
house is off-limits for playtime. "I'm afraid someone might take her away,"
Madura says nervously.
That someone would be Shalanda Augillard, who is working as hard as she can to pry Hope from Madura. When the dog lived with her just outside of New Orleans, she claims, its name was Jazz. "There is not one ounce of doubt in my mind that this is the same dog," says Susan Philips, Augillard's lawyer.
Whether Hope is Jazz — or vice versa — is the pivot point of a lawsuit Augillard has filed demanding the return of the family pet she says disappeared in the chaotic days following Hurricane Katrina. Madura, who adopted Hope from an Austin organization that rescued the dog in the storm's aftermath, is fighting tooth and nail to keep the spaniel. Nearly a half-dozen lawyers are now involved. Medical records have been parsed; DNA samples have been analyzed.
Amber Novak photos FOR AMERICAN-STATESMAN
Tiffany Madura loves Hope, a cocker found in perilous health after Hurricane
Katrina. But a New Orleans woman says the dog is her pet, Jazz, and has sued
to get her back.
While cleanup efforts continue in New Orleans a year after Katrina roared ashore, emotional debris from one part of the disaster lingers. Some two dozen lawsuits have been filed across the country claiming adoptive families are keeping dogs that rightfully belong back with their Louisiana owners. Four have been filed in Texas. In one sense, the pet disputes are a simple reminder that, a year later, the animal rescue effort has been at best incomplete. An estimated 10,000 to 15,000 animals were collected from the splintered and sodden remains of the most destructive natural disaster in U.S. history. Yet very few of those — 10 to 25 percent — have been reunited with their original Louisiana owners.
The lawsuits are also jarring because each of the parties at one time basked in national sympathy and admiration: the frazzled-yet-dignified residents of New Orleans; the selfless rescuers risking their lives for helpless animals; the compassionate foster families opening their homes to sick and injured pets. Now those stereotypes are fraying under closer scrutiny.
While the majority of volunteers who poured into New Orleans to save displaced animals were well-intentioned, the legal clashes illustrate that some did more harm than good. "They were just the same as looters," says Ceily Trog, who has run the animal shelter in hard-hit St. Bernard Parish for 18 years. "They came in and stole our property. We needed help. And instead we got a kick in the ass."
The tug of war over the pets has also scraped open a cultural sore spot. Many of the dogs that showed up at shelters had serious medical problems. In several of the lawsuits, adopters have asserted that the animals were so poorly cared for prior to the hurricane that sending them back would be tantamount to abuse. Because the original owners were largely inner-city African Americans, and the majority of rescuers were white suburbanites, a corrosive whiff of racism has tarnished some of the rescue narrative's heroic shine.
The disputes "generally involve the movement of dogs from poorer, black, less-educated owners to richer, whiter, more educated people who improperly claim to be the new owners," says Steve Wise, a Boston animal-rights lawyer involved in several of the lawsuits. "The argument that the dogs have been abused is, at its heart, an argument about class and racism."
With so many humans still suffering Katrina's consequences, dog fights may seem frivolous. Yet recent natural disasters have demonstrated that people forced to choose between remaining with their pets and fleeing without them will often stay, imperiling themselves and rescuers. Last month Congress passed laws requiring local governments to include animals in disaster-preparedness plans. Texas has already begun training volunteers how to respond to the next natural catastrophe.
Last year, no such plan existed. So like hundreds of other animal lovers who felt compelled to respond to Katrina's epic destruction, Eric Rice simply jumped in his car and drove to New Orleans from Maryland. He spent the next month cruising the streets looking for displaced pets, catching sleep in the back of a rental truck. "Every hour you weren't working, animals were dying," he recalls. "They were drowning, hung up on poles, barely walking, trapped for days without food or water."
A surprising number of animals were reportedly killed in days following the storm, possibly by overwhelmed law enforcement authorities. Pasado's Safe Haven , a Washington State-based rescue organization, documented 33 dogs shot to death at schools in St. Bernard Parish, one of several such reported incidents.
There's no evidence volunteer rescuers killed found pets. But in part because of their sheer number and passion, the animal roundup operation established in the days following Katrina's landfall quickly became chaotic. Although control of the operation officially fell to the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, much of work was effectively ceded to private organizations, led by the Humane Society of the United States, which set up a large shelter at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales, 60 miles outside of New Orleans. In the days following the disaster, many other groups also established their own, unofficial headquarters and dispatched squads of people into the streets.
At the height of the operation, between 5,000 and 10,000 volunteers were scrambling to collect displaced animals, estimates Wayne Pacelle, executive director of national Humane Society. Unlike responders saving humans, the pet-savers often were out on their own, with little training or supervision. "Because there was effectively no controlling agency, you had lots of people who had their own ideas and who were answering to their own masters," he says. Turf battles were common.
