***Urgent Humane Society Request!! E-mail the Media!!***

[Barack_America]

HSUS Pleads with Federal, State, Local Agencies to Help Rescue Thousands ofStranded Pets

Excerpt:
"WASHINGTON, Sept. 7 /U.S. Newswire/ -- With the situation for the animals on the Gulf Coast at a critical juncture -- as thousands of animals have just a couple of days to live -- The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is calling for federal, state, and local responding agencies to immediately assist with animal rescue efforts.

"We are throwing unprecedented resources at the problem, but its magnitude is beyond our capacity. We need help right now," said Wayne Pacelle, HSUS president and CEO. "Federal, state, and local assistance is critical to our efforts to save the thousands of stranded and abandoned pets still out there. We have animal care experts from around the country who are rescuing as many animals as we can, and we can also take animals rescued by other search and rescue teams."

http://press.arrivenet.com/pol/article.php/689896.html

Talked to Humane Society...THEY NEED US TO E-MAIL THE MEDIA!!!

Additional contact info: LA Emergency Operations 225-922-1181

There are still some victims of this mess who can be saved!

Thanks guys!

[Barack_America]

1. kick...updated info

[jokerman93]

2. kick

:kick:

[Mnemosyne]

3. .

:kick:

[Barack_America]

4. Humane Society also needs BOATS

If you are anywhere in the area and have or have access to a flat bottom boat and would be willing to let the Humane Society use it (compensation available), please e-mail them your info to

[e-mail]

Thanks!!

[candice]

5. What media should be contact? I've sent money to the humane society,

signed the petition, and sent money to United Animal Nation, which is working directly to try to save pets.

United Animal Nation

http://ga4.org/uan/home.html

Links to American Humane Society


http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art35312.asp

[Barack_America]

10. Anderson Cooper has been very helpful...IMPORTANT!!

[e-mail]

Fox has been predictably useless but MSNBC might be able to get the word out as well.

IMPORTANT!!
Have spoken with NG who say its a FEMA issue. FEMA says it's a NG/CG issue. Still nobody in charge down there, may have to be spread by word of mouth, possibly through reporters.

Apparently Blanco will be notified tomorrow morning.

[Lorien]

6. Kick

:kick:

[candice]

7. Sign the Petition to allow animals to be rescued in NO

Please follow this link:

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/840979272

[Booster]

9. Sent your link to petition to everybody I know and a kick.

[zoe2]

13. Item about it on huffpo...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/deanne-stillman/barney-bush-safe-in-white_b_6979.html

[leftchick]

17. look at this baby and sign the petition

[Lorien]

21. Done! n/t

[leftchick]

8. we need some nominations and keep this kicked

this makes me so very sad. They gad been doing well up until today.

[wildflower]

12. kicked and nominated. n/t

[faithnotgreed]

11. please help animals

[leftchick]

14. HERE are Some Great LINKS!

http://www.petfinder.com/disaster/

all at this one link. Many great stories from each rescue group.

[Catchawave]

16. Great Site, glad you posted it !

It appears they're getting into some areas now.

[Ms. Clio]

15. Thanks Kristi!

[Barack_America]

18. Good news animal lovers...

There is a post on bestfriends.org that says that the LA Attorney General has now authorized break-ins to rescue animals!

Also, ban on animals in rescue helicopters/boats/busses appears to have been lifted!!

Pressure on officials and the media has made these things happen!

Keep it up!!

[Barack_America]

19. However, in bad news...stupid FEMA

...interferred with the BestFriends rescue today!

Give 'em a call. We go through their media contacts. They hate us, but the feelings mutual.

Here's a sampling of numbers (they have more media relations people than there were NG troups in NO)

Media Relations
Main Number (available 24/7)
[phone]

Barbara J. Ellis
FEMA Media Desk
[e-mail]
[phone]

James Mclntyre
FEMA Media Desk
[e-mail]
[phone]

Bri Rodriguez
[e-mail]
Urban Search & Rescue, Multi-lingual services
[phone]

Carl Suchocki
[e-mail]
Disaster Response & Recovery
[phone]

Debbie Wing
[e-mail]
Response Specialst
[phone]

Sharon Worthy
[e-mail]
Press Secretary
[phone]

[nicknameless]

20. Thank you for posting this!

Kicking and recommending for the fur babies in need
:kick:

[nicknameless]

22. Good news from HSUS!

The HSUS is swiftly marshalling all its resources and by the end of the day expects to have up to 250 people on the ground in Louisiana and Mississippi working as part of the organization's Disaster Animal Response Teams (DART), rescuing and sheltering the animal victims of Hurricane Katrina. Today is the fourth day of the organization's access to New Orleans, where its members helped to carry dozens of animals to safety, taking them out of houses, picking them up in the streets, and collecting them from displaced evacuees leaving the city. For example, the group rescued at least 19 cats during break-and-enter operations in New Orleans homes, undertaken with permission from authorities.

