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#1
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HELP IS DESPERATELY NEEDED
THIS IS NO JOKE.
Are you afraid to post this, so-called animal lovers? This is a heart wrenching, first hand account from a very brave volunteer. Permission to cross-post now granted! Get the word out because help is desperately needed. From a Connecticut shelter volunteer that just came back from New Orleans: September 19, 2005 Hi All, I got home late last night from Louisiana. I'm still trying to process everything I've seen and done, not to mention trying to get the stench out of my clothes! We went to the LSU temporary shelter, which is well run and organized. They really have their act together and it's a great place to volunteer. Next stop was the Lamar Dixon Expo Center(aka Gonzales), the large "clearing house" facility. LASPCA, HSUS, ASPCA, and VMAT are in a power struggle over who is in charge. It is total chaos. They don't have anywhere near enough people to care for the 2000 animals (average) and are turning away rescue groups bringing more animals in after sitting in line for hours. This place is HUGE, and the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing. Dogs and cats sit for days waiting for vet care even if illness is obvious. Many do not get out of their crates for 2+ days. There is no leadership, no system, and the animals are suffering. Vet care is obtained when they get the chance, and only after a request is put in the "inbox", which happens to be a bucket. Volunteers are so burnt out they are in tears. There are some very sick animals who are put in makeshift "wards" in the barns. No bleach bucket outside for shoes, and no where near any acceptable level of sanitation. "Triage" doesn't happened regularly, not enough vets & vet techs. The Parvo stalls are in the middle of everything ... people in & out of them constantly, and going directly in stalls with "healthy" dogs. All dogs & cats are kept in crates of all kinds. We got yelled at by VMAT for moving a puppy into a wire crate instead of a veri-kennel after being told to do so by HSUS. Don't know if it was because she was a pit pup and therefore most likely not going to make it out of that hellhole after all she'd been thru- she was air-vacced off the 610 bridge- or what. There are huge buses, vans, RV's, tents everywhere, representives of different states for each large group. Animal Planet had their bus there, and PETA was driving in as we were leaving. That's all well & good, but the "negotiations" for control is disgusting. Whoever gets the government "grant" (aka "Contract") runs the show, and makes some nice $$. There are pallets of food, water, crates, etc from Walmart, Petco, Petsmart, and a bunch of others. They just don't have enough people to clean & walk all these dogs, let alone feed, water, and med. They DESPERATELY need more people to do the basic stuff. We hooked up with Pasado Animal Rescue & did door to door searches for animal survivors in New Orleans. It is mind-blowing how many pets are still alive, though many are going down hill fast. Wednesday we did water rescue in an area that was still flooded, and pulled over a dozen dogs out of houses where they were trapped. We found animals alive in homes that were boarded up & barricaded, having to break in using any means necessary to get to them. The stench is unreal, and most homes are booby-traps- furniture and appliances thrown everywhere by the flood waters, the mold, sludge and god knows what makes walking in very dangerous. You DO NOT want to fall and get that stuff on you. The situation changes hour by hour, let alone day by day. They are beginning to release animals to rescues at least from what I saw, at least 50% of the dog population is Pitbull/Pit-mixes, approx 25% Rotties & Chows, and the remaining 25% every breed you can imagine. Some of the rescues are taking Pits & Rotties, though Lamar Dixon may not be allowing them out, Pasado & LSU are. I know there are other groups as well. Save A Dog is still there and flying in volunteers. They are also doing door to door rescue in the city now. IF ANYONE CAN GO PLEASE GO! Hotels are not an option. If you go, plan on sleeping in a tent (bring your own), or your vehicle. Personally, I recommend the vehicle ... Fire Ants are everywhere, and from personal experience, they will find you. I spent 2 nights sleeping in a horse stall before they realized I was there (the ants), but once they did, it was all over. Their bite is EXTREMELY painful and leaves blisters that turn into something resembling a pimple. Nothing seems to kill them. Showers are a luxury, if you can get one. Bring your own food & water, medical supplies, Rubbing Alcohol, bleach, etc to decontaminate yourself after handling the animals, who are still covered with dry toxic sewage. This effort will be going on for months, and people will be needed all the way thru. Right now, the dogs & cats (and every other creature you can imagine) are critical. Many are dehydrated and starving, and it is a VERY ugly scene. I hope things will improve. If anyone goes now, be prepared to separate your personal feelings from what needs to be done just to get these animals some help. Hopefully it will improve over the next few weeks/months, and someone will be in charge and get things somewhat organized. For those who can't turn off their feelings and just do the job as best they can, don't go now. Wait until it gets better. If you have a strong stomach, and can stay focused on just taking care of one at a time, you are needed now. Feral dog packs and cat colonies were well established in New Orleans prior to the hurricane ... now they are feeding off each other, and whatever they can find. It is truly horrible. The animal population problem is beyond belief. Out of some 300 dogs Pasado Rescue pulled, only TWO males were neutered, and I think ONE female. There are dogs who were severely neglected prior to the hurricane, mange is very prevalent, and god only knows what else. Most of the Pits have had there ears cropped back to their heads ...."Home Jobs" done with scissors or knives. The whole thing is just surreal. I did not dream at all while I was down there, probably due to exhaustion - we were up at 6 am and lucky to get to bed by 3 or 4 am. The nightmares are starting now, and I can't get the images out of my mind. I try to focus on the ones we've saved, and pray they get into homes. Enough for now, this is too long as it is, and I'm starting to cry again. B. |
