Small Bites
News named Small Bites as reminder to donate small-bite food (or cat food) for animals.
LA Pet Evac Bill Passes Legislature
Cathy Wells ~ Louisiana's Pet Evacuation Bill passed out of the House Appropriations Committee and progressed through the rest of the legislative process. Rep. Steve Scalise wrote to Shannon Moore's mother, Jennie Adams: "I appreciate your passion to pass this piece of legislation and agree that it will be very important to have a pet evacuation plan in place. That is why I agreed to co-author this bill." While the bill has now cleared Louisiana's Senate and House, Governor Blanco must sign it before it becomes law. We will let you know when the signing ceremony is announced. We all know that if it was not for the email alerts, letters, and phone calls, the bill would not have had the success it does. I know
Shannon is smiling.
Cathy Wells, Senator Fontenot's aide who drafted SB-607
St. Mary Humane Needs Volunteers
Susan Meyer ~ St. Mary Animal Shelter in Franklin County, LA desperately needs volunteers to care for dogs. Contact their president directly or me (
Susan Meyer) for more information.
St. Mary Parish Animal Shelter, 337-828-4646
10905 Hwy 182 Building B
Franklin, LA 70538
Liz, St. Mary's Humane Society President:
esmckee@cox.net, 337-578-0037
Donations: St. Mary Humane Society / P.O. Box 452 / Franklin, LA 70538
Man's Animals Won't Go To Streets
6/17/06 ARNO, Leanne G. ~ Many saw the notice about an Algiers man desperate to get rid of his animals. He has 11 cats (6 are Katrina rescues) and a Katrina Akita. The Akita was only a few months old at hurricane time. If he couldn't find a home for them he would release them to the streets, believing they'd have a better chance there than at an Animal Control facility. I spoke with this man yesterday. Akita rescue took the Akita and I think Lynn Cheech (Spaymart) along with ARNO is taking care of the cats.
Catahoula Dogs, Both Rita Survivors, Need Home
6/17/06, Reply To: LeAnne yepitsme770@yahoo.com ~ Since Rita (the forgotten hurricane) slammed Sulphur, the [guardians] of these two little girls, Lucy and Sassy, have been overwhelmed and no longer have time or room for them. The dogs live in a kennel day in and day out. [Guardians] have tried to place them with no luck. Lucy and Sassy are sisters rescued from Calcasieu Parish Animal Control, a high-kill facility, as puppies. They ought to remain together since they've been a pair since birth. Please help me find these babies a new forever home.
Homes For Dying Louisiana Woman's Animals
Pam Leavy and Lilla Whitehead ~ We are trying to help a terminally ill lady find homes for her beloved pets in Port Allen, Louisiana. Cancer has ravaged the woman's body and she's given months, possibly days, to live. She lives alone and her pets are her world. She is frantic with worry about what will happen to them once she is gone.
I'm afraid her pets will end up at the high-kill, inhumane West Baton Rouge Animal Control. She does not have family willing to take the animals, nor do they even like animals. She is desperate. There are 5 dogs and 6 cats, all up-to-date on vaccinations and spay/neutered, except one male dog, However, he will be neutered prior to placement. All dogs, except the Chihuahua mix, have lived as mostly outside pets, and all but two of the dogs get along with cats.
I'm arranging foster (probably me) for the Chihuahua mix, an older, indoor lap dog, until adoption via Capital Area Animal Welfare Society (CAAWS). CAAWS can take more dogs, and maybe cats, if we get more acceptable foster homes (must foster till adoption because we have no space at our shelter). Must keep bonded cats Miss Goldie and Greyline together.
Locals Willing To Foster For CAAWS, Contact:
Capital Area Animal Welfare Society
6357 Quinn Dr / Baton Rouge, LA 70817
caawsmail@yahoo.com, 225-752-5801
Individuals, Shelters, Rescues That Can Help, Contact:
Pam Leavy,
tundraleap@msn.com
or Ethelyn, 225-328-5872
ethelyn.mitchell@farmersinsurance.com
Below are photos of all except Tiffany and Cookie, two camera shy cats. Tiffany is a 5-year-old, gray/white, declawed female. Cookie is a 6-year-old, declawed, short-hair tortie.
Hoarding Cases, Shelter Fire
Eric Rice, Erics Dog Blog ~ I've stepped in to help three urgent situations that overlapped within one week. I've been developing a plan to launch a group geared toward small shelters in hoarding and puppy mill cases. These shelters are overrun when animals are seized in large-scale cases. Imagine 50 dogs one day and 150 the next, all of whom need vaccines, exams…
6/16/06, Two Hoarding Cases + Mason County Shelter With Over 200 Dogs After Shelter Burned Down ~ Support aid for three critical cases totaling 350 dogs and 100 cats.
Donate via Pay Pal: donate@vvsahs.org
Or donate by credit card at: www.vvsahs.org
Donate by check made to: VVSA
Write: "West Virginia" on your check.
