Mutt Blog

MuttShack Renews Its Katrina Promise at the Jefferson Parish Hurricane Summit

noreply@blogger.com (MuttShack Animal Rescue) — Fri, 30 May 2008 22:45:00 +0000

New Orleans, May 30, 2008

“No animals will be left behind” was the clear message to the public at the Jefferson Parish Hurricane Summit.

Jefferson Parish residents attended demonstrations and presentations on State and Parish preparations for the 2008 Hurricane Season at the Eastbank Regional Library, 4747 West Napoleon Avenue in Metairie on Friday, May 30th.

Parish President Aaron Broussard say the Parish is the best prepared it has ever been for a hurricane.

Jefferson Parish Animal Control Director LeAnn Matherne, talked in earnest on preparing animals for evacuation stressing the importance of the microchip identification system and pre-registration of pets.

Kaye Harris of MuttShack, an organization that helped rescue over 3,000 animals in the aftermath of Katrina, renewed their Katrina Promise to never let animals be left behind again.

“MuttShack will be there to support Jefferson Parish and transport pets to pet shelters during an emergency.” [Kaye Harris pictured right.]

MuttShack operates under the Louisiana Department of Transportation & Development and the Animal Services division of the Department of Agriculture and Forestry and in cooperation with the Louisiana State Animal Response Team.

Muttshack will provide over one hundred temperature controlled vehicles to assist in transporting dogs, cats and other household pets during an emergency and ICS trained volunteers will assist at Jefferson Parish pet evacuation points.

Levees Safe

Parish President Aaron Broussard said many of the Parish's levees have been armored and upgraded ahead of the 2008 Hurricane Season. This includes a new floodgate and levee improvements at the Harvey Canal, and also has safe houses at Parish Pumping Stations so that personnel can remain safe and on duty during a hurricane and would not need to be evacuated.

Aaron Broussard, was a very different man today from the one who appeared on National television after Katrina, pleading for help. "In every aspect of our agency, and multi agencies that effect Jefferson Parish in storms and times of need, we're prepared," he said.

MuttShack's Kaye Harris helped wrap up the week-long events today, May 30th with the Jefferson Parish Hurricane Preparedness Summit. The full program included: United State Army Corps of Engineers - 100 Year Flood Protection Project, Law Enforcement Issues, Preparing Animals for Evacuation, Preparing the Elderly and Handicapped for Evacuation, Business Re-entry Placards, Emergency Alert System and Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Registrations, Emergency Management Plans for 2008 Hurricane Season, Jefferson Parish Continuity of Operations Plan for Business and Government, Status of Pump Stations, Safe Rooms and Automation, and Generator Safety.

The Hurricane Summit was recorded by COX and will be aired regularly so that residents can review the information in preparedness.

Martin St. John, Director of MuttShack and the MuttShack organization have been officially recognized by the Parish President, Aaron Broussard "For the invaluable service they provide to Jefferson Parish."

Watch the KATRINA PROMISE VIDEO.

When the Going Gets Tough ~ The Tough Go Shopping!

noreply@blogger.com (MuttShack Animal Rescue) — Wed, 21 May 2008 21:18:00 +0000

MuttShack Joins with FetchDog to put some extra joy back into giving.

Shopping helps fund the amazing animal rescue project ~The Katrina Promise!

MuttShack is gearing up for Hurricane season with several training events planned in Louisiana. We made a promise that no-one ever has to leave their pets behind again.

Shop to your heart's delight with FetchDog and a percentage of all your purchases goes to MuttShack. You can even jump in and help us purchase emergency shelter crates and ship them directly to MuttShack!

Making your purchases count for charity is easy. Just start shopping from the list of products Amanda and Marty have chosen in their Favorites Widget.

Or if you want to shop the entire FetchDog store, just start by clicking here! FetchDog will track ALL your purchases—whether from our recommendations or not—and will donate a percentage of those proceeds to MuttShack Animal Rescue. There is no added cost to you—just do your routine shopping and FetchDog donates a portion of the sale, on behalf of Amanda and Marty, to animal disaster response nationwide.

MuttShack Report from CA Sierra Madre Fire Zone

noreply@blogger.com (MuttShack Animal Rescue) — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 17:27:00 +0000

April 28, 2008

A fixed wing water tanker drops fire retardant on the ridgeline above the City of Sierra Madre .

Photo:
Amanda St. John

Four Dogs and Wedding Party Evacuated by Helicopter from Advancing Sierra Madre Fire

A wedding party for Ken and Julie Grady consisting of 45 people and four pets were asked to shelter in place at Sturtevant Camp; the party was safely evacuated Sunday morning.

The party had driven up Saturday night to camp and celebrate the nuptials. Sierra Madre Search and Rescue led the evacuation operation coordinating with LA County Sheriffs. It took five helicopter trips to take the party back to their cars at the Chantry Flats Ranger Station where Los Angeles County Sheriffs Escorted everyone back down the mountain safely.

Evacuees who came to the Red Cross shelter with pets were very ably assisted by Pasadena Humane Society, the lead animal rescue agency for Sierra Madre.

MuttShack Animal Rescue visited the Red cross Shelters and spoke with several evacuees who had pets. Some evacuees did not want to send their pets to the shelter in Pasadena and chose instead to stay in their vehicles overnight.

Caroline Ingles and her four year old golden retriever Jay were relaxing on a blanket under the big shade trees.

Mark Crawford was hoping to sleep in his car for the night with his little black lab Glory, who is named after the Fourth of July.

Shannon M. a disaster veteran (who lost two homes in the Ninth ward, during Katrina) and "Rumbero" a little "Blonde Havanese" said that her cats were safe with friends, and that the only complaint Rumbero had was that he did not like the orange chicken the Red Cross was serving. Did we have steak?

The American Red Cross has opened a shelter at the Hart Park House and at the Congressional Church. MuttShack met with Shelter IC Cesar Aviles and John and Mary Valencia who had been working since dawn to set up the shelter. They were very concerned and helpful to people who had pets. Leashes, dog food, cat food, crates and bowls were on hand at the entrance to the shelter.

The Santa Anita fire began on Saturday, April 26th in the afternoon and has currently burned under 400 acres of wild land urban interface. Two firefighters had been injured, one was stung by a bee Saturday afternoon; the other strained his knee working in the steep terrain Sunday morning.

The terrain has not burned in forty years. Because the steep terrain is virtually impossible to fight on foot helicopters and planes are constantly dropping fire retardant from the air.

Approximately 1000 people have been evacuated from Oak Crest Drive across Carter Avenue to East Mira Monte Avenue, continuing down Mountain Trail Avenue, across Grandview Avenue to Santa Anita Avenue.

The American Red Cross has opened a shelter at the Hart Park House, 222 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. The number for the American Red Cross is 626-799-0841.

For more information and photos visit our web page at http://www.muttshack.org/

SHUT DOWN PUPPY MILLS

noreply@blogger.com (MuttShack Animal Rescue) — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 21:44:00 +0000

SHUT DOWN PUPPY MILLS
Save a Shelter Dog!

For every pet you buy, a shelter dog must die!

Please join our Shelter Rescue Campaign

Thank You for reading!
Oprah Winfrey and Lisa Ling exposed the cruel industry of puppy mills that use breeder dogs to produce endless litters for profit. These "bitches" live desperately lonely lives, their bodies exhausted by never ending and constant pregnancies.

