Calling No-Kill Groups
Cadi Schiffer ~ Can you hold an Adoption Fair for animals rescued on New Orleans streets? Yes, you're busy with local rescue, but [as original ARNO's Onsite Food/Water Director] I know how unforgiving post-hurricane NOLA is for animals.In NOLA alone, some 40,000 to 80,000 animals live on streets. Food is scarce, mainly from volunteers. Garbage scraps vanished with the exodus of residents.
Adoption Fairs benefit NOLA animals and host groups in terms of donations and media attention. I work with Southern Animal Foundation, a respected rescue/veterinary nonprofit in New Orleans. They received a large HSUS grant to TNR, treat and feed NOLA's stray population.
Katrina's Long Shadow
Adoptions Key To Survival
So Many Animals, Nowhere To Go
Southern Animal Foundation (SAF) currently spay/neuters 30-40 animals a day, six days a week! Pre-Katrina stray numbers in New Orleans were already among the nation's largest. An estimated 10,000+ left behind in Katrina evacuations, with less than 5% altered, means current populations are huge and rapidly growing — despite 30,000 winter rescues and tens of thousands more who've died since the storm (many from starvation in the last 4-6 months).
Just a fraction of NOLA residents have returned, so local adopt/foster options are scarce. Moreover, state-run shelters have an 80-95% kill rate (often with just a 1-5 day hold) and many use crude gas chambers. The key to survival is out-state adoptions…or simply releasing altered animals back to the streets (including former pets). Sadly, parts of the New Orleans area are still toxic heaps of rubble, mold and mud. This is no place for any animal to live.
Proposal: 1-Day Adoption Fair
No-kill groups sponsor animals for adoption.
- Animals undergo full medical before leaving.
- SAF vaccinates, microchips, spay/neuters.
- Animals transported in climate-controlled truck.
- Transport costs fully covered by SAF's grant.
No cost for groups involved. Adoption fees are yours, free and clear (a 100% donation). Your group may earn $50-200 per sponsored animal, depending upon your adoption policies.
Your group controls the adoption process. You determine if adopters meet criteria and conduct home checks, etc. Ideally, each group holds an Adoption Fair at their own shelter. Groups with no physical shelter may hold fairs in a church basement, school gym or other community space. This minimizes stress on animals and maximizes control over the adoption process (i.e., people won't shop groups).
An Adoption Fair with New Orleans Katrina animals brings your group publicity and media. It targets likely donors plus now/future adopters. The press loves feel-good stories and is still intrigued by a "Katrina survivor" angle. For example: Adoption Fairs are underway at 10 locations citywide. Ahhh, look at all the wide-eyed kitties and pups, some all the way from New Orleans, homeless after Hurricane Katrina…
How Many Animals Can You Sponsor?
If all NOLA animals aren't placed at the Fair, can you pledge to shelter and adopt out these animals post-event? We believe most will go to new homes during the fair, but need assurance you can care for any who remain. You may select any number of animals to sponsor, and if important to your group, animals may be chosen based upon health status (such as FIV and FeLV), socialization (feral vs. non-feral), and age range. So many animals need rescue in New Orleans, you can be fairly specific about who you sponsor.
No Set Transport Timeline, Yet
I hope to form an itinerary based upon scheduling preferences of local groups. We may need to hold more than one Adoption Fair to accommodate groups and wait until kitten season ends. I'd like to organize an event for New Orleans dogs as well, but feel it would stress animals to transports dogs and cats in the same truck. We are looking at an Adoption Fair for dogs later in the Fall.
