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1. NOTES: Oakville Area (Louisa County) Flood

Photos, Left: Louisa County, Oakville area, Iowa. Credit: Molly Wald. View more photos from rescue operations 6/18 and 6/19/08: http://flickr.com/photos/mollywald/
sets/72157605698148806
PHOTOS, BELOW: A rescue and a reunion. Photo credit: Molly Wald

OAKVILLE AREA (LOUISA COUNTY) FLOOD: 6/19/08:

A boat crew assessed the scope of trapped animals. Some 25 animals were rescued from floods and five were reunited with families. Some residents on boats also retrieved stranded animals. Oakville animals were brought to Mediapolis Veterinary Clinic and Des Moines County Animal Shelter, in Burlington, Iowa area. Neither shelter is in overflow yet. Boat rescuers expect to leave Oakville 6/20, to set-up at Lee County Fairgrounds staging area for assessment of animal situation in southeast Iowa.

LEFT PHOTO: Chewy is saved and reunited with his family.

RIGHT PHOTO: A rescued cat awaits transport to a flood shelter.

Photo credits: Robyn Urman

One lucky dog, about 6 years old, was found in the rafters of a flooded home — where she’d crawled to escape floodwaters. At first the evacuated house appeared empty. Then the walls began to tremble a bit, as this relieved girl wagged her tail enthusiastically. “Chewy” was reunited with her family later that day, after a rescuer at the scene covered vet bills for a bleeding front paw. Considering her ordeal, Chewy’s in good shape...and happy to be back with her people.

ABOVE/BELOW PHOTOS: Photo credits: Molly Wald

Kinship Circle sent a PSA to Iowa TV/radio and newspapers, on behalf of Iowa Dept. of Agriculture, alerting residents to the rescue operations in Oakville and where to check for their companions. The announcement also included an Iowa hotline for residents to request rescue of animals trapped in flooded homes. We hope the publicity will lead rescuers to more animals.

6/20/08: Already this morning, six cats and a puppy are out of harm’s way. Over 50 animals were saved in last two days. Calls continue to come in about animals stranded in flooded neighborhoods.

2. NOTES: Southeast Iowa Floods

ABOVE PHOTOS: Photo credits: Molly Wald

SOUTHEAST IOWA / FORT MONTROSE, ARGYLE, KEOKUK, BURLINGTON... FLOODS:

6/20/08: Burlington, in southeast Iowa, was among the last Iowa areas to fill with water...making waters too dangerous for search and rescue until now. Boat teams left Oakville late this afternoon to set up at a “surge shelter” for assessment and rescue.

Though we do not yet know the full scope of need here, we know at least 40-50 animals had been rescued and that Southeast Iowa Animal Protection League is networking foster homes and shelters to house them. We’ve directed some volunteers to the staging area at Lee County Fairgrounds.

COVERAGE OF DEVASTATION IN SOUTHEAST IOWA: www.thehawkeye.com/

3. NOTES: The Tragedy Of The Pigs

PHOTOS: Credit: Molly Wald

LOUISA COUNTY PIGS:

6/18/08: A hog factory with thousands of pigs flooded. The owner was able to evacuate most pigs, but 500 were released into waters. Some drowned...Others who swam for their lives and managed to hoist their bodies atop levees where SHOT by officials...because their hooves damaged sandbags. Most remain trapped in a water-surrounded area. Kinship Circle has contacted Farm Sanctuary, a rescue/advocacy group that helped farmed animals after Katrina.

LEFT PHOTO: About a dozen pigs, including this one, escaped from a flooded Iowa farm and made it to a levee. But they were shot and killed by authorities who said the animals threatened to weaken the barrier.
http://news.aol.com/story/_a/pigs-shot-to-protect-flood-levee/20080619070009990001
RIGHT PHOTO + ALL PHOTOS BELOW: Credit - Molly Wald. View more photos from rescue operations 6/18 and 6/19/08: http://flickr.com/photos/mollywald/sets/72157605698148806/

6/19/08: Some loose pigs have been spotted in churchyards, inside homes, and on rooftops. One report said 70 pigs had convened in a single area. An estimated 100 or more pigs — from several flooded farms — may still be wandering.

Most of the pigs were contained in one water engulfed area. In today’s conference call with Iowa Ag Dept. we learned none of these particular pigs are left. Local barge crews herded most out of the water. Survivors will return to livestock operations... We do not have precise numbers.

On a positive note, one boat rescuer searching for stranded companion animals today encountered a pig struggling in fast currents, clinging to a floating object. As the pig swam around the corner of a building, the rescuer was able to guide him toward an adjacent house with a relatively dry porch. Though impossible for the rescuer to board this giant pig on his small boat, he left the pig on dry ground with plenty of food.

Deputies shoot pigs to save levee, land
www.cnn.com/2008/US/weather/06/18/midwest.flooding.pigs.ap/index.html
Pigs Shot to Protect Flood Levee
http://news.aol.com/story/_a/pigs-on-sandbag-levee-shot-and killed/20080619070009990001?icid=200100397x1204358712x1200179326
Pigs perish on submerged farmland / Animals drown or are shot while struggling to find dry land.
www.thehawkeye.com/Story/Flood-Oakville-061908

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6/20/08: IOWA FLOOD - Notes From The Water’s Edge