Their puppies do not receive the kind and loving human contact critical for them to become good pets. These neglected dogs develop undesirable behaviors, bark excessively or become destructive and unsociable. Their poor veterinary care and shelter conditions make them prone to illness. New owners face sickly pets with expensive vet bills and poor socialisation. Then they are dumped in the shelters, literally thousands every day.

Do the right thing. Support our Shelter Rescue Campaign. We rescue these unwanted dogs, and find them loving qualified homes with patient loving guardians.

Let us fill every available home with a shelter pet and put puppy mills out of business!

SUPPORT SHELTER RESCUE

$20 p.m.

Rescued Pet: Priceless

Thank you for making room for one more shelter pet and supporting shelter rescues, by your commitment and monthly membership!

Sincerely,

Amanda St John
Founder
MuttShack Animal Rescue
15981 Yarnell St. #188, Sylmar CA 91342

Previous Owner Rediscovers Her St. Bernard Hours Before His Date With Death!

noreply@blogger.com (MuttShack Animal Rescue) — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 22:02:00 +0000

Los Angeles, CA
March 5, 2008

Was it fate? Who knows, but whatever made Jessica look on Craigslist this morning must be the hand of Clunky's guardian angel. There he was, the St. Bernard she had to give up in college two years earlier. Frantic, Jessica jumped into her car and drove to Los Angeles from San Diego, only to find that the previous owners had labeled Clunky aggressive, and therefore he was not adoptable to the public, only to Rescue Organizations.

MuttShack who posted the REDLIST posting on Craigslist responded to Jessica's call for help. Working with Animal Alliance, a New Hope Partner they immediately placed a hold on Clunky to stay his date with death. MuttShack volunteers in San Diego organized for a house check, and verified and cross-referenced Jessica's information. With just precious hours to spare they ran over to the shelter in Los Angeles to scoop him up. Clunky had been "Red Listed" to be killed that day.

Back in San Diego there were tears of joy. "My brothers and sister's couldn't believe their eyes when Clunky came bouncing through the door." said Jessica. "He actually kicked my brother out of his own bed the first night !" Ah well ~ things are back to the way they used to be!

Jessica had to give up Clunky in college to a new owner when their landlord's changed their policy and students were no longer able to keep pets. Now Clunky is living with Jessica and her siblings on a six acre property. This was probably the most important lesson Jessica ever learned in college. Never give up on your pet!

Redlisted cats and dogs in the Local Los Angeles Shelters are euthanized because of "lack of space." MuttShack networks these Redlisted pets to Breed Rescue Groups, post on public forums and social network groups in order to find a last minute reprieve and save a pet from death. Can you help us fund shelter rescues? Become a Sponsoring Member! and make a small donation every month.

When the going gets tough the tough go shopping ~ for dog stuff of course...
MuttShack has partnered with fetchdog, a dog-centric universe of all things canine. FetchDog offers passionate dog people a place to find the highest quality products, credible advice on their dog's health and wellness, and an online community of fellow humans who love their dogs. Be sure to request their free catalog. More importantly, six percent of all products purchased through our fetchdog link go to support MuttShack so we can continue the great work of saving more lives.

MuttShack Animal Rescue and PetSmart Charities Aid Animals In California Esperanza Fire

noreply@blogger.com (MuttShack Animal Rescue) — Tue, 07 Nov 2006 00:08:00 +0000

As families fled their homes in the early morning hours on Thursday October 26, there was no warning. The Esperanza Fire southeast of Los Angeles and West of Palm Springs, California, had ballooned under the influence of Santa Ana winds to more than 19,000 acres as of the morning of October 27. No time to get the animals, no time for crates or even a leash. Sadly, owners left behind not only their horses, lamas, donkeys, chickens, rabbits, but also their dogs and cats.

Many of the families who did manage to evacuate their pets found themselves in the parking lot at the Fellowship in the Pass Church Red Cross Shelter where a MuttShack Animal Rescue team caught up with them.

Pam Anderson, Director of the emergency Red Cross shelter said that many people with animals had come and left.

The air was thick with smoke, and ash was raining down on the parking lot where dog owners, not able to take their dogs into the shelter were camping out in pup tents and
in their cars.

Those who could afford it checked themselves into pet friendly hotels in nearby towns.
Some were prepared. Jane Garner, a small dog breeder was able to get all her animals out, and had set up her puppy runs alongside her RV in the parking lot. Others were not doing too well, having left home without as much as a leash.
The same scenario played out at the Red Cross shelter at Hemet High School. Animals were being boarded in vans, trailers and cars and small travel crates.
When MuttShack Animal Rescue arrived, a small fracas had sent several dogs off in different directions, running out of the school parking lot down busy streets necessitating an instant rescue response. The Incident Command for the Esperanza Animals, Ramona Humane Society in San Jacinto welcomed MuttShack‘s offer to help at the shelters.

Ramona Humane Society had recently published a notice in their Newsletter about the newly passed “PETS Act"
and warned owners not wait until a major disaster such as an earthquake or fire
to prepare. "Be proactive to ensure that your pet will be taken care of.”

MuttShack and PetSmart Charities set up ad hoc facilities for the animals at both shelters.

The Red Cross shelter, run by Madison Burtchaell of the Orange County Red Cross was very accommodating about allowing a small emergency pet shelter adjacent to the School.

Barbara A. Fought of PetSmart Charities, an organization that works with animal welfare organizations and provide assistance in disasters, provided crates and emergency supplies.

MuttShack and Red Cross volunteers, Martin St. John, Tom Hamilton, and Steve Meissner helped assemble the crates to secure a safe environment for evacuated pets.

It was a great relief for evacuees who had camped out in the parking lot to finally leave their vehicles and relax at the shelter, setting up their cots to grab some sorely needed rest. Firefighters and residents reported loss of wildlife and animals. The Esperanza fire burned 34 homes, consumed 40,000 acres and cost five Firefighters their lives before it was contained four days later on October 30. Firefighting operations cost nearly $10 million.

MuttShack Animal Rescue is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization active in disasters and dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and care of lost or discarded dogs, cats and other animals.

Richard Chvilicek, East Central Fire Department, David Whey, Chris Harold, Bradley Lineberger, Craig Zieilinger, all of Chula Vista Fire Department, and Stan Milewski, East Central Fire Department.

Martin St. John, MuttShack provides Otto with a leash. Smoke rises from the mountains behind them.

Escape Artist Joey - fully contained. Happy with his blanket and bone at the Hemet School shelter.

Bear gets a treat from a volunteer at the Fellowship in The Pass Shelter parking lot where his guardians are waiting out the fires.

Red Cross Volunteers help set up the crates at the ad-hoc animal shelter.

Manager Connie and "Shacker" gets emergency equipment provided by PetSmart Charities.

Bob Withers, Alpine Fire Department debriefs MuttShack Animal Rescue Disaster Unit on the fire.

Brandy, Ramona Humane Animal Control Officer picks up dogs surrendered for adoption.

Prints of “Queenie the Firedog” photographed in Ramona, California near cedar Falls is being used to raise money to promote animal emergency rescue training efforts and support related training programs for MuttShack Animal Rescue.

Buy: Art Print, Queenie Fire Dog! By Nanette Martin ...
Photographer Nanette Martin is a freelance documentary photographer... $19.95

Add to Shopping List

Pet Transport Exercise to Ensure Safe Evacuation of Pets

noreply@blogger.com (MuttShack Animal Rescue) — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 22:26:00 +0000

BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANNA

In preparation for what could be the largest planned pet evacuation ever undertaken, LA Emergency Support Function-11 public and private partners staged a mock pet evacuation exercise at Dixon Correctional Institute in Jackson and at East Baton Rouge Animal Control Center. The cooperative effort focused on staging, loading and securing transport vehicles to ensure pets can be safely moved to shelters during an emergency.