"It's truly a race against the clock," added Pacelle. "Our teams are working feverishly to rescue as many animals as possible and get out of the watery cesspool left behind by Hurricane Katrina, but we can't do it alone. We need the Coast Guard, fire departments, local rescue agencies, and anyone else who can lend a hand to rescue animals in need."

The HSUS is compiling thousands of reports of pets in need of rescue and working with the Louisiana SPCA to deploy trained, skilled animal rescuers to locate, rescue, and evacuate those animals. Upon entering New Orleans, they targeted animals stranded at the Superdome as their priority goal. There, they rescued dozens of animals relinquished or abandoned by desperate evacuees who fled the city to escape Katrina's rage. So far, The HSUS has helped to rescue and care for more than 1,200 animals in Louisiana and Mississippi, including dogs, cats, cows, ferrets, horses, chinchillas, as well as a rabbit, duck, pot-bellied pig, and seal.

[nicknameless]

23. Best Friends hooks up with the infantry

Today Paul Berry of Best Friends and Dr. Dave Jolley, a volunteer veterinarian, are working with the Ariborne 3rd Battalion 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment. They have taken 20 boats into New Orleans to do a sweep for lost animals who will then be taken into the care of Best Friends.

Soldiers cruise the waterways, looking for survivors.


A soldier is overwhelmed with emotion as he helps rescue an abandoned pup.


Dr. Debbie Rykoff does a quick examination on a refugee before transport.


(All photos by Troy Snow, Best Friends Animal Society.)

[Barack_America]

25. Thank you so much for those photos!!

They give me so much hope and bring a tear to my eye.

THAT is what America is about! It's good to see that it still exists in that suffering city...

[nicknameless]

27. Exactly. We need to feel that there's hope for these defenseless babies.

I hope you don't mind if I post more pics and stories of rescues, if I can find them. :)

[Barack_America]

28. Oh keep them coming....

...as long as they are happy.

All of these photographs/stories of dogs begging for help only to be shooed away are literally eating at my soul.

Not to mention that my dogs are getting sick of being hugged so tightly every time I see a sad photo.

Do you ever go to the NOLA pet rescue forum? Stories come in there too...

[nicknameless]

31. Absolutely. ONLY happy stories. I feel like we physically NEED to see them

... not to mention emotionally, spiritually, and mentally.
We've all had our hearts torn apart by stories and photos of these suffering babies.

Lots of us are lavishing extra hugs and kisses our pups and kitties.
I know my fur baby is pretty sick of it. :D

[Barack_America]

32. Well then, be sure to read the bed time story that I posted

below. You'll sleep better tonight.

Goodnight.

[Barack_America]

24. IMPORTANT! ACTION ALERT!

From Nola.com

Apparently the New Orleans City Council is meeting tomorrow morning at 10:00 am to decide whether or not to allow residents back into the city to retrieve their property.

Many animals are stranded in buildings in non-flooded regions of the city. Many lives could be saved if their owners are allowed to come for them!

While the City Council itself is unreachable, Governor Blanco's office can be reached at the following numbers...

Gov Blanco 225-342-0991,225-342-7015,225-925-1938,fax[phone]

Please tell them that we support them and that we believe that NO belongs to LA and its residents and NOT to FEMA.

NO Residents should be allowed to collect what they have left so they can prepare to move on!

[kestrel91316]

26. I just read today that over 250 veterinarians from around the US

have been volunteering their services in the relief effort. NOLA airport, 2 places in MS, and 1 other place in LA. They are being asked to not speak to the media. I think that's SOP?

[Barack_America]

29. NEW PETITION!!

This one to encourage the Red Cross to adopt pet shelters at all of their shelters.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/750226838?ltl=1126154912

It is because the Red Cross does not accept animals that animals were not allowed in rescue boats and helicopters.

This is a ridiculous rule that endangers human and animal lives!

Let's change it!!!

[Barack_America]

30. kick...And a happy bedtime story from nola.com

"I live in Los Angeles and last nite on KCAL9 I saw a story about a man who was pulled from the water by a Black Lab.The dog was not his and the man was taken to a shelter and the dog was left behind.All night I could not sleep thinking about this poor dog.Well tonite on the 8:00 news the reporter DAVID JACKSON went back to the same place and the dog was still there and he rescued it and had it in his car and was taking it to a shelter in hopes of finding its family.I broke down and cried I was so happy for the dog.Anyway if you want to thank him he can be reached at KCAL9.com.And he should be thanked because I havent seen anybody else helping the dogs.God Bless the animals and David Jackson."

Sometimes people DO do the right thing.

G'nite all...

[nicknameless]

33. Thank you so much, Kristi, for posting about the nola.com site.

Wonderful stories of rescues and kindness.
:bounce: :woohoo:

[nicknameless]

34. Another rescue story: A dog in a tree.

Local CBS Houston news
by winston1, 9/7/05 23:21 ET

Boat out on a rescue mission. Heard a dog in a tree crying and rescued him. He was wagging his tail and got some TLC. This was a human rescue mission, so all this stuff about not being allowed to take animals is bogus. The dog was the only rescued survivor in the boat.

