Animal Rescue Alerts 11-12-2005
From Katrina Help Info
Animal Rescue Resources > Alerts > 11-12-2005
| Table of contents |
Saturday November 12, 2005
Noahs Wish has approximately 200 to find placement
Date: Sat, 12 Nov 2005 18:36:19 -0500 From: "Katie Walter" <katie.walter @comcast .net> Hurricane Katrina fur kids in need!! - Noahs Wish has approximately 200 to find placement for (to be adopted)
Please call Shannon Wynn on her cell phone at: 478-960-5305
From: JoAnne [mailto: sierragal95 @yahoo .com] Sent: Thursday, November 10, 2005 7:14 PM Many Hurricane Katrina fur kids in need
Please cross post
Shannon Wynn at: mailto:texastornado_73@yahoo-dot-com (@yahoo.com) wrote:
Hi Rescue buddies,
I hope this email finds you all well. I got a call from Sheri Thompson at Noahs Wish. She said that they are shutting down their operation in Slidell, LA as of November 15th. They are looking for rescue organizations that might be willing to take in even one or two of the remaining Katrina animals that they have that need permanent placement.
They currently have 400, but 200 of those are owned pets, so they have approximately 200 to find placement (to be adopted) for. They do a media blitz and help with publicity with the groups that take them. They do not want any animals euthanized or displaced in order to take thier animals. They are a very good organization. It is my understanding that all of these animals have had ongoing vet care, and vaccinations should be current. I don't have many other details than that.
If anyone is interested I need to know right away as the 15th draws near. I apologize for the delay in getting this information out as I only received it a short time ago. The majority of what they are needing help with are cats and med to large dogs.
If you cannot help but know someone who can, please pass this information on. I thank you so much for reading this, and am always glad to say I know a great bunch of fur kid loving people like you.
If you are interested PLEASE CALL ME on my cell. I have over 800 emails right now, and as this is a time sensitive issue I do not want to miss anyone who can take one of these babies because of my email.
Thanks a bunch!! 478-960-5305 - Cell Shannon
Three wonderful small dogs for adoption - Baton Rouge
Date: Sat, 12 Nov 2005 17:58:14 EST From: mailto:EGWeiner@AOL-dot-com Need help spreading the word about my small dogs for adoption - Baton Rouge
Please forward and crosspost
I have three wonderful small dogs available for adoption in Baton Rouge. Usually, I get lots of calls on small dogs, but I haven't gotten any good calls on these three, so I thought maybe it would help to circulate some emails about them. We have some tremendous bills right now, so getting these two placed would help with that too.
I have "LUCY" (http://tinyurl.com/9derq), a one year old precious brown and white Jack Russell =Terrier mix. She has a Jack Russell personality for sure and is very active, but she can also be cuddly and is very sweet all the time. She only weighs 11 pounds. She is spayed, up to date, heartworm negative, and housetrained.
I have "PEPPER" (http://tinyurl.com/7j8tq), a grey tri-colored Rat Terrier (possibly mixed), who's such a sweetheart. He's very cuddly and loves to be held, but he's also playful and still has some puppy in him at only 8-9 months old. He weighs 12 pounds. He's also housetrained, healthy, and up to date.
I also have "LIL BIT" (http://tinyurl.com/bd3ak), an 8 pound, 11 month old Maltese/Chihuahua cross who's very sweet but takes a little while to warm up. Once he's used to a setting, he's good to go. He's great with other dogs as he used to live with two huge German Shepherds. People who've met him say he has a typical Maltese personality.
PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD!!
Thanks, Elizabeth Companion Pet Adoption [1] (http://www.petfinder.org/shelters/LA38.html) (504) 905-9860 mailto:egweiner@AOL-dot-com
LETTER/ Louisiana Ban Stalls Rescue, As Animals Starve!!
Date: Sat, 12 Nov 2005 00:15:10 -0500 From: "Katie Walter" <katie.walter @comcast .net> Subject: LETTER/ Louisiana Ban Stalls Rescue, As Animals Starve!!
