Dear Friend,

In the past few days, we have all watched in horror and disbelief at the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina.
In the midst of this tragedy, all of us at The Humane Society of the United States have been heartened by the tremendous outpouring of support for our disaster relief efforts in the region. I'm proud to say that because of your support, our response to assist animals and their caregivers has been immediate.

Shortly after the hurricane slammed into the Gulf Coast, HSUS teams were on the ground determining the areas where the most critical relief was needed. Today, experienced HSUS rescue staff and volunteers are working with state officials, federal agencies, and other organizations to evacuate animals out of the hardest-hit areas. They are also establishing pet-friendly shelters and delivering supplies, resources, and medical assistance.

In Louisiana, we’re helping to set up an emergency facility at the Coliseum in Baton Rouge where strays will be brought, evaluated, and then transported to safety. While thousands of people are being evacuated from the New Orleans Superdome and relocated to Houston to be sheltered in the Astrodome, HSUS volunteers are helping transport animals from evacuees arriving at the Astrodome and ferrying them to the temporary shelter, which will be fully operational today.

In Mississippi, seven HSUS disaster field teams left to conduct damage and needs assessments and to provide help as they find needs from Jackson south to the Hattiesburg area. The HSUS team includes about 35 trained responders and 8-10 vehicles (plus trailers and RVs), including the HSUS Disaster Response Unit. Team capabilities include companion animals, horses, farm animals, and wildlife. The team leaders are pushing very hard to get help to Gulfport, Mississippi, but at this time Route 49 is open only to state-authorized emergency vehicles.

We will continue to keep you updated on our efforts and we expect to be granted more access to the hard hit areas over the weekend. So many pets are trapped and alone, and we are determined to find and rescue them. And we plan on being there as long as it takes.

Again, I want to personally thank you for your generosity at this time. Quite simply, we would not be able to provide the relief needed for stranded and injured animals in a crisis of this magnitude without your help.

Sincerely,

Laura Bevan
Incident Commander
HSUS National Disaster Animal Response Team
Jackson, Mississippi

Copyright © 2005 The Humane Society of the United States| All Rights Reserved.
Humane Society Disaster Relief Fund | 2100 L Street, NW | Washington, DC 20037
disaster@hsus.org | 202-452-1100 | www.hsus.org

Please consider making an emergency contribution to our Disaster Relief Fund. Your support is critical to our ability to help suffering and stranded animals during this crisis. Click here to make your donation now.

Previous Emails:

Subject: Another way to help
Date: Fri, 02 Sep 2005 19:07:07 -0500

Here is a way to help the animals, and in a way, their people.

Cross posted with permission is the post from my all breed list. I understand that the Houston KC and the Florida Kennel Association are creating convoys to get the food to LSU so if anyone knows contact people there a drop ship to them might also work.
Abbe

Someone I know just got off the phone with the School of Veterinary Medicine at Louisiana State University. Pets are starting to arrive at the shelters they have set up for caring for people who did not want to leave their pets behind and also for pets they are rescuing and bringing in.

They are in desperate need of crates and metal cages, collars & leashes, disposable bowls, canned cat and dog food,
disposable litter pans, spray bleach, paper towels, sheets, towels, locks, hoses, bottled water, trash cans, trash bags, pooper scoopers, cat litter, extension cords, fans.

When asked what was needed most the lady on the phone got all choked up and said "Bottled Water - we need water, it's awful hot down here." Then she said "trash bags - lots of trash bags. She said they have been working for days to get this set up and are tired and this is just the beginning.

She called over there to find out where to send the boxes of dog items she had collected. Here is where to send boxes:

School of Veterinary Medicine
Louisiana State University
Skip Bertman Drive
Baton Rouge, LA 70803
(225) 578-9900

They ask that the boxes be clearly labeled with "Disaster Relief" and then a brief description of the contents.