To Get Started, Or Find Out More
Contact Cody Riess: cody@codyriess.com
SAF volunteer organizing transports
Contact Cadi Cadi Schiffer: cadi@arusa.org
Adoption Fair Coordinator
Give Katrina Pups Cheza and Elvis Their Forever
Cheza Needs A New Home
The four little pups (bottom photo below) seen in Kinship Circle's 8/29/06 Katrina Anniversary Tribute were originally picked up by Dogbusters in mid-November 2005. Best Friends was too full to take more puppies, so they were held at original ARNO's base on Magazine and Felicity until I left for home in PA. The pups came with me. Cheza, shown as a puppy in top left photo and with her littermates top right, was pulled from underneath a New Orleans home in November 2005, along with her siblings. She was adopted out, but her new family returned her to me due to housing problems. Cheza is good with kids and other dogs. She comes when called and is house-trained. About one-year old now, Cheza is spayed and current on all shots. I will consider a foster home, if necessary. I am currently 8 months pregnant and unable to care for another animal.
Elvis, Love Me Tender
About 7-months old, Elvis was transported to us from Waveland, MS, where Katrina wiped out everything. Shelters, still barely functional, have high surrender and low adoption rates. Elvis, a Labrador Retriever-Hound Mix, needed ample TLC. He had a hernia that has since repaired on its own. He had mange, now treated and clear. Elvis is neutered, current on shots, dewormed and Frontlined. Unfortunately, Elvis contracted ringworm at the vet clinic. He is nearly done with treatment for that. Elvis is paper-trained and 80% house-broken. He digs chewing, but is basically still a puppy. More importantly, Elvis is super affectionate. He likes to play or just hang out…or even help pick-up the tree that just fell down! A $125 adoption fee goes to Animal Rescue Front.
Contact: Rachel McKay Laskowski
610-409-0805, GriffinsGallery@mac.com
About 7-months old, Elvis was transported to us from Waveland, MS, where Katrina wiped out everything. Shelters, still barely functional, have high surrender and low adoption rates. Elvis, a Labrador Retriever-Hound Mix, needed ample TLC. He had a hernia that has since repaired on its own. He had mange, now treated and clear. Elvis is neutered, current on shots, dewormed and Frontlined. Unfortunately, Elvis contracted ringworm at the vet clinic. He is nearly done with treatment for that. Elvis is paper-trained and 80% house-broken. He digs chewing, but is basically still a puppy. More importantly, Elvis is super affectionate. He likes to play or just hang out…or even help pick-up the tree that just fell down! A $125 adoption fee goes to Animal Rescue Front.
Contact: Rachel McKay Laskowski
610-409-0805, GriffinsGallery@mac.com
About Cadi Schiffer
Adoption Fair Coordinator
For over four months, I rescued, trapped and fed animals as a volunteer in New Orleans. From Dec-Mar, I directed the Onsite Food/Water Program for founding Animal Rescue New Orleans [As ARNO Food/Water Assignments Director, Kinship Circle's Brenda Shoss sent Cadi volunteers to feed animals across 650 sq. miles in Orleans, St. Bernard and Plaquemines].
We left 30,000 pounds of food per week at nearly 3,000 feeding stations in southern Louisiana. I worked closely with SAF while in New Orleans, and saw their dedication to animals firsthand. My goal: To move animals out-state and save as many as possible. I also hope Adoption Fairs help rescues raise funds and awareness in their own communities.
Adoption Fair Coordinator
For over four months, I rescued, trapped and fed animals as a volunteer in New Orleans. From Dec-Mar, I directed the Onsite Food/Water Program for founding Animal Rescue New Orleans [As ARNO Food/Water Assignments Director, Kinship Circle's Brenda Shoss sent Cadi volunteers to feed animals across 650 sq. miles in Orleans, St. Bernard and Plaquemines].
We left 30,000 pounds of food per week at nearly 3,000 feeding stations in southern Louisiana. I worked closely with SAF while in New Orleans, and saw their dedication to animals firsthand. My goal: To move animals out-state and save as many as possible. I also hope Adoption Fairs help rescues raise funds and awareness in their own communities.
Food/Water Volunteers
NOLA Independent Food/Water ProgramTraci Kestler, 504-975-5971
Can you spare 1 day a month?
- Feeders
- Warehouse workers
- Phone workers
- Computer workers
- TNR trappers
Food and water for homeless animals is our focus. NOLA animals are desperate, with rising reports of death by dehydration and starvation. Just one day per month, 12 days per year, not even full days! You'll relieve feeders who work every week.