LETTER/ Louisiana Ban Stalls Rescue As Animals StarveFrom: Kinship Circle To: 5 Katrina Animal Rescue Sent: Friday, November 11, 2005 11:46 PM LETTER/ Louisiana Ban Stalls Rescue, As Animals Starve!!
info @kinshipcircle .org servers are down tonight, 11/11/05. If you need to reach me, email mailto:kinshipcircle@brick-dot-net (@brick.net) Brenda Shoss, Kinship Circle
11/11/05--Louisiana Ban Stalls Rescue As Animals Starve KINSHIP CIRCLE LETTER CAMPAIGN http://www.kinshipcircle.org
SOURCE OF INFORMATION: Jane Garrison, http://www.AnimalRescueNewOrleans.com Alley Cat Allies, http://action.alleycat.org Clare Davis, mailto:katrinacatrescue@yahoo-dot-com
================================ SAMPLE LETTER & CONTACT INFO Press release follows ================================
Governor Kathleen Blanco
- Office of the Governor
- P.O. Box 94004; Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70804-9004
- Phone: 866-366-1121; 225-342-0991; 225-342-7015
- fax: 225-342-7099
- web email: http://www.managekeelson.com/websites/la.gov/index.cfm?md=form&tmp=home&cfmid=146
Dr. Maxwell Lea, Jr.,
- State Veterinarian Office of Animal Health Services,
- Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry
- P.O. Box 1951; Baton Rouge, LA 70821-1951
- office: 225-925-3980; fax: 225-925-4103
- email: mailto:mlea@ldaf.state.la-dot-us, mailto:maxwel_l@ldaf.state.la-dot-us,
- info@ldaf.state.la.us
- website: www.ldaf.state.la.us
Dr. Martha A. Littlefield,
- Assistant State Veterinarian Office of Animal Health Services,
- Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry
- P.O. Box 1951; Baton Rouge, LA 70821-1951
- wk: 225-925-3980; desk: 225-935-2168; fax: 225-237-5555
- email: mailto:malc@ldaf.state.la-dot-us
CC: Bob Odin, Commissioner,
- Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry
- mailto:bobodom@ldaf.state.la-dot-us
Dear Governor Blanco, Dr. Lea, and Dr. Littlefield:
I respectfully request the continuation of Executive Order KBB 2005-35, which allows licensed veterinarians from other states to temporarily practice in Louisiana. Although this order was extended one month under KBB 2005-43, its October 25 termination means incoming veterinarians risk jail time and fines.
In essence, the Louisiana Governor, under advisement from the Assistant State Veterinarian, has told relief workers to go home. The state's unrealistic grasp of the animal crisis overlooks thousands of companion animals still fending for themselves in the aftermath of Katrina and Rita.
Some burrow under broken homes or linger in debris-filled yards. Starving dogs roam in packs in St. Bernard Parish, a hard hit area with no functional animal control system.
New Orleans' existing stray population now includes displaced pets, many unsterilized and set to yield even more homeless puppies and kittens. One study shows a dog and her young can produce 67,000 puppies in six years. A cat and her litter can create 420,000 kittens in seven years.
The beleaguered LA SPCA, head of animal control in Orleans Parish, simply doesn't possess the people power or accommodations to feed, trap, and shelter this many animals.
With guardian requests to save lost animals still pouring in, a ban on any out-of-state animal relief workers is an affront to hurricane victims as well as animals.
In early November, rescuers discovered two dead cats alongside empty food and water bowls. A third died alone on a barren porch. These animals survived hurricane and flood only to succumb to starvation. There are many more like them, some huddled under structures slated for demolition. Local animal control agencies cannot manage this emergency situation alone.
Rather than turn down outside aid, please embrace out-of-state rescue organizations and veterinarians willing to devote their time and skills to Louisiana's animals. Let's work toward a common goal: Saving animals and reuniting them with their families.
Thank you,
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Claire Davis (435) 899-1231 mailto:KatrinaCatRescue@yahoo-dot-com
State of Louisiana blocks animal rescue while thousands of pets face starvation in New Orleans
Bogalusa, Louisiana, November 8, 2005--Two animal rescue groups are issuing a call for the state of Louisiana to stop blocking attempts to save the thousands of sick, injured, and traumatized dogs and cats who still wander the streets of New Orleans.
The state has announced that the Hurricane Katrina rescue phase is over. Out-of-state veterinarians are banned from volunteering their services on behalf of the animals of greater New Orleans. Rescuers have been threatened with arrest if they attempt to give food and water to animals in Orleans Parish. Outside rescue groups are told they should turn all operations over to local authorities and leave the state.
Meanwhile, the pets who survived Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath are dying on the streets -sometimes right next to food and water bowls that the handful of remaining rescuers couldn't fill in time.
AnimalRescueNewOrleans.com and Alley Cat Allies (http://www.alleycat.org/) are calling for the state to reverse its course and accept outside help in the form of veterinarians and more volunteers.
"We are literally seeing animals on the streets starving to death," says Jane Garrison, director of AnimalRescueNewOrleans.com, one of a handful of rescue organizations still in the city. "We need more volunteers to feed and water the thousands of traumatized animals still on the streets, we need to keep trapping animals so we can reunite them with their guardians, and we need a massive spay/neuter program."