Non-profit humane organizations LA/SPCA (www.la-spca.org), MuttShack (www.muttshack.org) and International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW, www.ifaw.org) provided transport vehicles, support personnel and technical expertise for the exercise. Kennels were measured, placed and secured in several types of transport vehicles that will be used for evacuation. The number, placement and configuration of kennels were evaluated for safety and efficiency. Events were videotaped so “Standard Operating Procedures” can be produced and distributed to pet evacuation officials throughout Louisiana and the nation.

Heat stress is a major concern when transporting pets long distances. Veterinarians from the USDA’s Animal Care team provided infrared thermometers and monitored air temperatures in the transport vehicles during loading and transport. Animal Health Services officials from the Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry were on hand fulfilling part of their role as lead state agency for animal care and agriculture during a disaster.

“By establishing a comprehensive evacuation, rescue and shelter plan, Louisiana now leads the nation in caring for pets before, during and after a disaster,” Commissioner of Agriculture & Forestry Bob Odom said. “The expertise of all the groups involved in this drill and the entire process will ensure the safety and well-being of Louisiana’s animal population. I commend their efforts to practice and re-evaluate before a disaster strikes.”

FEMA Special Liaison for Animal Issues at the Baton Rouge Joint Field Office, Captain Stephanie Ostrowski, DVM, agrees. “Formal integration of federal and state plans and resources to support pet evacuation and sheltering is a new concept. This exercise is an important first step in cooperative planning.”

Department of Corrections inmates at DCI pre-assembled and labeled transport kennels for the exercise. In a true emergency, Corrections has volunteered to perform this function as well as to house up to 2,000 pets of disabled, elderly and special needs residents. Following the kennel configuration exercise, the team traveled to Baton Rouge, where adoptable pets at East Baton Rouge Animal Control Center served as volunteers for a mock drill of a parish pick-up point. Parish pick-up points are designated locations in coastal parishes where citizens requiring assisted evacuation can assemble. Their pets can be safely evacuated by animal officials at the same time, reducing the chances they will be lost. “Pet ownership is a responsibility, and families should include pets in their evacuation plans. But when people have no other option for evacuation, hopefully this will prevent them from leaving their pets behind,” said Hilton Cole, Director of the EBR Animal Control Center. “Owners should place identification tags on their pet’s collar and bring proof of rabies vaccination to pick-up points,” Cole also recommended.

The pet transportation exercise was coordinated by the U. S. Department of Homeland Security, the Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry and the Louisiana State Animal Response Team, a volunteer organization charged by the Department of Agriculture & Forestry with facilitating pet evacuation and shelter as an ESF-11 partner. Dr. Renee Poirrier, a Louisiana veterinarian and LSART team leader, summed up the exercise by saying, “This drill exemplifies the cooperative effort between partners at the federal, state and local level necessary to ensure that pets are safely evacuated. And when pets are evacuated, more people will evacuate. That’s the bottom line.”

MuttShack Animal Rescue is recruiting volunteers. For more information please contact http://www.muttshack.org/Animal_Rescue_Certification.htm.

To assist further please go to http://www.muttshack.org/donations.htm

Animal Rescue Volunteers Rush to Get Certified As First Responders

noreply@blogger.com (MuttShack Animal Rescue) — Sun, 18 Jun 2006 05:07:00 +0000

Photo By Nanette Martin

For the first time ever, in response to new standards in animal rescue, animal rescue volunteers are garnering animal rescue credentials and standing by, vaccinated and prepared - ready to work shoulder to shoulder with Emergency Responders under a single command.

In order to respond more effectively in a disaster, many States are demanding a minimum standard of preparedness and training and animal rescuers have taken up the challenge long before the passage of new State and Federal Pet Evacuation laws.

In the State of Louisiana, animal rescue organizations are affiliating with local parishes under Memoranda of Understanding so that they will be most effective under an overarching Incident Command structure. Volunteers are must be affiliated with a rescue group in order to deploy into the disaster area and therefore rescue groups share the responsibility to get their volunteers fully trained.

MuttShack Animal Rescue offers online training utilizing a combination of FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) classes and online White Papers and lectures as coursework for the MuttShack Animal Rescue First Responder Certificate.

While certain FEMA classes are already mandatory for participation in animal rescue in the State of Louisiana, MuttShack’s First Responder Certification is more comprehensive, literally a mini-university degree in response training.

MuttShack Certified students stand toe to toe with the likes of any other first responders in emergency response services like Firemen, Red Cross and Military but with the attention and focus on animals - from household pets, to large animals and wildlife.

"Speaking a common language with other disaster responders is critical, as is knowing the incident command structure. We need to respond in a unified and responsible manner. The animals deserve that. " says Amanda St. John, Founder of MuttShack.

The certification classes are offered to MuttShack animal rescue volunteers free and online. Course material can be downloaded and studied in PDF or word document format or online on the FEMA website. The first tutorial “How to Do a Course Online” is straightforward enough so that anyone can learn how to study online. Thereafter students get to study courses such as Animals in Disaster, Incident Command and others.

Once the substantive course material has been perused, there is an online exam. Success comes in a small white and blue envelope in the mail bearing a Certificate of Completion of the course. Students collect their certificates and aggregate them into various Certificates of Completion, such as the Professional Development Series, and ultimately the MuttShack Animal Rescue First Responder Course.

More than 100 students have signed up and have formed a Yahoo Student Group that meets and chats daily, about strategies to complete courses, troubleshooting on computer issues and general camaraderie. Expert student weather watchers give updates on the weather and warnings of impending deployment. Valuable information is shared such as what vaccinations are required, deployment logistics as well as where to get the best hands on training including aggressive animal behavior training, Red Cross First Aid and CPR training.

Completed certificates is the passport to their passion... helping animals in disaster.

To join the MuttShack Animal Rescue Program complete the MuttShack Registration Form.

MuttShack Animal Rescue
http://www.muttshack.org

Support our rescue efforts here!

Rushing in Where Angels Fear to Tread

noreply@blogger.com (MuttShack Animal Rescue) — Mon, 29 May 2006 21:18:00 +0000

Katrina Dog Snatched from Watery Death -
Nanette Martin Photography (Prints Available)
Most 0f you know about the sacrifices made to save the Katrina Animals – because many of you made them. MuttShack volunteers willingly made those sacrifices and achieved amazing results – over 3000 animals rescued, cared for and fostered or adopted. As MuttShack’s Founder, I was humbled by the amazing talent and dedication of our volunteers. There are no words to convey my gratitude and could never be enough hours or days to thank you all.

. . . and the saga continues.

No Animal Rescue Certification, No Entry

While you would think that New Orleans and the state of Louisiana would welcome all rescuers, vets and animal care people with open arms – such is not the case. An edict has been handed down by the state that no one will be allowed in to do rescue unless they are trained and are part of an approved list of rescue groups. Officials have made recommendations to the various parishes affected by an evacuation as to who they think is best qualified to operate as animal rescuers and caretakers there - but ultimately, it’s the parishes that have the last say in who rescues or operates on their turf. MuttShack has been recommended to several parishes because MuttShack’s volunteers proved themselves.