Observers say most rescuers acted honorably. But it is now apparent that plenty of rescues did not go right. Even well-intentioned volunteers could be more passionate than helpful. Mimi Hunley, a Louisiana assistant attorney general working on pet disputes arising from the hurricane, recalls a French Quarter couple whose dog was "rescued" from their front yard while they were home. They haven't seen it since.
Trog remembers volunteers breaking into a Federal Emergency Management Agency trailer to remove a pet cat. "It got to the point where some of these people were rescuing animals that didn't need to be rescued," she says. "It's like they became addicted to it."
State officials initially ordered rescued pets to remain in Louisiana, but Lamar-Dixon's owners soon capped the number of dogs that could be kept at the site. "We either had to suspend rescue operations or start sending them out of state," Pacelle says. Hundreds of local shelters and rescue organizations across the country opened their kennels to the exodus. From there, most of the pets filtered into foster families on the premise that they were to be cared for until they could be returned to their owners or adopted permanently sometime in the indefinite future.
A vast online pet-reunification effort sprung up, again propelled by unofficial volunteers. According to local agreements formalized by the Humane Society and state agri- culture officials in New Orleans, found animals were to be posted on designated Web sites. Hundreds of animal lovers logged on to help out.
"Rescue without reunification is not a true rescue," says Marilyn Knapp Litt, who lives in northern Bexar County. A retired webmaster for a federal agency, she started Stealth, an online network dedicated to tracking down pet owners, within a month after Katrina. At its peak, she says, more than 1,000 volunteers in the U.S. and Canada were scouring online sources to match unclaimed pets with displaced owners. "There are people who literally put their lives on hold for this; it's taken on a life of its own," she says.
But plenty of the rescued animals disappeared, absorbed anonymously into the country. Some fell through cracks in the rescue operation, victims of on-the-ground chaos and a tracking system inadequate to the magnitude of the disaster. Others, however, were spirited away on purpose. "Some of these groups would just come into our parish, take animals and leave," says Trog. "They'd sneak them past checkpoints by covering the kennels with blankets."
Rice recalls rescuers snipping identification tags off animals' collars before driving them away. "Some of these rescue groups were not interested in seeing animals returned to their owners," he says. Madura, who volunteered at Lamar-Dixon for several days, remembers a group of women fighting over a group of small dogs, like matrons at a Loehmann's fire sale.
"I think many people got caught in the trap of falling in love with a pet," says Trog. But a number of rescuers also concluded they were saving pets not just from a natural disaster, but from irresponsible owners who had callously abandoned their pets and provided only a minimum of care before that.
Pacelle says out-of-state rescuers were shocked, for example, by the high incidence of heartworm and the number of unneutered pets. "I've never seen so many testicles in my life," he admits.
Don Feare, an attorney who represents a Dallas-area rescue group and several Katrina adopters being pursued by New Orleans pet owners, says the medical condition of the rescued dogs and cats suggests many were treated poorly well before any hurricane or flooding. "People are trying to shove that off as cultural differences," he says. "Well, don't tell me that unless you're prepared to say New Orleans is a Third-World country."
Those familiar with animal law say neglect is tricky to define, though. "One man's appropriate medical care is another's ridiculous expense. It's a very personalized area," says John Bradley, who, as Williamson County's district attorney, says he struggles with animal neglect cases.
And Trog is fiercely protective of her constituents. "What are the standards for good treatment of a pet?" she asks. "If I don't let my dog up on the bed, does that make me a bad owner? We were a poor parish, but we loved our animals."
'I'm the kind of person who'll stop on the side of the freeway to get an animal off the road," Madura says. She first joined the Katrina pet-rescue effort after seeing a rescue group soliciting crates for hurricane-displaced animals at an Austin pet store. She quickly went online and posted a plea for donations.
Cruising Web sites related to the disaster, "I kept hearing desperate calls for personal items," she recalls. She collected towels, shampoo and other supplies, rented a van and headed to New Orleans. "I don't think I slept for three days," she says.
After returning, Madura kept in touch with PawMatch, an Austin pet adoption organization formed only a month earlier. On his second trip to New Orleans, founder Andy Odom was approached by a frantic volunteer at a Jefferson Parish feed store, where an unofficial rescue operation had set up shop. "It was pandemonium there," he recalls. "This guy with a cocker spaniel told me the dog's family had died in the storm and that it was in real sick health. He said that if he handed it over to one of the official facilities, it would be put to sleep."