Garrison coordinated the animal rescue program for six weeks as a volunteer for the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). Since HSUS pulled out October 1st, she has been running her own program. With a steadily dwindling force of volunteers, Garrison races against time trying to provide food and water at more than 2,000 sites in the New Orleans area, as well as fielding a constant stream of owner rescue requests.
"Many of these animals are people's companions who escaped their homes when doors and windows blew open. It would be completely unethical to allow them to die on the streets," she says. The state claims that local authorities can handle the problem, but rescuers on the ground know this is not the case. One of the hardest hit areas, St. Bernard Parish, has no active animal control agency or functioning animal shelter. The Louisiana SPCA, in charge of animal control in Orleans Parish, does not have anywhere close to the staff, space, or resources required to address a problem of this magnitude.
As bad as the situation is now, in a few months it will be even worse. Despite the horrific conditions, the dogs and cats on the streets are still breeding, and rescuers are starting to see puppies and kittens born after Katrina. Statistics show that one unspayed female cat and her offspring can produce more than 59,000 cats in five years.
"If the state government doesn't allow us to feed, treat, and find homes for the thousands of animals struggling to survive now, it is in for a rude awakening the beginning of next year," says Becky Robinson, national director of Alley Cat Allies (ACA). "The number of free-roaming cats and dogs will be devastating."
ACA, a national cat advocacy group now running a cat rescue operation from a base in Bogalusa, Louisiana, has plans for an immediate, large-scale spay/neuter program for the street cats of New Orleans. This program requires the services of about a dozen veterinarians experienced with high-volume surgery. Many out-of-state vets have offered their services, free of charge.
But the state of Louisiana is standing in the way. Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco, acting on advice from Assistant State Veterinarian Martha Littlefield, has refused to extend an executive order giving out-of-state veterinarians permission to practice in Louisiana. That order expired October 25. Any out-of-state vet practicing in the area now would do so at the risk of jail time and thousands of dollars in fines.
Despite the state's claims that local veterinarians can fulfill the need, ACA has been unable to find local vets who can provide consistent care for the cats housed at its temporary shelter, let alone enough to conduct the type of large-scale spay/neuter program that is so desperately needed.
"This nation's animal rescue community can help Louisiana meet this crisis if the state will simply acknowledge the problem still exists and allow us to work," Robinson says. "This is not only humane and ethical; it is in everyone's best interest."
For more information, please contact Claire Davis at (435) 899-1231 or mailto:KatrinaCatRescue@yahoo-dot-com, or visit http://www.alleycat.org/ and http://www.animalrescueneworleans.com/.
- TO SUBSCRIBE TO KINSHIP CIRCLE, SEND AN EMAIL TO: mailto:subscribe@kinshipcircle.org
- DISCLAIMER: The information in these letters is verified with the original source. I cannot assume responsibility for the accuracy of the information or for the consequences of its use. Nothing in this email is intended to encourage illegal action in whatever country you are reading it in.
- Kinship Circle cannot guarantee the validity of email addresses. During a campaign, recipients may change or disable their email addresses.
BEAR WITNESS. SPEAK. DEMAND. ACT. Kinship Circle - Letter Campaigns I Literature I Action For Animals Brenda Shoss, president * Janet Enoch, vice-president mailto:info@kinshipcircle-dot-org http://www.KinshipCircle.org Kinship Circle is a 501c3 non-profit organization. We accept online donations at: http://www.kinshipcircle.org/donation/donations.html We are grateful for your support!
Lise McComiskey's response to Mr. Eggler's article of Nov 11
Editor's note: This article refers to "Mr. Beggler" who is listed as "Bruce Eggler", staff writer, at Times-Picayune.