Now MuttShack is responding - again. How? By getting as many people trained and certified as possible as rescuers, first responders and animal care people. (For more information on this, go to http://www.muttshack.org/ ). By creating strong alliances and agreements with the various affected parishes and by respecting those in authority (notice I said “respect”, not “agree”). We have two choices, we can sit back and whine about how we weren’t appreciated (we have every right to) or we can do what we need to do to get the job done – get trained and certified – get MuttShack clearance and get ready to do what others might perceive as a little bit crazy – run towards the eye of a hurricane while everyone else is running away from it. (Come on, tell me that doesn’t sound like fun?)

So, if you’re with us here it is in a nutshell: It is online – (yes, you can do it in your PJ’s), it is free and it is FEMA certified! Sign up by going to: REGISTER Tell your friends. If they’re anything like you we want them and need them badly. Post to any forum you can and ask more volunteers to join us. And this all needs to be done NOW.

Stand by for updates - Watch the weather – Keep your back pack ready, and save up your air miles.

MuttShack Animal Rescue

http://www.muttshack.org

“Support our rescue efforts here!”

Emergency Meeting to Prepare for Hurricane Season

noreply@blogger.com (MuttShack Animal Rescue) — Wed, 26 Apr 2006 15:50:00 +0000

GETTING READY FOR HURRICANE SEASON IN 4 WEEKS!

With less than four weeks to hurricane season, many shelters, parishes, vet offices and boarding kennels still don’t have evacuation plans in place to move their animals to safety.

Shelters have been rebuilding as best they can and are handling very heavy animal traffic. Additionally organizations lack money for crates, pods, transport etc.

Dr. Renee Poirrier, Animal Rescue and Evacuation for the LA State Vet’s Office is holding a meeting to partner Humane Organizations with local parishes, shelters, boarding kennels, etc. through Memoranda of Understanding.

This goes for any Humane Organization who is able to assist in preparation and/or evacuation, sponsorships, finance, donations.

Local parishes and organizations benefit greatly by partnering with organizations. They provide assistance, resources, and volunteers.

Reciprocally the Humane Organizations obtain standing to be here during disasters as they are then legitimized and included in the official FEMA evacuation programs.

LA State Senator Julie Quinn graciously provided a spectacular venue at short notice, the beautiful Astro Crowne Plaza Hotel, in New Orleans.

The meeting is this coming Saturday, April 29th at 7:00 p.m., Astro Crown Plaza Hotel, 739 Canal Street. LA 70130.

If you feel you can help in any way, with ideas, evacuation plans, shelter facilities, transport, and supplies --- or need help with evacuating your animals during a disaster in the LA, MS area, please attend.

INVITATION:

Meeting to get Memoranda of Agreement with “pre-partnered” humane organizations on-file and accounted for in the federal plans.”

We hope to get a representative from every parish to attend. Please forward this invitation!

Speaker: Dr. Renee Poirrier
Animal Rescue and Evacuation
LA State Veterinary Office

This coming Saturday, April 29th
At: 7:00 p.m.
Astro Crown Plaza
739 Canal St. 70130.

Amanda St. John
MuttShack Animal Rescue
http://www.muttshack.org
818-272-1671

Surrendered Pets May Face Euthanasia - Hopes for Adoptions Slim in Disaster Areas

noreply@blogger.com (MuttShack Animal Rescue) — Wed, 01 Mar 2006 17:04:00 +0000

Katrina Surrendered Pets - Tickets to Ride but No-Where to Go!

There are many animals, ready to travel to new homes, but there is no-where for them to go.

Many residents in the New Orleans, Mississippi disaster area are surrendering their beloved pets post-Katrina. They took their pets with them when they evacuated, but they returned to devastated homes, homes no longer pet-friendly with fences down, and toxic dust and hazardous waste everywhere.

St. Bernard looking for a Home!

Returning residents also found themselves overcrowded with relatives and friends who have moved in with them, leaving no room for pets. Some pet owners are now living in FEMA trailers with size restrictions on dogs, or private trailer parks or apartments with no-pet policies.

Guardians find themselves out of jobs, or incapable of handling the vet bills for animals who are suffering all kinds of ailments from heartworm, to neurological disorders from the toxins.

Many shelters were completely wiped out by the storms. Surrendered dogs are taken to the painfully few remaining shelters that are bursting at the seams. The LA SPCA-LA, St. Bernard Parish Animal Shelter-LA, Placquemine Parish Animal Control-LA, Humane Society, Southern Mississippi, Biloxi Animal Shelter, St. Frances, Waveland, and Jefferson Parish were completely destroyed. Shelters that did survive were too damaged to operate. FEMA and State funds for repairs were earmarked elsewhere or just too slow to offer any immediate relief. http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=hurricane_stories_shelters

Add to that the fact that many shelter employees and volunteers are gone for good, leaving the huge task to a handful of local shelter workers and precious few volunteers. Many shelters desperately need assistance with animals. There is no normalcy at the shelters. For some it is impossible to keep up with the daily chores. Shelter workers spend all their time in care and feed and taking care of animals with Katrina aggravated medical conditions. They have little or no time to implement adoption events, or spay neuter programs. They are open only a few hours a week to do adoptions. Their regular volunteers have left town or are rebuilding their own lives and homes and looking for paying jobs.

There are dissenting opinions on whether there still is a large population of stray animals, with local animal rescue groups convinced that there are thousands still out there hiding under homes, taking care of new litters and both cats and dogs running feral.

The truth is that there is no longer the huge local population to sustain ready adoptions of pets dropped off at shelters. Orleans Parish Pre-Katrina’s population of 500,000 now is down to about 190,000; Jefferson’s’ 550,00 is down to 400,000; St. Bernard’s is down from 65,500 to 12,000. Only two parishes Jefferson and St. Charles are holding their population values. See Stats. http://www.nola.com/katrina/pdf/sixmonths.pdf.

With Best Friends leaving New Orleans, a kind of panic has set in with local animal rescuers.
"Please help us. We are here, in New Orleans area. It's desperate. We are pulling animals from shelters where they are gassed and taking them off the streets -- but we have nowhere to send them. We cannot even drop them off to the local places, like Larno & Best Friends (Best Friends is leaving), as they have nowhere to send them. We have dogs in our cars now. PLEASE HELP!
If everyone made a few calls we could solve this." reads Karen’s Rescue List.

MuttShack Animal Rescue volunteers historically have specialized in just this type of situation. Volunteers save animals from kill shelters on their last days of life. In the immediate aftermath of Katrina MuttShack set up a Triage Center at the Lake Castle School in New Orleans with the gymnasium to hold dogs, and the school pavillion set up for cats, with two medical clinics and a research lab and ICU unit. With school back in session, their facility capable of holding 300 animals is shut down. Now they are back to the familiar daily euthanasia lists they get from shelters.

"MuttShack can pull animals from kill shelters, but we need everyone to help us find homes. We have transport! Come on guys... we really really need your networking magic... “ says a post.

MuttShack posts animals that need homes on NO Angels - Katrina Cats, NO Angels - Katrina Dogs lists. Many animals posted must be rescued usually within 24 hours. It is a scramble to get someone to commit to taking the pet, someone else to run to the shelter and file paperwork and pay bail, another person to hold the animal, and yet another to transport them to their new home. Then the new owner faces vet bills, spay neuter, heartworm and often kennel cough.

It is terribly sad that animals who survived Katrina, Rita and Wilma storms, and months of starvation or who were held close by their owners during the evacuations, now face the sad reality that there is not enough people in the city to offer them new homes or care. Shelters will have no alternative but to start euthanizing. Some already do.

