Vast numbers of both wild and tame cats roam the streets and alleys of New Orleans, many have already perished from starvation as restaurant and household trash is no longer being offered in sufficient quantity to feed the feline population, or because of the toxic environment, all sorts of infections are threatening the lives of the survivors were it not for organizations like MuttShack Animal Rescue.

At some of the "rescue" centers, the collecting and systematic euthanizing of cats takes place on a regular basis. If after five days they have not been claimed by their owners or adopted by new ones, they are put down. This is due to a desperate shortage of resources to administer under-funded shelters and lack of space with constant new batches of arriving animals, both surrendered and rescued.

"Kris Rieck-Perez (a retired member of the US Coast Guard, who headed up Search and Rescue at MuttShack) and her husband Earnest Perez decided to do something about this and find an alternative to the tragic euthanizing of already traumatized animals," said Amanda St John, Founder of MuttShack Animal Rescue in New Orleans. "Wonderful people like the Perez' decided to use their property in North Carolina as a sanctuary for these cat refugees. The sanctuary consists of four large insulated sheds (two of which are complete) with washable melamine walls and ceilings, heating and lighting, double doors to keep out inclement weather, cat flaps, litter boxes and straw bedding. There is also a large fenced in yard."

"Many local volunteers and Cat Haven in Baton Rouge helped us rescue doomed cats and kittens from euthanasia. With the help of volunteers I loaded thirty-two cats into a temperature controlled panel van and personally drove them from Baton Rouge to Atlanta where Kris Rieck met us and took them on another six hour, second leg of their journey. Their final destination will be a luxurious sanctuary where they will receive five-star treatment compared to the dreadful prospect that lay ahead of them close to what they used to call home," added St.John.

Stories like this one abound as caring people dedicate themselves to saving the lives of animals that under less trying circumstances give us humans so much love and comfort. This is the time to pay back some of it. For more details and more incredible survival stories from MuttShack Animal Rescue in New Orleans, go to their website at www.muttshack.org . Volunteers and donations are needed to support their rescue and veterinary expenses.

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