Date: Sat, 12 Nov 2005 11:30:36 -0600 From: "Lise or Jim McComiskey" <lisejimmy@cox-dot-net> Subject:
----- Original Message ----- From: Lise or Jim McComiskey To: Becky Robinson ; JaneGarrison@comcast-dot-net Cc: Fax:225-237-5555 Malc@ldaf.state.la-dot-us ; Kathleen Blanco 225-925-1938 contact@gov.state.la-dot-us ; Communications Coordinator kzoeller@idsmail-dot-com ; senator@landrieu.senate-dot-gov ; senator@vitter.senate-dot-gov ; AALoyola@aol-dot-com ; info@urbanconservancy-dot-org ; Batt@nocitycouncil-dot-com ; Pratt@nocitycouncil-dot-com ; Clarkson@nocitycouncil-dot-com ; Gusman@nocitycouncil-dot-com ; CWLewis@nocitycouncil-dot-com ; Sapir@nocitycouncil-dot-com ; pkovacs@timespicayune-dot-com ; Humane Society of Louisiana HSL ; Medicine(LBVM) 225-342-2176 lbvm@eatel-dot-.net ; admin@lsbvm-dot-org ; public.Thomas@nocitycouncil-dot-com Sent: Saturday, November 12, 2005 11:20 AM Subject: Fw:
Please find below, a courtesy copy of my response to Mr. Beggler's article of November 11, 2005, published in the Times-Picayune and regarding Laura Maloney's statements to the New Orleans City Council on the status of animals, post-Katrina, on the streets of city. You may find Mr. Beggler's article at http://www.nola.com/newslogs/breakingtp/index.ssf?/mtlogs/nola_Times-Picayune/archives/2005_11_11.html
Thank you for your time, Lise McComiskey Metairie, Louisiana
----- Original Message ----- From: Lise or Jim McComiskey To: mailto:beggler@timespicayune-dot-com Sent: Saturday, November 12, 2005 1:27 AM
Dear Mr. Beggler:
With all due respect to your work, I find your article, " Officials: Internet rumors paint false picture of pet suffering," published in the Times-Picayune this date, November 11, 2005, to be inaccurate, one-sided and in furtherance of efforts taken by some to undermine very real and important tasks that are being handled in this city by individuals, organizations and entities, most of which have little or no vested interest here. These same individuals continue with a thankless job of "real" animal control, because those charged with that duty, are under funded, undermanned, and unfortunately, also willing to play the political games this state is well-known for.
First, although it should be painfully obvious to a professional, I find it necessary to point out that your decision to report Ms. Maloney's position regarding the facts, as a representative of a governmentally-funded organization that is financially impacted by Katrina, without any further investigation on your part as to the "other" position and all relevant information supporting it, is sloppy reporting in the very least and worse, a clear violation of The Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics. I sincerely hope that your failure to "test the accuracy of information from all sources" as set forth in that Code, is an isolated oversight on your part rather than standard operating procedure. I am not a journalist; however, I subscribe to that Society's belief that investigation of the facts, as set forth by all parties to the issue, rather than only one, is your responsibility as a journalist and you do have a duty to "Seek Truth" and then report it to the Second, I find it incredulous that you reported one party's facts without additional efforts to check the consistency of those facts: in this case, Ms. Maloney's current position regarding animals or lack thereof on the city streets, against her organization's pre-Katrina position on the very same topic. Statements addressing this issue is posted for all to see on the website of the LASPCA, and had you checked, you would have found the conflict. Hopefully, the rest of your "public" will also question the credibility of an organization which on its own pre-Katrina website, dedicates an entire webpage toward the explanation of Feral Cats and Dogs, another webpage toward promoting the organization's Feral Cat Initiative, with recommendation to the public to refer to Allie Cat Alleys on how to help reduce the overpopulation of these animals, and yet now, post-Katrina, seemingly appears to include Alley Cat Allies in that group of "overly zealous animal lovers" it seeks to run out of town. Surely you can appreciate the irony here? A pre-disaster public image set forth by the LASPCA has all the on-the-surface appearances of working with the public to end animal overpopulation, because as it pointed out, "....these animals can't live without us", but, upon further examination that former position also appears to be diametrically opposed to the public image which the organization sets forth now that unflatteringly characterizes the public who could have helped in the past, now as zealots who are mislead by out of state groups. Did you ask Ms. Maloney what her official reasons are for her organizations' very unofficial flip-flop on the street animal population in this city? Ms. Maloney, do these feral populations exist or don't they? Ms. Maloney, is Alley Cat Allies a group that you and/or your organization has referred the general public to, just 10 weeks ago, for further information, or, is Alley Cat Allies just that Maryland group with "overly zealous animal lovers" as its' followers? Again, I am no reporter, but as a member of a public who finds it difficult to just accept "Officials" positions at face value, I must say that the complete reversal of an official position always manages to peak my curiosity further......why not yours?