Airline Ambassadors International (AAI) a non-profit organization and network of airline employees and others who volunteer as "Ambassadors of Goodwill" have offered to transport animals to wherever they need to go. The critical thing now is finding homes, far far away. Any shelters with no-kill policies, and a good record of moving animals into homes is asked to please contact MuttShack Animal Rescue at info@muttshack.org.

noreply@blogger.com (MuttShack Animal Rescue) — Tue, 21 Feb 2006 02:37:00 +0000

THROW ME A BONE, MONSIEUR! ANIMAL RESCUERS JOIN BARKUS FOR A DAY OF DOGGONE FUN!

The only Mardi Gras krewe in New Orleans by and for the canine population sniffed the streets of the French Quarter for the fourteenth year Sunday, February 19, 2006. The theme, the Wizard of Paws allowed for deft social commentary on that other hurricane -- Katrina.

The dogs thoroughly enjoyed the doggy company and costume lunacy of the day! Dorothy, Tinman, Cowardly Lion and Strawmen showed up alternatively as dogs and as people. Toy dogs loved the opportunity to be Lollipop Men and Munshkins amidst the many Great Danes.

The wizard showed up behind the blue tarp that's been used to insulate the roofs across the City Of New Orleans. "Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!"

All types of designer breeds strutted, including as many Mutts. "It is great to be able to come out and have a good time," said Richard Crook, one of the first animal rescuers to show up in New Orleans.

Others looked wistful as they celebrated a poignant day, with tears sometimes just a sentence away. Many lost their animals during Katrina, but they were there to bless the animal rescuers that showed up. "We love you guys! We know what you did!" shouted a local as he rushed over to offer up beads from around his neck and a treasured Mardi Gras cup to a MuttShack volunteer. It was all the treasure he had to give, and he gave it willingly.

The animals represented some of the handful of pets that survived. Sadly, thousands of others died. But the dogs seemed oblivious, all very social, politely taking cookies and treats and stopping to enjoy some water that thoughtful spectators brought with them.

There's no place like home! was the Mardi Gras statement of the day... but the one that could be heard only at Barkus. "We love our Katrina Animal Rescuers!"

We love you too New Orleans!

MuttShack Does Mardi Gras 2006

noreply@blogger.com (MuttShack Animal Rescue) — Sun, 19 Feb 2006 16:29:00 +0000

MuttShack
Does
MARDI GRAS 2006.

Barkus Dog Parade TODAY!

Watch ONLINE Today and See How Much New Orleaneans LOVE THEIR PETS! We're doggone NUTS!

We'll be tossing out some MuttShack T-Shirts...

CATCH !!!

SEE MORE BARKUS! ANIMAL RESCUERS HAVING FUN!

• Watch Barkus live at 2 p.m. today
• ParadeCam BourboCam
• QuarterCam BeadCam
• More 24/7 Cams
• Complete Index

Live Cams & Shows
• Today's parades • More parades• Mardi Gras FAQ• MG Radio
• More tips & info

New Orleans Animal Surrender Crisis

noreply@blogger.com (MuttShack Animal Rescue) — Thu, 16 Feb 2006 03:18:00 +0000

New Orleans Animal Surrender Crisis

New Orleans, LA 2/16/06

Animal Rescuers at MuttShack are seeing an extraordinary number of people relinquishing their pets. Returning New Orleans residents are finding their homes so trashed after Katrina they can't keep their animals. Others are taking care of homeless families so there is no room for their own pets. Some are living in FEMA trailers with restrictions on large pets or in trailer parks or apartments with NO PET policies. There simply is no room. Many pets are sickly from all the toxins, and guardians (owners) can't afford the vet bills so they surrender their pets hoping someone else will give them a new home.

It is very sad after all they have gone through to survive Katrina that they now end up on euthanasia lists. Some of the local shelters are euthanizing twice a week.

MuttShack volunteers just run around pulling as many animals as they can from death row, and ship them out of town because their chances of being adopted locally are slim. There used to be 500,000 people here. Now there are 150,000. Even those numbers of available homes are deceiving, because even though they are back their properties are no longer animal safe. Fences are down, there are toxins are on the ground. Backyards for the most part are tree cemeteries where large trees wait for chain saws to move them out. Five percent of people still don't have electricity, and tons and tons of trash still litter streets.

Volunteers Saskia and Jim and Claire Davis pulled 15 dogs out of the Roicy facility in Lafayette last week and drove them to Santa Barbara. The previous week MuttShackers drove 37 of the most unwanted, un-adoptable cats down to Kris Rieck's Twisted Whisker's shelter in North Carolina. Unfortunately the cats rescued from the Lafayette Roicy facility have not done well and the sanctuary’s vet bills are mounting. Jim Davis pulled a sick kitty from Roicy last week and he too is saddled with vet bills. If you can help with a donation e-mail both volunteers on the bulletin board.

Cathy Wells, had the same experience with Roicy cats and MuttShack has warned rescuers to make sure that none of the Roicy cats infect new colonies.

Local MuttShack volunteers are doing their thing. Pulling animals, bringing animals to boarding kennels or their own homes, finding forever homes, shipping them, and so on. They need all your support. Volunteers coming into town can go to the local shelters to volunteer. Please contact Amanda to find out where your help is most needed.

Attached is a picture of PERRO. Please help Perro find a forever home! If you were at MuttShack at Lake Castle School, you may remember Perro and MuttShackers Sheri and Paul. They cooked a huge pot of Cajun soup which we relished in the cold weather. Sheri and Paul can no longer keep Perro (one of many dogs they still have) so please help fellow rescuers!

Rescued dog gives birth

noreply@blogger.com (MuttShack Animal Rescue) — Tue, 08 Nov 2005 18:12:00 +0000

Big Rewards

It wasn't a moment too soon for a rescued pregnant dog, who gave birth to 10 puppies yesterday at the Muttshack compound at Lake Castle School. Everyone placed a bet on when the puppies would come and Lucy the vet tech was spot on! Under the careful eye of the MuttShack Veterinarians this very skinny mommy nursed all ten puppies, even though she only has eight docking stations! They all survived.

Roaming Animals in New Orleans

noreply@blogger.com (MuttShack Animal Rescue) — Thu, 03 Nov 2005 17:43:00 +0000

An update from the Muttshack Unit in New Orleans ...

More animal rescues continue. Trap cages are being set to pick up the roaming dogs in the streets of New Orleans after Katrina. The Muttshack camp at the Castle Lake School is currently sheltering about 40 dogs. There were 25 cats shipped out to volunteer fosters, leaving 65 cats left at the Muttshack N.O. compound to find fosters for.

Donations for animal rescue efforts are still needed so the Muttshackers can remain in New Orleans to continue their work there. It's a big job, and not many are doing it. Thanks for anything you can do.

New Katrina Animal Rescue Photos

noreply@blogger.com (MuttShack Animal Rescue) — Tue, 01 Nov 2005 22:59:00 +0000

Muttshack Shows You What's Going On

Recently posted on the Muttshack web site are photos that will give you the real picture, the real scene of what it is like at the Muttshack triage; rescues in process; volunteers in action; animals at the triage; the ruins of New Orleans.

These are worth viewing! Check them out now at
www.muttshack.org

Muttshack on ABC Eyewitness News

noreply@blogger.com (MuttShack Animal Rescue) — Tue, 01 Nov 2005 01:33:00 +0000

Muttshack Animal Rescue was featured on ABC Eyewitness News, a segment of On The Road with Jason Davis.

To view this informative video of footage of Muttshack volunteer's rescue efforts at the New Orleans compound set up at Lake Castle School, click here.

