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MuttShack PROJECT KATRINA HISTORY: MuttShack Project Katrina helped save the lives of thousands of Katrina animals. Like “Pugsley”, the Pug who swam to the top of his owner’s refrigerator where he survived for seven weeks, eating the mold on the surrounding walls as the flood waters receded. And the German shepherd, Katrina’s longest recorded survivor - trapped in her home for 71 days only to be discarded when her owners returned home to collect their “valuables”. She is now a very happy and healthy canine Canadian citizen. MuttShack ran the only fully equipped animal rescue MASH facility and shelter operation within the City of New Orleans. Volunteers rescued and provided instant critical care to over 3,000 animals. When all local shelters were demolished and small triages were operating out of parking lots sending animals great distances to neighboring states – MuttShack managed to treat these dehydrated and injured animals immediately - right there in the heart of New Orleans. They did so in a dark and desolate city with no electricity, no running water, and no sewage or trash services. They survived the challenges of extreme heat, ravenous mosquitoes, toxic air and dust, the devastation, the stench and the new terrors of Hurricanes Rita and Wilma. How? With the help of sponsors, Partners Florida AKC, and the generosity of Principal Danny McGovern at the Lake Castle School in East New Orleans. Lake Castle School – Project Katrina MuttShack established an animal hospital care facility at Lake Castle School. A gymnasium served as a mega-shelter for dogs, and the screened pavilion, a shelter for cats. Classrooms became MASH Veterinary clinics, one for dogs and another for cats. Then an ICU ward, a Quarantine ward and an Aggressive or Traumatized dog ward. IDEX set up a laboratory and trained veterinarians and vet techs. Birds were kept in a fenced in area, and rescued turtles, swans and ducks swam in the school swimming pool while Katrina rescued dogs oftentimes frolicked in the second pool area which our volunteers later termed, “The Bark Park”! MuttShack Sponsors Diane Albers of FAKC sent a life-saving 50,000 gallon water truck, provided generators to run the medical clinics, and sent loads of supplies, including medical equipment, clothing and food for animals and people. David Levy & Associates provided us with a tractor trailer of pet food. Your online donations supplied vaccines, critical medical supplies, crates, provisions and gasoline and helped provide transport. But no salaries and no paychecks! MuttShack’s Knights of Katrina Volunteers came from across the United States and from across the globe – Alaska, New Zealand and Canada. Our Search and Rescue Teams, Medical/Surgical Teams, Shelter Teams and Establishment teams worked incredibly long and arduous hours, oftentimes risking life and limb in traumatic conditions to save the lives of pets. These loving, nurturing, unselfish people willingly exchanged their everyday lives, their lattes, their remote controls, their loved ones and families for a shot at saving one life and ended up saving countless. MuttShack was visited by FEMA, the Military, the Police, and First Responders who all became immediate allies. Working with FEMA, MuttShack presently runs an online Animal Rescue Certification course for our volunteers. In doing so, MuttShack is one of the leading agencies preparing to assist in the evacuation of pets before the storms. Their work goes on as pet rescue efforts are still critical. The extreme devastation to homes in the Disaster Zone has resulted in floodgates of animals surrendered to local shelters. They have been transporting animals to safe shelters across the United States and continue to evacuate animals that have places to go but no means to get there. They ask for your continued assistance, a request that becomes a prayer every time they look into the eyes of a dog, horse, cat, or pony whose life hangs in the balance for lack of a few more dollars. Thanks to people like you, the lost pets still in New Orleans will find their loving home very soon. |
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