"I was almost forced into it," he adds. "But I didn't think twice." The dog — by then named Hope Floats — was in rough shape, bloated to pregnancy size. Her hair was patchy, and she was bleeding from several openings. Odom found a foster home in Wimberley; a local vet who saw Hope recommended she be euthanized.
Odom wrote about Hope's saga on PawMatch's Web site. He says it never occurred to him to post her whereabouts on one of the national Web sites designated by the official rescue organizations. "I'd been told the owners were dead," he says. "Besides, the dog had obviously not been looked after."
PawMatch's story about Hope noted the dog's serious medical problems. After thinking it over, Madura, who lives with her boyfriend, offered to take her anyway. "I'm looking for a last-chance animal," she remembers saying.
When Madura picked her up, Hope still wore diapers and had little hair. "Some hair seemed matted, but it turned out to be her skin sloughing off," she recalls. A local veterinarian pronounced Hope's medical conditions—a serious skin ailment, bladder stones and a urinary infection — longstanding. Today, after an operation and doses of antibiotics and skin medications — and more than $1,000 in vet bills — Hope is mostly healthy.
"When I first got her I thought, 'I really want to find the owners,' " says Madura, who is white. "I was so sad for the people I saw at Lamar-Dixon looking for their animals. It was tragic." But the more she thought about it, the more she became convinced she was protecting Hope. "This dog was dying," she says. "You don't have a child abused and neglected, and then place her back in that situation."
Shalanda Augillard, who is African-American, last saw her then-8-year-old Jazz on Aug. 29, when she dropped the dog off at her mother's house in New Orleans on her way to the Federal Express facility near the airport, where she works as a ramp agent. (Through her attorneys, Augillard declined comment for this story.) Her mother was evacuated several days later.
Court filings say she tried to board a rescue boat with Jazz but was ordered to leave the dog. So she reluctantly left Jazz in an upstairs room with food and water to last "several weeks." National Guardsmen apparently rescued Jazz—"a beloved family pet since (she) was a puppy," court filings say — around Sept. 9.
Augillard, whose home was not significantly damaged in the hurricane, says she began searching for Jazz as soon as she could, visiting Lamar-Dixon and posting information about her on official Web sites. On Dec. 27, a volunteer for Katrina Cocker Find spotted Hope on PawMatch's Web site and alerted Augillard.
Over the next four months, she, Madura and PawMatch went back and forth over whether Hope was in fact Jazz. An exchange of veterinarian records didn't prove anything conclusively. Convinced Augillard wasn't the owner, Madura refused a face-to-face meeting, and in early May, Augillard filed her lawsuit.
Since then, the dispute has turned increasingly nasty. A temporary restraining order removed Hope from Madura's custody to a neutral kennel. Three weeks later, a Hays County judge found insufficient evidence that Hope was the dog Augillard was searching for and ordered the spaniel back to Madura, where she remains.
A meeting in mid-July at a vet's office turned confrontational when Augillard and a lawyer showed up with a video camera and pursued Madura around the office. A recent DNA test concluded that dog hair Augillard says came from an old sweater matched that of Hope/Jazz. But Madura and her Austin lawyer, Michael Murray, contend the hair from the sweater was a plant — secretly brushed off Hope by Augillard during a recent visit — so the results should be tossed.
If Hope really is Jazz, the dog legally belongs to Augillard. Animals are considered property, and Louisiana law gives residents three years to claim their lost possessions. But even "If (Augillard) is her owner, Hope shouldn't have to go back," Madura says. "And as much as I love her, they can place her in someone else's care."
Augillard's reports on Jazz's health prior to her disappearance have varied. According to one court filing, "The dog was in excellent physical condition" before Katrina. Later, Augillard said Jazz had a thyroid condition and kidney problems, but that both were being treated.
Litt, who follows such cases on her Web site, says the dog's health shouldn't be an issue. "Finders-keepers is not in the spirit of what this has been is all about," she says. A hearing to consider the DNA test results is scheduled for Thursday.
edexheimer@statesman.com; 445-1774
===============================
RESONSE TO HOPE WAITS FROM: <capron@pets911.org>
Date: Sun, 03 Sep 2006 * For: Eric Dexheimer, Austin American Statesman
Hello Eric - RE: http://tinyurl.com/rrybp - Excellent article on a tough subject that contains many angles.
We sponsored a bi-weekly conference call for rescue volunteers and agencies in the Gulf region for 9 months. Of course we heard and discussed many of these problems.