You'll see Muttshack's "Mash" operations and Muttshackers in action. And, you'll hear the real story of what's going on with the "holocaust" of abondoned animals in New Orleans.

Muttshack Receives Congressional Award

noreply@blogger.com (MuttShack Animal Rescue) — Thu, 27 Oct 2005 16:56:00 +0000

"Day of the Horse 2005" at Gibson Ranch dedicated to MuttShack
for Animal Rescue in New Orleans

By Deb Baumann

Foothill Trails Neighborhood Council

The Foothill Trails Neighborhood Council’s (FTNC) "Day of the Horse, Celebrating Community" was a full day out of equestrian events and community activities starting at 9:00 AM and wrapping up well after sundown. Dale Gibson hosted the festivities at Gibson Ranch in Shadow Hills celebrated on Saturday, October 22nd. The Gibson Ranch presented roping and penning in the morning. The FTNC opened the ceremonies mid-day with a Grand Entrance and Awards Presentation followed by a range of equestrian demonstrations and activities. The day was completed in the afternoon with a costume contest for the kids, barrel racing and gymkhana.

This year’s event was dedicated to the work of Muttshack animal rescue. Amanda St John from Lake View Terrace had just returned from Muttshack animal rescues in post hurricane New Orleans to receive city and congressional recognition. California Assemblymember Cindy Montanez made the presentations to Amanda St John and Muttshack from Los Angeles City Councilperson Wendy Greuel and U.S. Congressman Brad Sherman.

It was only fitting our equestrian friends received recognition too. Special service awards were presented to Shoshone of Ravensview Ranch in La Tuna Canyon, Dusty of Dusty's Riders from Glendale, and Durango of Wallace Ranch in Lake View Terrace.

Community riders and groups contributing to the event were the Flag Presentation by New Buffalo Soldiers, National Anthem sung by Cile Borman, Awards Presentations by Assemblymember Cindy Montañez, Compton Junior Posse (Compton), Los Charros de Rodriguez y Solis (Sylmar, Pacoima, LVT), Historic Korean Cavalry costume (LVT), Sunny Bright Ranch Peruvian Pasos (Compton), El Rancho de Cache Paso Finos (La Tuna), Los Charros de las Familias Matuz y Campos (LVT), Bobby Jones Performance Horses reining demo (Shadow Hills), Native American Buffalo Hunter (Ashlynn Lawrence, LVT), Francisco Rodriguez, Rosendo Solis trick roping Senna Ranch Paso Finos (La Tuna), "Hurricane Debbie Ryan" Barrel Racing, and entertainment Cowboy Songs by Don Dunham.

This year’s Foothill Trails Neighborhood Council Day of the Horse was co-sponsored by Vaquero Heritage Foundation and the Valley Horse Owners Association.

Photos courtesy of Steve and Carol Ford

See MuttShack In Action on CBS Tonight!

noreply@blogger.com (MuttShack Animal Rescue) — Fri, 14 Oct 2005 00:44:00 +0000

CBS is doing a short story on MuttShack Animal Rescue tonight at 6:30 pm.
See Karen, Suzanne, Mike, Chris and all our amazing rescuers in action.

Pet Rescuers Arranging Fewer Happy Reunions

noreply@blogger.com (MuttShack Animal Rescue) — Thu, 13 Oct 2005 23:39:00 +0000

Pet rescuers arranging fewer happy reunions

Animals being found are hungry, scared

Thursday, October 13, 2005

By Doug MacCash

Staff writer

Mark Percy said he thought he had seen a ghost when he pushed open the flood-swollen door of his parents' home in eastern New Orleans and encountered the family's black cocker spaniel, Sabu.

The dog was still alive despite being entombed in the dank, moldy ranch house for more than five weeks. Sabu had been stashed in the attic at the onset of the flooding, but in the intervening days, he had fallen through the damp ceiling onto the ground floor. "He scared me to death," said Percy, 20, marveling at the emaciated creature that rolled in the dry grass and lapped pellets of kibble from the sidewalk. "He's a soldier. At best, I thought somebody got him. I thought he'd be dead."

The somebody that Percy hoped would have gotten the trapped dog was one of the hundreds of animal rescuers from across the country who wandered New Orleans in the days and weeks after Hurricane Katrina, checking lists of pet-owner addresses, listening for barks, looking for furred faces in windows and otherwise searching for trapped animals. Their hand-marked vehicles, crowbar house break-ins and caged survivors were a leitmotif of the storm and flood's aftermath.

But though animal rescues continued this week in largely empty neighborhoods, and though the resilience of domesticated animals -- from house cats to lap dogs to exotic birds -- was sometimes astonishing, time was no longer on their side.

Amanda St. John, the founder of Muttshack, a volunteer rescue organization based in Los Angeles, said the condition of the animals being brought to Muttshack's Hayne Boulevard headquarters in Lake Castle Private School had deteriorated since the first weeks of the rescue. Predictably, the animals were becoming "skinnier and sicker and quieter."

"A lot of homeowners are coming home to dead and dying animals," she said.

The disposition of the animals had also changed. Gone were the gregarious dogs prancing toward their rescuers, replaced by sullen frightened creatures who had begun adapting to life on the street. Cages in the rescuer's canine compound were marked with red labels designating animals too hostile to handle.

One recent afternoon, Karen O'Toole of Chicago and Nancy Cleveland of Los Angeles, two of Muttshack's most dedicated rescuers, cruised the gray junk-strewn New Orleans neighborhoods -- neighborhoods that were sometimes disheveled even before Katrina -- conducting still another stray cat sweep. As their white van lurched from place to place, braking abruptly at any sign of life, they tore open small packages of pet food, tossing them from the moving vehicle like beads from a Mardi Gras float. The two women's hands were punctured and scratched from handling cats.

"Now we're seeing strays everywhere," O'Toole said. "Whether their owners were told to leave them off or if they were released when the owners evacuated, there are poodles to pit bulls running loose. In a normal city, a stray can rummage through the garbage at a restaurant or convenience store, but here there's nothing. We put out food everywhere, but there's a handful of us, we can't rescue a city of pets."

In the course of a few hours, O'Toole and Cleveland collected four stray cats from t cages that had been set and tried unsuccessfully to coax a wary dog toward them on Ursuline Street. John Williams, a neighbor watching the scene, said the dog looked "like a damn hyena." But that furtive stray seemed tame compared to the pair of wildly barking pit bulls on Gov. Nicholls Street. Too violent to safely noose, they were fed in place.

"Animals act differently now," O'Toole said, "not because they're mean but because they're scared. Cute little poodles will tear your head off."

To emphasize the grimness of the situation, the women broke from the hunt from time to time to give macabre tours of houses and yards where, despite their efforts, animals have perished. A chow in the Lafitte public housing development seemed to have melted into the rug where he starved to death. A mummified pit bull hanged from his leash on an eastern New Orleans fence where he may have strangled as flood waters receded. A cat skeleton peeked from beneath a pile of rubble. The rescuers recall a small dog, alive but too weak to move, that had presumably been put out with the trash in front of a home. Another dog, found in a bathroom, barely had the strength to raise its head to greet rescuers.

"This is an animal holocaust," Cleveland said.

Some pets abandoned

Though the ad hoc animal rescue operation that saved the lives of thousands of pets in the weeks after Katrina is a humanitarian success, controversy simmers around the zealotry of some of the rescuers, who blithely broke into homes to save animals they felt were in jeopardy, regardless of whether they had been contacted by animal owners. O'Toole and Cleveland believe the lives of the animals outweighed the rights of the owners.