Mississippi Horse Cruelty
9/2006, Teresa Baker ~ My friend Gina lives in rural Mississippi. Her neighbor bought a horse at auction, now in desperate shape. Last year's auction sticker has slid down his rump and is knotted in his hair. He is starving and underweight, with cracked feet and wire caught in one hoof. Gina sneaks him food daily, but he is so malnourished he can't eat much. Gina has called many orgs for help. No replies.To Help Abused Horse:
Gina Hail, 601-736-2416
gina_hail51@yahoo.com
Where can Gina report horse cruelty and can any rescue group provide care, rehoming?
Gina's Story Of Jack The Horse ~ Poor Jack, I hope you can send him some help. He has been in pasture for about 4 weeks now, about a 1-2 on the scale, with cracked and broken hooves, a thick wire bracket stuck on his back foot, and an infection in his right ear. I have never seen anyone out there to give him food or attention. He still has the auction sticker on his rump! Let me know if anyone can come here to see him. Gina Hail, gina_hail51@yahoo.com
Mississippi Man Poisons Cats For Scratching Car
Surviving Cats At Risk
Reply To: Kim Johnson
Adrienne Dearmas, 202-262-7112
Gulfport, Mississippi ~ A man fed 3 cats poisoned food because they scratched the paint on his new vehicle. He justified the killing: "The cats were too sick and weak to jump on the truck, so they scratched it trying to get on top." In fact, the cats were probably seeking refuge from a swarm of fire ants at this location.This man may poison remaining cats. All are at high risk:
1 orange/wh tabby, young, intact.
2 black/wh "cow pattern" (one pregnant).
2 torties, 1 younger/thin, 1 older.
1 gray/wh tabby with a flea collar, intact.
1 gray/wh old tom cat (possibly neutered).
1 tuxedo, doesn't hang with this group.
The poisoner claims they belong next door in a home presently unoccupied (people evacuated and never returned).
9/2/06 ~ This morning we put out food over by the "neighbor's house" where the cats were hanging out, only to find a couple, Emma and Dave, who were home. Not their cats, but they have been feeding them. They said it's the *other* next door neighbor who the cats belong to and she's been wanting to take them to a no-kill shelter. Which, according to a vet I ran into at the local coffee shop this morning (wearing a Best Friends shirt), is in Jackson, MS.
Address where cats gather:
827 Oakleigh Avenue
Gulfport, Mississippi
Next door to 835 Oakleigh Avenue
To Save Surviving Cats, We Need
- A Gulfport area volume trapper with at least 10 cat traps. There are fire ants everywhere, so traps must be elevated and use a nontoxic ant deterrent.
- A place to take the cats for spay/neuter, other veterinary care.
- A no-kill destination for 6 (or more) cats.
Two Problems
- The guy at 835 Oakleigh Avenue told me he killed 3 cats with poison. We don't know when or if he's still poisoning cats.
- There are caregiven cats in the mix, so it's not a blanket trap 'em all.
Kinship Circle
Animal Disaster Aid Fund
7380 Kingsbury Blvd
Saint Louis, MO 63130
Kinship Circle is a 501c3.
Donations are tax-deductible
This Year, Make A Meaningful Donation For Animals
Please donate now, so Kinship Circle can not only feed animals while in NOLA, but also give funds/food to Animal Rescue New Orleans, plus animal recovery efforts in Lakeview and Plaquemines.
Kinship Circle will service food/water stations and document animals sighted in the East/West sections of Upper 9th Ward, Lakeview, Plaquemines…
Landscapes have changed since Katrina. Even as some areas rebuild (residents often want feeding to stop) others have seen little recovery. Animal survivors and their offspring tend to roam near former homes. Reunions are still possible via documentation on feeding routes.
While in NOLA, we'll also help out at Animal Rescue New Orleans, plus transport animals for out-state adoptions. Please donate for the continued care of Katrina animal victims. Their suffering is not over. Thank you! Kinship Circle