It's extremely difficult to cover all the bases when describing what happened to the animals after Katrina. You can side with the owners and make perfect sense of the situation, or you can side with the rescuers and make sense of that side as well. It's also a fact that although the HSUS was put in charge, they left the area when Rita loomed on the horizon. That left all the remaining rescuers (and rescue continues to this day) on their own. You probably know that the HSUS and others have been severely criticized for garnering dozens of millions of dollars and spending only a very small part of it before leaving when in fact, funds were still desperately needed.
Since rescuers, owners, lawyers, and even the Attorney General's office in Louisiana were asking us for advice and answers, I tried to show that it was impossible to issue one decision that would cover all the situations. There is a huge difference between the owner who's pet was torn from them as they boarded the boat or the bus, and the one that left their pet thinking "he'll be all right, he can swim and he hunts rabbits". Remember also that most out of state rescue groups signed agreements stating that they would hold the animals for a stated number of months before adopting it out - and they did that. Then along comes the owner after that time and starts a lawsuit to get the pet back. You can see both sides.
We need a Federal law that mirrors county and state laws that limit the number of days that the owner of a lost or rescued pet can legally demand the return. Then you need only ONE National database (we are working on that now) that every animal rescued (no exceptions) is listed showing where it is and how much time is left. There is nothing wrong with the previous owner contacting the new adopter to make sure the animal is happy in their new home and even divulge useful medical information, etc. Also, as is the case in normal lost and found issues in most states, the owner retrieving the animal must be responsible for any medical expense incurred by the rescuer.
As I said - a huge number of angles. Thanks for your excellent article.
Capt. Ron Fach, Humane Law Enforcement-Florida
National Disaster Response Teams and
Computerized Lost/Found records
the Pet Owners Alliance Inc.
http://www.pets911.org, 1-800-U.S.Stray;
********************************************************************************************
Kinship Circle Animal Disaster Relief List will report Gulf Coast needs,
news, missing/found animal reports, etc. for as long as needed. There are
still thousands of animals roaming sparsely populated areas...
We also report needs/news for animals in other disasters, as we’ve done for
the Northeast (USA) floods and Middle East situation. Thank you for your
commitment to forgotten victims in disasters.
********************************************************************************************
Shannon Moore July 22, 1969 ~ May 31, 2006
http://memoriesofshannon.blogspot.com/
Guest Book For Shannon Hartwick Moore
http://www.legacy.com/NOLA/Guestbook.asp?Page=Guestbook&PersonID=18017409
********************************************************************************************
Caring about innocent animals caught in Katrina’s wrath
doesn’t diminish human suffering. It makes us human.
********************************************************************************************
TO SUBSCRIBE TO KINSHIP CIRCLE ANIMAL DISASTER RELIEF LIST:
info@kinshipcircle.org or disasteraid@kinshipcircle.org
IN YOUR EMAIL, STATE:
--SUBSCRIBE TO KC ANIMAL DISASTER RELIEF LIST
--IF YOU ARE A RESIDENT OF LOUISIANA
TO UNSUBSCRIBE:
* Select a Kinship Circle ALERT received in your mailbox.
* Hit “FORWARD”
* Enter disasteraid@kinshipcircle.org and send. [Type UNSUBSCRIBE in your subject line].
* Make sure the “To” line from our original alert is in your email, LIKE THIS:
-----Original Message-----
From: Kinship Circle
Sent: Monday, April 03, 2006 11:34 AM
To: 7. KINSHIP CIRCLE Animal Disaster Relief List
Subject: [GULF COAST] Volunteers Still Needed in New Orleans
********************************************************************************************
BEAR WITNESS. SPEAK. DEMAND. ACT.
Kinship Circle - Action Campaigns I Literature I Voice For Animals
Nonprofit working in animal protection/cruelty + animal disaster relief campaigns
Brenda Shoss, president: info@kinshipcircle.org or disasteraid@kinshipcircle.org
http://www.KinshipCircle.org * http://www.kinshipcircle.org/disasters/default.html
Kinship Circle is a non-profit organization.
DONATE ONLINE: http://www.kinshipcircle.org/donation/
We are grateful for your support!
*DISCLAIMER: The information in these alerts is verified with the original
source. Kinship Circle does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of
the information or for the consequences of its use. Nothing in this email is
intended to encourage illegal action in whatever country you are reading it
in. Kinship Circle does not engage in, nor support, any form of harassment
or unlawful activity. Nothing in this alert serves to promote such conduct.
*Kinship Circle cannot guarantee the validity of email addresses. During a
campaign, recipients may change or disable their email addresses.
Action Alerts | Email List | Fact Sheets | Store | About Us | Updates | Victories | Your Alerts | Links
Disaster Aid | Donate | Volunteer | Columns & Articles | Ad Designs | Stanley | Mission | Home