Finally, let me address the issue of Ms. Maloney's statement to the City Council this date, the statement that her organization "has seen no evidence that large numbers of pets, supposedly left on their own since their owners evacuated, are roaming wild or dying on the streets" This statement demands further inquiry, if only to clarify Ms. Maloney's understanding of the real issues. Ms. Maloney's careful choice of wording to the Council regarding status of "pets," manages to cleverly gloss over and/or completely avoid a major issue set forth in Alley Cat's press release of November 10: the issue of the animals left to die on the streets. Ms. Maloney's choice to address evidence concerning pets might be persuasive enough to "wrap things up" for the City Council, but a knowledgeable and truthfully informed public can see through this attempt to resolve an issue without even addressing it. Regardless of the accuracy or inaccuracy of Ms. Maloney's position on the status of pets, her argument has no validity based upon the fact that it is not the same issue addressed by the press release. Alley Cat Allies certainly addresses pets in the press release, but additionally addresses the issue of the street animal population and further takes the official position that efforts must be made now to effect meaningful changes that will help the city avoid a major overpopulation in the future. So, while Ms. Maloney's body of evidence regarding pets may in fact be accurate, I again question the credibility and motives of an organization which has, for all intents and purposes, abandoned the City's Feral Cat Initiative due to lack of funds and more importantly, abandoned its City's feral cats due to lack of accountability to the citizens it serves. Although, I suspect somewhere in there, is in fact, the issue of Ms. Maloney's accountability to the City which will fund her organization next year to the tune of $1.25 million dollars........is it possible that what is in the "City's best interest with regard to perceptions portrayed to the public at-large is also in direct conflict with what is in the best interest of the New Orleans public, many of which know better? Inaccuracy tied up with a nice little bow is still inaccuracy. In addition to Ms. Maloney's failure to mention, discuss or acknowledge that a street animal population exists, her "evidence" must be called into question because her supporting argument appears to be derived from the efforts and subsequent reports of 10 individuals armed with 40 to 50 traps. Although the situation is sad, I find Ms. Maloney's conclusions regarding lack of evidence to be laughable considering her apparent belief that her 10-man "A-Team" can handle 4,190 square miles, or the City of New Orleans. With all due respect to the efforts made by those 10 individuals, can we look forward to a Wheaties box endorsement in the near future? Did the City Council believe this Herculean task is achievable without others' efforts? Did you? Are you or the council aware that at one particular restaurant on the New Orleans/Metairie line, not yet reopened, there are currently no less than 100 cats and kittens eeking out an existence? I wonder what kind of dent 10 men and 40-50 traps can do in those 4,190 square miles when these are scenes which many of us see repeated over and over?
Mr. Beggler, as a resident of Metairie and a former employee of a Poydras Street law firm, I live here, have lived here, and have observed for a long time the sad manner in which New Orleans has dealt with its "street animal" population in the past: that is to ignore it. And to some degree, that was workable because that street population, in all likelihood, was perpetuated by many factors inclusive of climate, abundance of food sources created by tourism/restaurant industry, and yes, the efforts of a few well-meaning citizens who did their best to participate in the Feral Cat Initiative and still maintain a life. That was pre-Katrina: ignore it no longer works in a humane, post-Katrina society. The climate is still favorable, but that food source created at restaurant sites, businesses, etc. all dried up 10 weeks ago. And those few well-meaning citizens, well many of them were forced out of the city at gun point when they failed to abandon the animals, pets and otherwise. I'm curious......did Ms. Maloney mention these "facts" to the Council? Did she mention them to you? If you had given that "Maryland group named Allie Cat Allies" a chance to state there interpretation of the facts and its position, I doubt that I would find it necessary to present those facts to you myself. As an intelligent and socially responsible citizen, I did my research a long time ago; I checked my facts and double checked them and additionally I guess I have just been blessed with a good old dose of common sense that makes me want to hear all sides to any one story. I wonder why you were not curious about what motivation there really is for these out of state zealots to help the animals here and to help the public, here in this city, to find a better system and actually implement it over time. What are those "zealots" really after? Reporter or not, I would have to get to the heart of Ms. Maloney and the LASPCA's real reasons for wanting these people gone.......when others are offering a hand-up in spite of harassment, threat of incarceration for feeding a dog, and legislative measures taken, all in efforts to bite that same hand, don't we have a duty to "seek the truth" the real and whole truth?
In closing, I again choose to offer you the benefit of the doubt and assume that your irresponsible reporting was an oversight and that you, the rest of us, are just trying to get through each post-storm "Twighlight Zone" -like day without losing it; however, I do believe you owe Allie Cat Allies, Jane Garrison and Animal Rescue New Orleans, and every other socially conscious New Orleanean who is doing his or her best to really, really make it a better city sans the lip-service, a statement of regret and the opportunity to set forth facts as they know them to exist. It is my sincere wish that these organizations and individuals who have put their lives on hold, lives somewhere else, don't leave this city, like so many others, with a dose of the political games played down here, the game where its' citizens are only game pieces instead of vested shareholders in a wonderful place to call home.
Sincerely,
Lise McComiskey
Other Animal Rescue Pages
- Animal Rescue Resources
Animal Rescue Resources > Alerts > 11-12-2005