"I thought when they opened the city, people would rush back to get their pets," O'Toole said, "but some people have just abandoned them. We were told to no longer be going into people's residences as of last Wednesday, but we're working in neighborhoods where the houses are condemned."

As an example of their approach, Cleveland and O'Toole mentioned breaking into every apartment in a complex in eastern New Orleans that they believed had been abandoned and doomed to demolition. O'Toole said she had learned to divine the presence of dogs and cats by certain exterior clues. If she saw a dog figurine in a window, she would search for a dog. If a house had an abundance of house plants or decoration, she would suspect a cat.

"I've never felt bad about breaking a window once," said O'Toole.

Back at the Hayne Boulevard headquarters, a dog handler walked a terribly skinny German shepherd on the parking lot. The animal's head was tilted disconcertingly to one side, the apparent result either of chemical toxins or a severe ear infection. He paced unsurely in tight circles. Elsewhere on the parking lot a skeletal chow was bathed to remove dirt and possible pollutants. The dog had gone deaf and blind for unknown reasons. Another chow, also blind and rescued from beneath the same house, lay forlornly in a cage in the veterinary station.

"Now the animals we're seeing are much more critical," said Muttshack veterinarian Sabra Lucas of Troutville, Va. "We're seeing a lot of chemical burns, skin sloughing, emaciation, severe dehydration -- basically, they're just starved."

No euthanasia

Despite the near-death condition of some of the animals, the veterinarians have euthanized none. St. John says that, curiously, the most damaged animals are often the first to be adopted once they've reached evacuation sites. "Old people take old dogs, people with heart conditions take dogs with heart conditions, people with a limp take dogs with a limp," she said.

Several owners have appeared at the Muttshack compound to retrieve lost pets, or surrender ownership, but the majority of the animals remain unclaimed. These castaways are cataloged, photographed and implanted with microchips to help reunite them with their owners, should their owners reappear, before they're taken away to "no-kill" shelters, then foster homes across the country. The animal shelter at the Lamar Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales, a clearing house for thousands of rescued animals, closed Oct. 10.

Even at the height of the rescue effort, the reuniting of animals and their owners has been a hit-or-miss endeavor, plagued by mistaken identities, clerical errors and miscommunication. St. John believes that though Muttshack continues occasionally to reunite animals with their owners, the possibilities are becoming slimmer.

Everybody who had an animal had a lottery ticket," she said. "If we found your dog, if anyone found your dog, you won the lottery. The truth is, the chances of winning are small."

St. John expects Muttshack to remain in New Orleans until January.

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ANIMAL RESCUE GROUP TO ACCEPT KATRINA PETS

noreply@blogger.com (MuttShack Animal Rescue) — Thu, 06 Oct 2005 23:17:00 +0000

ANIMAL RESCUE GROUP TO ACCEPT KATRINA PETS
FROM RETURNING NEW ORLEANS RESIDENTS

Pet Owners Who Find Surviving Animals Can Bring Pets
To MuttShack Animal Rescue Shelter at Lake Castle School

New Orleans, La., October 6, 2005--As the people of New Orleans return to their homes for the first time in more than a month, many residents are finding their pets still alive and waiting either in the homes or yards where they were left.

MuttShack Animal Rescue, an animal rescue group currently working on the ground in New Orleans, is encouraging residents to bring animals to their shelter facility in New Orleans. “We know residents are overwhelmed right now. People who have a pet that survived can bring their animals to our or another shelter, or call a shelter to pick the animal up,” said Amanda St. John, founder of MuttShack. “We’re asking returning resident to please not leave the pet in their home, hoping we will find him. Many of these pets can be saved with medical assistance and put up for foster or surrendered for adoption. We can help these pets—even those that appear very thin or sick can be treated at no cost to the owners.”

Animal rescue workers around the city have assisted returning residents who surrendered their animals that survived the hurricane and month-long evacuation. For returning residents who have decided to surrender their animal, rescue groups are placing these surviving animals into new permanent homes.

Residents should call any animal shelter and tell shelter workers where the animal is located or take the animal to Muttshack Animal Rescue at the Lake Castle School at the corner of Hayne Road and Crowder Boulevard.

MuttShack Animal Rescue is a non-profit volunteer driven organization. Members from across the United States have come to assist the families of New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina. Thousands of animals have been rescued from homes and off the streets. Rescued animals have been given veterinary care. Pets’ have been micro-chipped and their information carefully documented. The pets are taken to foster facilities where every possible action will be taken to reunite them with their owners.

People can find missing pets at www.petfinder.com online where all rescued animals are registered. Animals rescued from homes have been placed in foster care and will be reunited with those owners who claim their pets.

MuttShack Animal Rescue does not draw on any of the finances of either local or state government, but depends instead on donations from individuals and corporations to help pay for critical needs, veterinary supplies, water, food and rescue equipment.
Donations are still needed to assist Katrina animals and can be made online at MuttShack Animal Rescue https://www.registrationfactory.com/v3/?EventUUID=B47421FD, or click the donation link at www.muttshack.org, and by calling 866-718-1001.

MuttShack's Evacuated Katrina Animals Moved To Higher Ground with Hurricane Rita's New Wave of Devastation

noreply@blogger.com (MuttShack Animal Rescue) — Sat, 24 Sep 2005 11:59:00 +0000

Muttshack’s Evacuated Katrina Animals Moved to Higher Ground

Late last night, about one hundred and fifty animals, rescued within the last twelve hours were hastily evacuated from the Lake Castle School. Some left in trailers, in the back of cars, and in trucks. Despite the evacuation, still more animals were arriving, from rescuers and other rescue organizations.

MuttShack Animal Rescuers have been going from house to house to find animals abandoned there since Katrina and bringing them to where they have set up a triage center in the flood ravaged Lake Castle School. Classrooms, filled with layers of mud, mouldy books and fallen ceiling boards are being used as an ad hoc emergency treatment and rescue center. The gymnasium is a makeshift shelter with rows and rows of crates, holding the frail and devastated animals.

Rescuers who at first found it easy to identify homes with animals are finding fewer animals barking or responding to their calls. Dogs, cats and birds are either too weak to make any sound or are lying dead and dying in their homes.

Thousands have died for lack of food and water and others died trying to escape. Rescuers report dead animals lying in cages, locked in rooms and tied up on balconies. Some died trying to escape through broken windows and died in pools of blood. One just died waiting on the front porch – never being disobedient enough to put one paw print beyond the area where his owners left him, not even to go and find food.

The rescuers are overwhelmed by the magnitude of the task. Thousands of animals trapped have to be found by small independent non-profit rescue organizations with little to no resources. Rescuers have been camping in tents, sleeping in cars and on the ground. Their rescue vehicles are their own cars or trucks and trailers driven thousands of miles across the country to New Orleans. Others pay gouging rental fees for small mini-vans that can hold one or two crates.

There is no running water, electricity or food. The stores are boarded up or looted. Muttshack volunteers and rescuers arrive with only that which they can carry, everything they will need to survive - water, food, sleeping bags, and bolt-cutters, leashes and dogfood.

Their hopes of owners returning home finally after 21 days was shattered yesterday with the announcement once more that owners cannot return to their homes – now, because of Hurricane Rita.

Rescuers persist their rescues amidst intermittent squalls, those overwhelmed by the horror of rescue work are taking care of the emaciated dogs. Shelter workers give what comfort they can, cleaning animals black with dirty floodwater, while others take on the endless cycle of cleaning cages, feeding, watering and walking amidst whispered promises that they are now safe.

