PLEASE POST AND CROSS POST VOLUNTEERS ARE DESPERATELY NEEDED!
From a Connecticut shelter volunteer that just came back from New
Orleans:
September 18, 2005
Hi All,
I got home late last night from Louisana. I'm still trying to process
everything I've seen and done, not to mention trying to get the stench
out of my clothes!
We went to the LSU temporary shelter, which is well run and organized.
They really have their act together and it's a great place to
volunteer.
Next stop was the Lamar Dixon Expo Center(aka Gonzales), the large
"clearing house" facility. LA SPCA, HSUS, ASPCA, and VMAT are in a
power struggle over who is in charge. It is total chaos. They don't
have anywhere near enough people to care for the 2000 animals (average)
and are turning away rescue groups bringing more animals in after
sitting in line for hours.
This place is HUGE, and the left hand doesn't know what the right hand
is doing. Dogs and cats sit for days waiting for vet care even if
illness is obvious. Many do not get out of their crates for 2+ days.
There is no leadership, no system, and the animals are suffering.
Vet care is obtained when they get the chance, and only after a request
is put in the "inbox", which happens to be a bucket.
Volunteers are so burnt out they are in tears. There are some very
sick animals who are put in makeshift "wards" in the barns.
No bleach bucket outside for shoes, and no where near any acceptable
level of sanitation. "Triage" doesn't happened regularly, not enough
vets & vet techs. The Parvo stalls are in the middle of everything ...
people in & out of them constantly, and going directly in stalls
w/"healthy" dogs. All dogs & cats are kept in crates of all kinds. We
got yelled at by VMAT for moving a puppy into a wire crate instead of a
veri-kennel after being told to do so by HSUS. Don't know if it was
because she was a pit pup and therefore most likely not going to make
it out of that hellhole after all she'd been thru- she was air-vacced
off the 610 bridge- or what.
There are huge buses, vans, RV's, tents everywhere, representives of
different states for each large group. Animal Planet had their bus
there, and PETA was driving in as we were leaving. That's all well &
good, but the "negotiations" for control is disgusting. Whoever gets
the government "grant" (aka "Contract") runs the show, and makes some
nice $$.
There are pallets of food, water, crates, etc from Walmart, Petco,
Petsmart, and a bunch of others. They just don't have enough people to
clean & walk all these dogs, let alone feed, water, and med. They
DESPERATELY need more people to do the basic stuff. We hooked up
w/Pasado Animal Rescue & did door to door searches for animal survivors
in New Orleans. It is mind-blowing how many pets are still alive,
though many are going down hill fast. Wednesday we did water rescue in
an area that was still flooded, and pulled over a dozen dogs out of
houses where they were trapped. We found animals alive in homes that
were boarded up & barricaded, having to break in using any means
necessary to get to them. The stench is unreal, and most homes are
booby-traps- furniture and appliances thrown everywhere by the flood
waters, the mold, sludge and god knows what makes walking in very
dangerous. You DO NOT want to fall and get that stuff on you. The
situation changes hour by hour, let alone day by day.
They are beginning to release animals to rescues at least.From what I
saw, at least 50% of the dog population is Pitbull/Pit-mixes, approx
25% Rotties & Chows, and the remaining 25% every breed you can imagine.
Some of the rescues are taking Pits & Rotties, tho Lamar Dixon may not
be allowing them out, Pasado & LSU are. I know there are other groups
as well. Save A Dog is still there and flying in volunteers. They are
also doing door to door rescue in the city now.
IF ANYONE CAN GO PLEASE LET ME KNOW!
Hotels are not an option. If you go, plan on sleeping in a tent (bring
your own), or your vehicle.
Personally, I recommend the vehicle ... Fire Ants are everywhere, and
from personal experience, they will find you. I spent 2 nights sleeping
in a horse stall before they realized I was there (the ants), but once
they did, it was all over. Their bite is EXTREMELY painful and leaves
blisters that turn into something resembling a pimple. Nothing seems to
kill them. Showers are a luxury, if you can get one. Bring your own
food & water, medical supplies, Rubbing Alcohol, bleach, etc to
decontaminate yourself after handling the animals, who are still
covered with dry toxic sewage.
This effort will be going on for months, and people will be needed all
the way thru. Right now, the dogs & cats (and every other creature you
can imagine) are critical. Many are dehydrated and starving, and it is
a VERY ugly scene.
I hope things will improve. If anyone goes now, be prepared to separate
your personal feelings from what needs to be done just to get these
animals some help. Hopefully it will improve over the next few
weeks/months, and someone will be in charge and get things somewhat
organized.
For those who can't turn off their feelings and just do the job as best
they can, don't go now. Wait until it gets better. If you have a
strong stomach, and can stay focused on just taking care of one at a
time, you are needed now.
Feral dog packs and cat colonies were well established in New Orleans
prior to the hurricane ... now they are feeding off each other, and
whatever they can find. It is truly horrible. The animal population
problem is beyond belief. Out of some 300 dogs Pasado Rescue pulled,
only TWO males were neutered, and I think ONE female. There are dogs
who were severely neglected prior to the hurricane, mange is very
prevalent, and god only knows what else. Most of the Pits have had
there ears cropped back to their heads ...."Home Jobs" done with
scissors or knives.
The whole thing is just surreal. I did not dream at all while I was
down there, probably due to exhaustion- we were up at 6 am and lucky to
get to bed by 3 or 4 am. The nightmares are starting now, and I can't
get the images out of my mind. I try to focus on the ones we've saved,
and pray they get into homes.
Enough for now, this is too long as it is, and I'm starting to cry
again.
B.

While I don't disput these emails per se I'd like to make a gentle reminder
that unless its a firsthand email with proper attributions there's really
know way to tell its for real, when it was originally sent, who originally
sent it and so on.

This is a good way to create a problem because it gets people upset and they
start sending around more emails creating a storm of their own.

The rescue efforts down there need coordination and need to keep that
coordination & structure firmly in place given the enormity of the task at
hand. Having tons of people show up demanding to volunteer can cause
problems and confusion.

I recommend calling or emailing a rescue or shelter in Louisiana (look on
Petfinder) and ask them if they know what the volunteer situation is in the
worst areas and what the current organizations that are already in place
down there need. Better to get it straight from people who are still there
and know the area than from unknown people whose emails were hijacked.

--
Tara