VVSA, PO Box 100
Bridgewater, VT 05034
Email Sue the amount sent so she can plan transports:
Sue Skaskiw, VT Volunteer Services for Animals Humane Society
Skaskiw@vermontel.net, 802-672-5302, cell: 802-952-8181
See
Erics Dog Blog for photos and full details. We are working on the Roane County hoarding case first. Any size donation appreciated. We are starting with less than $1000. We may never save all 350 dogs but we can try. Anyone who has time to help phone shelters and the press and/or write a press release, please email me:
ericrice3@comcast.net
Rabbits In Crisis, Los Angeles
6/16/06, Bettina R. ~ Brenda, can you add this to Kinship Circle alerts? Though not mentioned, if these rabbits don't get adopted this could hurt all programs for bunnies at L.A. shelters.
To Help, Contact: Dina Takouris: 818-506-4516 ~ Blame it on Easter
impulse purchases or simply the amazing reproductive capabilities of rabbits, but the bunny situation in several city shelters is in dire straits. All six Los Angeles city shelters are severely overcrowded, but the worst
crises are at the East Valley and North Central Shelters. East Valley recently took in 60 rabbits confiscated in a cruelty case involving a Toluca Lake business owner. North Central is housing more than 60 rabbits. A lot of love, care, and money has gone into spay/neuter for all rabbits in the six L.A. City Shelters, but now they are at risk for euthanasia. Please help spread the word about this sad situation by sending this message to other animal-friendly folks.
You can also contact or visit any of the shelters about adding a bunny (or two!) to your home:
East Valley Shelter: 818-756-9323
South LA Shelter: 213-485-0117
West Valley Shelter: 818-756-9325
North Central Shelter: 213-847-2440
West LA Shelter: 310-207-3156
Harbor Shelter: 888-452-7381 x 143
Sincerely,
Liz Finch,
Best Friends Animal Society
5001 Angel Canyon Road / Kanab, Utah 84741
435-644-2001 ext 322,
lizfinch@bestfriends.org
Louisiana Disasters: More Restrictions
Best Friends Network, By Claire Davis ~ When disaster next strikes the animals of Louisiana the state will require all rescuers be certified in advance and out-state veterinarians will be denied access. These decisions were announced at a meeting between a small group of dedicated rescuers and Dr. Renee Poirrier, DVM, head of Louisiana Veterinary Medical Association's State Animal Response Team (SART).
The group gathered in a plush downtown hotel to discuss how to get pets and their people out of danger the next time a hurricane strikes. Poirrier's main focus was to urge local shelters and rescues, as well as national groups, to develop
memorandums of understanding with Louisiana parishes.
A pre-approved disaster plan improves response, she said, noting that Noah's Wish had done just that in Slidell last year, and it worked out quite well. But Poirrier said the most important part of disaster preparedness is individual responsibility. First, "tell residents they must have [their own evacuation] plan."
Though state shelter plans, including pet shelters, are underway, she won't publicly announce these plans for fear they'll encourage people to rely on the state rather than pre-plan to stay with relatives, friends, or pet-friendly hotels. State shelters are a last resort for those most in need, Poirrier said. She estimated some 7,000 people will need government aid, among them: evacuees who are disabled or without transport.
Russ Mead, a Best Friends Animal Society attorney, challenged Poirrier on that figure (suggesting it is too low) and also took issue with several other elements of her presentation. Mead asked if out-state veterinarians will be permitted to practice in Louisiana during the next emergency. Poirrier's response was quick and to the point: "Out-of-state vets will never be allowed in again," she said, citing laws that require practicing veterinarians have a Louisiana license. "The board's charge is to see that the people of Louisiana are well-served by their veterinarians."
Mead debated the wisdom of that decision, noting that in the days and weeks after Katrina, Best Friends could have offered $10,000 a week and still wouldn't have found any in-state veterinarians able to help the group. Several audience members seconded Mead's comments: "How many more thousands of animals would have died if (outside groups and vets) hadn't been let in?" one woman asked.
Poirrier said the only solution was for veterinarians to get a Louisiana license in advance, a proposal Mead deemed impractical for organizations like Best Friends that operate in many states. Audience members voiced similar dissatisfaction when Poirrier said a new process requires all animal rescuers be certified with the state before allowed entry into a disaster zone. Volunteers who are not state-certified will be asked to leave (stand down).
Required training includes completion of FEMA courses/exams: ICS-100 and 200 courses, plus NIMS-700 and 800 courses. Amanda St. John, of MuttShack Animal Rescue, told the audience that courses are readily available online. "You need to just go ahead and do it," Poirrier said. "It's not going to kill you."
Mead questioned Poirrier on whether someone who'd taken only two FEMA courses, but had 20 years field experience, would be allowed to rescue. "They will throw you out," was her response. At one point, the crowd gave Best Friends a small ovation, with several in the audience describing the group's aid as invaluable. That outburst followed Mead's assertion that "I can build a temporary shelter in 48 hours." Poirrier then said the state would gladly pair with Best Friends on shelters beyond the I-10 safety ring in Lafayette and Shreveport.
In the end, Poirrier urged groups to quickly develop memos of understanding with local parishes. It's the most logical step in better preparedness, she said. "I wish I had all the answers, but I don't."