During Katrina, red tape, untrained but willing volunteers, lack of organization and many other factors cost many lives of man and beast. Children were heartbroken having to leave their pets behind and many did not survive. Muttshack Animal Rescue was one of the most successful and dedicated groups that saved over 3000 animals and managed to reunite many with their overjoyed owners.

The Hurricane season has begun on the Gulf of Mexico and Florida looks like the first area likely to be hit. Can the Gulf expect any more Katrinas this season? This time highly trained and organized groups only will be allowed to participate in rescue operations and Muttshack Animal Rescue has developed a training program in Animal Rescue Certification done through FEMA online. The State of Louisiana mandates that only those individuals in possession of this Animal Rescue Certificate will be allowed upfront with the first responders and all others will be stopped at the gate with the “spontaneous volunteers”

“It is not through lack of gratitude that these people will be turned away”, said Amanda St. John, Founder of Muttshack Animal Rescue, “but without the proper training and Certification these people could be more of a hindrance than a help and from our experience with Katrina, we just cannot afford to repeat the mistakes that were made then.”

If you want to help, register for Muttshack Animal Rescue Certification Courses on line.
Muttshack is also urging donations of airline miles to assist rescuers who deploy into the disaster areas so that rescue angels are flying in when everyone else is rushing out. Contact Animal Rescue at Resources@muttshack.org. Further assistance with rescue efforts can be to donate emergency evacuation supplies to MuttShack Animal Rescue.

For those people who were lucky enough to escape or who suffered such devastating losses of friends, family and pets during Katrina, don’t let it happen to anyone else. Your help is needed now before anyone can say “If only……..”

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