Run-off water from the roof is collected to help wash dogs, and crates but the waterlevels on the levy are rising. Every levy dog-walk confirms that the water is getting higher. The pressure on the levy from Rita, even miles away is enough to cause a breach and flood the school.

With more reports that water is flooding vital access roads, MuttShack Volunteers moved the remaining animals to higher ground in the adjacent St. Charles parish, where they are now boarded in a barn. They will return to continue rescue efforts as soon as the Hurricane Rita has crested.Many animals have been sheltered ‘in house’. Rescuers leave food and water to animals too shy to come out, or too hard to catch. Bags of food have been left on street corners where animals are spotted.
Rescued animals are shipped to neighboring Gonzales, Tylertown, or any accredited Shelter that may house them, and place them in foster care. Owners looking for their dogs can look on Petfinder.com.

MuttShack Animal Rescue and Foster is a non-profit 501(c)3, and in desperate need of support to provide veterinary care and supplies for their triage center.
Please donate at: https://www.registrationfactory.com/v3/?EventUUID=B47421FD

Coming Home to Dead and Dying Animals...

noreply@blogger.com (MuttShack Animal Rescue) — Mon, 19 Sep 2005 20:39:00 +0000

By Nancy Cleveland

FROM INSIDE THE CITY: The citizens of New Orleans are finally being let back into their homes today, and thousands of their pets may still be clinging to life inside the city after nearly three weeks without their owners. Tens of thousands more pets have already died. The city is littered with corpses of dead animals on the streets and inside shuttered apartments and homes, but thousands more are still alive and waiting desperate for their owners to return and save them. Dogs and cats sit on front porches or in shattered doorways, defending their homes, and waiting.

Please, if you are a pet owner and can’t come yourself, get a friend, a neighbor, call the SPCA or Humane Society or Pet Rescue to go find them, but the rescue groups are overwhelmed already by the huge number of animals, so if at all possible go yourself or get a friend to go in and get your pets.

Everyone who comes into the city needs to bring DRY AND WET PET FOOD AND WATER and drop it off for the thousands of pets starving in the city. Please, even if it’s not YOUR pet, help try to save it, bring food and water you can LEAVE OUTSIDE as well as food and water for your pets.

The military and police are being ordered by their commanders NOT to touch any animals they find, and no one is taking your pets out of your house except animal rescue groups or you or your friends.

What to take: MOIST AND DRY PET FOOD and LOTS of FRESH WATER and several large towels and a pet carrier. DON’T feed your pet too much immediately, just give it water first and then a handful of food if its been starving, until its stomach can handle food again, a few hours for that.

DO NOT let your children go into your house first. They may find their cherished pet dead or dying.

If your pet is in bad shape, lying down, unable to move, don’t give it up for dead. Give it water, immediately, and try to cool it down by putting water on it. Wrap a cat or dog in a wet towel and try to get it to an animal hospital as soon as possible.

Many animals can be saved by intravenous fluid administration, giving them water, and keeping them cool.

If your animals are covered by muck or tar, wash them in clean water, but get them to a vet as soon as possible.

Don’t give up immediately if you don’t find your pet inside. If a window was broken or a door opened your pet may have escaped outside and may be in the yard or nearby. Don’t give up until you have looked and called out extensively.

If you think your pet may have escaped and be nearby, leave water and food for it outside, under a sheltered roof if possible so it doesn’t get wet and spoil if it rains. Leave a note asking your neighbors or rescue groups to look for it, You can spray paint the information on your home if you want it to be visible. Make sure you put a DATE on your note so people looking know how recent the information is.

Only yesterday an animal rescuer encountered a homeowner who had returned to look for his cat in an area still covered with mud and debris. Once he managed to get his door open he found the water had gone almost to his ceiling and the cat food he’d left on the kitchen counter was green with mold and half buried under the rotting mildew covered couch in the living room. There was no sign of the cat anywhere inside, just a slimy layer of muck on everything. A window had been broken, possibly by army units searching for trapped bodies, and he hoped the cat had escaped outside.

He searched the yard, calling for his cat, and then he heard a meow. Brownie was hiding behind a fallen tree, and after running away three times. He was finally lured to the rescuer’s pet carrier by the owner with a can of fresh cat food. Brownie is in Baton Rouge now, reunited with his family in a hotel. “Its all my wife asked about, her cat,” he said. “We knew the house was gone and everything in it, but at least we have Brownie.”

Cats are shy, and won’t come when called initially, but keep on trying, and you may find they’re still there, hiding, waiting and hoping to hear your voice. As the owner said, “its no surprise how upset he is after all he’s been through.” His dogs were missing, though, from the back yard where he’d left them, and aside from a few dogprints in the mud, there was no sign of them. The rescue worker left a bag of food and a bowl of water for the dogs if they return.

Keep coming back to look for him or her as often as you can. If you find a pet of a neighbor and can take it, write a note on their door with indelible marker to let them know you have their pet and how to get in touch with you.

Thousands of pets have been taken to the SPCA shelter in Gonzales, and others are in other shelters across the area. Most pets have not been rescued though, so go first to your home and try to find them there. Very very few animals have been picked up by rescue groups compared to the over 200,000 estimated to still be in the city so its more likely your animal is still in your home or nearby. Even if you can’t help your own pet, try to save your neighbor’s if you can. If you can’t take your pet with you, go back to your home anyhow. Go back and leave them food and water, and try to arrange for a place that can take them.

MoveOn.org has more than 100,000 postings from people who have offered to open their homes to PEOPLE AND PETS who are in need of temporary housing. If you are in a hotel and can’t have a pet with you, this website lists hundreds of people who will care for your pet for you, until you can.

Rescue groups are doing food drops all across the city but again can only reach a tiny portion of the neighborhoods where pets are starving. Anyone wanting to come into the city and help distribute food to pets can come to the parking lot at Chef Menteur and Louisa, right off I-10 at the Lousia exit where animal rescue groups are staging food and water drops from. Please bring food and water and bowls to put it in and bring in extra gasoline if you can as the rescuers are running out and don’t want to have to leave the city to gas up.

MuttShack Animal Rescue is in New Orleans, evacuating animals from their homes. “Many of these animals are being found dead... but some miraculously are still clinging on to life. Where animals seem to be in good shape, rescuers leave food for them and mark the home for in-home sheltering. Where they look sick or the conditions of the home look unsafe, they bring them in to a triage center where we stabilize them and move them out to Gonzales.” says Amanda St. John.

We need air-conditioned trucks to transport animals for one hour trips to Gonzales and other shelters. Please we need your donations now at MuttShack.org so that we can rent these trucks and move animals to where they can get proper emergency care.” MuttShack animal rescuers have been discovering and rescuing animals all over the city in homes and on the street since the hurricane. Now with the possibility of Hurricane Rita coming our way, we need to evacuate them fast”. Says St. John.

To help this rescue please send donations to: https://www.registrationfactory.com/v3/?EventUUID=B47421FD

Muttshack Rescuers Authorized by Homeland Security & Public Safety

noreply@blogger.com (MuttShack Animal Rescue) — Sun, 18 Sep 2005 20:39:00 +0000

Muttshack Animal Rescue Members received authorizeation from Office of Homeland Security and Public Safety, to travel inside the City of New Orleans for animal rescue and response efforts to support ESF-17. This permission is valid until 5:00 pm October 10, 2005.
relief efforts for Muttshack!

Stay posted for more updates...