#2
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I wish I could go and help but I'm up in Canada. I donated as much $ as
possible and I just hope they can save the innocent victims. Poor helpless souls. You did a good thing by going there and offering what you could. Are they still rescuing? It's been so long now any left behind will not live much longer. Especially once Rita hits, if it hits. What is happening on the front with the dog packs and cat collonies? Are they rescuing those animals still? I heard they were tranqulizing some to avoid attacks. if they tranqulize them tho they are weak and might not recover the tranquilizer. Im so worried!! I wish I could go and help!! JQ |
#3
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On Fri 23 Sep 2005 03:58:43p, JQ wrote in
rec.pets.cats.health+behav oups.com): I wish I could go and help but I'm up in Canada. I donated as much $ as possible and I just hope they can save the innocent victims. Poor helpless souls. You did a good thing by going there and offering what you could. Are they still rescuing? It's been so long now any left behind will not live much longer. Especially once Rita hits, if it hits. What is happening on the front with the dog packs and cat collonies? Are they rescuing those animals still? I heard they were tranqulizing some to avoid attacks. if they tranqulize them tho they are weak and might not recover the tranquilizer. Im so worried!! I wish I could go and help!! JQ It's a desperate situation. My heart keeps breaking. I wish I could go, too. Money only goes so far, and while desperately needed, bodies are needed more. -- Cheryl |
#4
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KittyyttiK wrote: THIS IS NO JOKE. Are you afraid to post this, so-called animal lovers? This is a heart wrenching, first hand account from a very brave volunteer. Permission to cross-post now granted! Get the word out because help is desperately needed. From a Connecticut shelter volunteer that just came back from New Orleans: September 19, 2005 Hi All, I got home late last night from Louisiana. I'm still trying to process everything I've seen and done, not to mention trying to get the stench out of my clothes! We went to the LSU temporary shelter, which is well run and organized. They really have their act together and it's a great place to volunteer. Why don't you concentrate on helping your own species, you friggin' nut... Mentally deranged, I sweat to God.. Something needs to be done about you people.... IBen |
#5
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People like you (arrogant, self-centered, selfish, ignorant, pompous,
etc.) are the reason why I sometimes like animals better than humans. Animals are innocent, humans are not. ======= KittyyttiK |
#6
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KittyyttiK wrote: People like you (arrogant, self-centered, selfish, ignorant, pompous, etc.) are the reason why I sometimes like animals better than humans. Animals are innocent, humans are not. ======= KittyyttiK Answer the question. Why are you not helping humans in this time of great need? Does your hatred of your own species make you feel closer to the animals that you so adore? Answer the question, nutcase IBen |
#7
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Because most humans are dick heads just like you. Now you can F.O. and
K.M.B and shut the F. up. |
#8
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"KittyyttiK" wrote in message ups.com... Because most humans are dick heads just like you. Now you can F.O. and K.M.B and shut the F. up. Who are you replying to? |
#9
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On 2005-09-23 16:47:17 -0500, "KittyyttiK" said:
People like you (arrogant, self-centered, selfish, ignorant, pompous, etc.) are the reason why I sometimes like animals better than humans. Animals are innocent, humans are not. ======= KittyyttiK It's Iben. Usenet idiot. Cat ignoramus. Keep my wife barefoot and in her place Getiner. Ignore. |
#10
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To whoever posted about LSU, thank you so much from a New Orleanian....I've
been helping out as much as I can, too for the parish that I'm in. There are so many shelters that need help in so many areas and help is coming from all over the U.S. so I just wanted to say to all who have given of their time and helped these animals thank you from the bottom of my heart. -- "An animal's eyes have the power to speak a great language." "IBen Getiner" wrote in message ups.com... KittyyttiK wrote: THIS IS NO JOKE. Are you afraid to post this, so-called animal lovers? This is a heart wrenching, first hand account from a very brave volunteer. Permission to cross-post now granted! Get the word out because help is desperately needed. From a Connecticut shelter volunteer that just came back from New Orleans: September 19, 2005 Hi All, I got home late last night from Louisiana. I'm still trying to process everything I've seen and done, not to mention trying to get the stench out of my clothes! We went to the LSU temporary shelter, which is well run and organized. They really have their act together and it's a great place to volunteer. Why don't you concentrate on helping your own species, you friggin' nut... Mentally deranged, I sweat to God.. Something needs to be done about you people.... IBen |
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