:)

[nicknameless]

35. Please email HSUS and ask that they rescue ALL stranded animals!

YELLOW LAB in news
by saunie, 9/8/05 0:02 ET
Re: plea from hsus for boats by vicki5989, 9/8/05

I could not believe that the humane society did not rescue that yellow lab because he was not on the "list" until the poor thing swam after them for two blocks. What is going on down there???Why does an animal have to be on the list. He was still alive and wanting to be rescued and they showed him afterward getting his bath at the shelter and reaching up to drink his shower water. He looked like a wonderful dog but if he had not been ready to swim ...................Did anyone see this?! Swam in that filthy water for two blocks!!

:(

email: [e-mail]

[nicknameless]

36. Little black dog (Yorkie mix?) saved:

At least one is safe!
by Sweetie38, 9/8/05 0:01 ET

I am from East Central Alabama. I was watching the news a couple of days ago and some fire fighters from Birmingham who went out to help in NO brought a little dog back that had been following them around while they were there. One of the firemen had taken him home with him. He looked like a large Yorkie mix, very cute and looked very happy. My husband is going to be in NO with the National Guard in a couple of days and I told him to take care of the animals too.

[nicknameless]

37. Rescue "slideshow" from HSUS

http://www.hsus2.org/slideshow-katrina/

[nicknameless]

38. Some in National Guard are rescuing animals too

2917. National Guard WIth A Huge Heart
by Raechel, 9/8/05 2:32 ET

One of my dearest friends is a National Guard, EVERYONE in his battalion is an animal lover, THEY ARE SAVING THEM, they are taking them where they can, and risking their op's.

(From nola.com)

[leftchick]

39. Kick for the critters!

:loveya:

[nicknameless]

40. Press Release re: petition to Nagin

Press Release
by MBarry01, 9/8/05 6:40 ET

For immediate release, Sept. 7, 2005

Petitioners race against clock to save Hurricane Katrina animals. Anxious animal lovers from across the United States and around the world have been clocking in petition signatures at a rate of up to a signature every three seconds, in a desperate attempt to convince all rescue organizations to include animals in the evacuation of stranded Hurricane Katrina victims.

The petition, available at http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/840979272 , topped 15,000 signatures only 24 hours after it was launched by a Massachusetts resident on September 6, and continues to draw more signatures.

Addressed to Mayor of New Orleans C. Ray Nagin, the petition urges that the mayor's recent emergency evacuation order be amended, "to ensure that all animals are included in the evacuations occurring as a result of the Emergency Order issued on Tuesday, Sept. 6, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and that those animals are provided adequate supplies and shelter until they are reunited with their owners or adopted."

In many cases, evacuees are being told to leave their animals behind if they want to be evacuated. Some evacuees are choosing to risk death rather than abandon their beloved companions.

"Katrina victims are needlessly being forced into a painful and impossible choice between their own life, or that of their pet. It doesn't need to be this way, changing this policy will save more lives."

Nagin was a repub. until his run for Mayor. His decision on this issue will be very telling.

[nicknameless]

41. More rescue pics :-)

[Douglas Carpenter]

42. link to donate to humane society disaster relief fund for Katrina

Here is the link:

https://secure.hsus.org/01/disaster_relief_fund_2005

[Barack_America]

43. morning...kick!

[Barack_America]

44. Big story this morning: 150 Dogs Stranded on Top of Building

Humane Society has been notified (confirmed) and is working on the situation. Just thought you'd like the heads up.

From Craigslist.org

"Here is information regarding access to New Orleans for animal rescue. My daughter is a nurse there and said there is a desperate need to rescue these animals immediately. There is only 1 ASPCA truck for a whole city of animals.

Take I-10 as close to New Orleans as possible. Pull over and call this contact number (paramedics) 919-259-0281. There are people that care about the animals there and will get you in. They are expecting our help.

She witnessed (tonight) over 150 dogs on the roof of the American Can Company that need immediate help and many animals that are tied up in houses. The temperatures in these places is over 140 degrees. The animals can’t hold on much longer.

They need leashes, cat carriers and FOOD.

Please help. Working together we can do this. Contact everyone you can.

Thank you. "

[Barack_America]

45. FYI: NBC Nightly News and Larry King Live will have...

...stories about pet rescues tonight.

[jasmeel]

46. kick!

[Barack_America]

47. Update: Dog covered in oil RESCUED by e-mails!

Oil's well that ends well: Slippery canine's day in the spotlight elicits an outpouring of sympathy and, ultimately, a rescue

http://www.muscatinejournal.com/articles/2005/09/08/news/doc43204db6b69c4182669462.txt


E-mails DO make a difference. Keep it up!!!