Monetary donations are also needed - from the website:
Financial donations are being accepted to fund the animals' care through the Dr. Walter J. Ernst, Jr. Veterinary Memorial Foundation at the Louisiana Veterinary Medical Association at 1-800-524-2996.
Make checks payable to the LVMA Dr. Walter J. Ernst Veterinary Memorial Foundation (write Disaster Relief Fund on the memo line) and send to the LVMA, 8550 United Plaza Blvd., Suite 1001, Baton Rouge, LA 70809. They
will be able to use these funds quickly.

I realize that it's the suffering people that need help most, but the pets are also in need and it is an area that we can help with. Along with trash bags, I'm going to send collars and leashes together with unused medicine, vitamins, shampoos, and toys. I 'm sure some little four legged kids will enjoy some toys to play with.

Also, today I placed a drop-ship order of big bags of dogfood from here to be sent over to them right away-

http://www.petfooddirect.com/store/dept_brands.asp?dept%5Fid=1&
mscssid=90KCUTCNNXTC9M2A51C3E0B200N86DUC

If everyone could send just one bag of dog or cat food, it will greatly help out! Don't forget to check off the box for the 5% discount they are offering. Does anyone know of any Petfooddirect coupon codes that they offer online omewhere? I couldn't find any but I'm sure they're out there!

Does anyone know of a place online that will drop-ship bottles of water? I wish I could send them water too but I don't know where online to order it from that delivers. Any help will be greatly appreciate by all.
Thank you!

Best, Elise

Subj: Fw: housing Katrina's homeless
Date: 9/2/2005 6:17:12 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time
Please forward to ALL YOU KNOW

SUPER URGENT - PLEASE HELP THE ANIMALS - HURRICANE KATRINA

Woman in Norwalk, CT is helping the animals in Jackson, Mississippi

She has asked for our help, networking or otherwise. PLEASE SEND THIS ALL OVER, IT IS EXTREMELY URGENT - TIME IS RUNNING OUT FOR THE DISPLACED, LOST, CONFUSED, STRAY AND FORMER PETS WHO HAD HOMES AND OWNERS.

There are over 200 dogs and over 150 cats so far that is from Hurricane Katrina. They have been put in one TEMPORARY place for now. I am told every one of them has had vaccinations and are in fine health, other than some scratched up some, lost, sad, confused and hungry. There are people there who are ready and waiting to drive these dogs and cats to ANYWHERE they need to go, I repeat, ANYWHERE, they will transport them ANYWHERE.

Please, I know every one of us are overloaded, over whelmed, totally filled up and then some, especially during the holiday weekend and all. But those animals are all homeless - some are strays - but most of them were ones left behind and some their owners have died.

I am told there are dogs and cats of every single color, every kind, including 2 poodles who are hudled with each other, many, many more animals that need places to go.

They said they can hold on to them for a bit longer, not sure how much longer and said MANY of them will have to be EUTHANIZED if they are not taken somewhere soon.

CONTACT THIS PERSON DIRECTLY, it does not matter what time, middle of the nite, it does not matter, please help these poor precious animals.


They are also asking for ANY kind of donations for the animals, money, dog/cat food, etc.

REMEMBER THESE ANIMALS WILL BE TRANSPORTED TO YOU - TO YOUR FRONT
DOOR JUST ABOUT. PLEASE HELP - they are trying to send some photos.

Contact Lynda V. at 203 515 3024 (cell)
her home 203 227 5308
her email is Lynda@portone.com

Subject: Pet Shelter For Evacuees of Katrina
Date: Wed, 31 Aug 2005 16:32:15 -0500

Pet shelter AVAIL for evacuees in |Lafayette, La.

I don't have time to spend on the internet finding and learning how to post right now.

Please just let all members know that we have opened a pet shelter at Blackham Coliseum in Lafayette, right next to the Cajundome.

Evacuees may bring their pets their for housing.

We have PLENTY of food, water, crates, cages, bedding and newspaper, BUT the owners are responsible for feeding, watering, walking and medicating their own pets.

Interested parties may call Lafayette Parish Animal Control at 337-291-5644 for more information.

Also many area vets are accepting animals right now, until they fill up.

Get the Yellow Pages out! Please help me to get this word out. I've been working non-stop!

THANKS!

Nancy Marcantel

Lafayette Animal Aid