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ORGANIZATIONS WHO HAVE OFFERED TO HELP RABBITS:
RabbitWise's Bunderground
Railroad is available to help make rescue and transportation plans for endangered Katrina rabbits. E-mail
Jennifer@thebunnystore for assistance.
RabbitWise has also contacted all of the major animal disaster rescue organizations to inform
them of the availablitiy of the Bunderground Railroad to help Katrina rabbits. These organizations include Best
Friends, HSUS Disaster Animal Rescue Team (DART), United Animal Nations Emergency Animal Rescue Services (EARS), the
American Humane Association's Animal Emergency Services, Noah's Wish, and Northshore Animal League of America.
The House Rabbit Resource Network
in Austin, TX has offered to help in what ever way necessary. Contact Becky Little e-mail: hepbex@yahoo.com
Posted 9/21/05 RESOURCE FOR RABBITS
FLEEING RITA
For those fleeing Rita, our group (House Rabbit Resource Network)
here in Austin, TX may be able to help house some of your bunnies. Please contact us through our group's voice
mail: (512) 444-EARS or personal e-mails: hepbex@yahoo.com, loplvr@earthlink.net. Unfortunately, I'm unable to check e-mail until tonight, and
the other e-mail cannot be checked until late afternoon. Let us know where to reach you later today.
Jan Langer
We're a long way from the Gulf Coast but can accommodate anywhere
from 4 to 12 additional foster rabbits who have been displaced by this horrible disaster. The
House Rabbit Connection is an all-volunteer, non-profit rabbit rescue located in New England (Hartford, CT to Springfield,
MA area). From our loving foster sites, we adopt approximately 100 rabbits
annually to educated, rabbit-savvy, indoor and
permanent homes. I have currently put out pleas to sister non-profit rabbit rescues in the area to see how many rabbits they
too might be able to accommodate.
Please contact me directly if you are moving any of Katrina's rabbits up the eastern
coast of the United States. We would like to help in any way possible, from moving bunnies along the 'railroad' to providing
foster spots leading to readoption.
Deb Young
Foster and Adoption Committee Chairperson
Member, Board of Directors
The House Rabbit Connection, Inc.
www.hopline.com
UPDATE FROM BEST FRIENDS AS OF October 15,
2005:
Once again, a rapidly changing situation in and around New Orleans
this week.
OVERVIEW: Earlier this week, the official state rescue center at Gonzalez
closed down as the owners
of the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center took back their
facility. On Monday, volunteer rescuers moved the last animals out of there
-
about 80 pit bulls. Fifty of them were flown to California, the rest came to
the Best Friends relief center at Tylertown.
Before
then, the Gonzalez operation had also been headquarters to about 85
teams of volunteer rescuers, many of whom have now
disbanded. But about 10
teams are still on the ground in New Orleans, and working their way through
lists of homes
to visit where people left their animals. Most of the animals
they rescue each day are now coming to the Best Friends
relief center.
Regarding the three parishes of greater New Orleans - Jefferson, Orleans, and
St. Bernard:
JEFFERSON
PARISH: Best Friends continues our relationship with Jefferson
Parish animal control, taking animals from their shelter
needing special care.
(Special cheers to animal care director Bert Smith and his staff for their
tireless courage
and perseverance - and for feeding our volunteers!)
ORLEANS PARISH: Animal care for Orleans Parish is managed by the
Louisiana
SPCA, which is being supported by the Humane Society of the U.S. The LASPCA
was expecting to have
a new shelter opening in Algiers by now. We're told that
they will have room there for 400 dogs and 150 cats, but that
the facility is
not yet open. Also that the LASPCA is not currently supporting private animal
rescue volunteers around
the city - which is why Best Friends is continuing
that.
St. BERNARD PARISH: Their new temporary shelter is being
supported by the
ASPCA. Animal control officer Cecile Trog says that her contract with parish
authorities continues
through mid-November, but is uncertain after that.
Whatever happens then, the ASPCA is committed to helping as necessary.
THE
BEST FRIENDS RELIEF CENTER: We're currently taking animals each day from
the rescue teams in New Orleans (as described
above). And Best Friends plans
to keep our center open at Tylertown as long as necessary for rescued animals
needing
critical care from any of the New Orleans parishes. (Animals needing
long-term special care are being brought to Best
Friends Animal Sanctuary in
Utah.)
TRANSPORT AND FOSTER: We're working with local groups still rescuing animals
and who need help getting them out to foster homes. Two new air-conditioned
transport trucks are on their way to the
Best Friends relief center in
Tylertown. (We just heard that the trucks are going to be paid for by two very
kind
donors who have previously been involved in paying for airlift
operations. Another blessing!)
OTHER SUPPORT: We
continue to support local rescue groups around south-east
Louisiana with supplies, equipment, finances, etc. to help them
continue their
work.
OTHER GOOD NEWS: Lots of reunions. Any moment now, the folks at Tylertown will
be having
a celebration as the 100th on-site reunion takes place.
Off-site reunions are gathering steam, too. And the first two dogs
we brought
to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Utah for special care have just been
identified by their families.
VOLUNTEERS
AND OTHER OFFERS: Hundreds of members of Best Friends have
volunteered their help, and we continue to work our way through
your offers.
Volunteers rotate through the relief center at Tylertown, and thanks to you,
we're always ready to send
in replacements.
More, as always on the website at www.bestfriends.org. And many thanks, as
always, for your help.
Michael Mountain
Best
Friends Animal Society
HSUS TEAM DEMOBILIZES: From October 14 newsletter
American Humane’s Animal Rescue Field Report
By American Humane’s Animal Emergency Services program manager and veteran volunteer
responder Dick Green:
A Final Farewell
Lamar Dixon Shelter, Gonzales, Louisiana
It’s always tough to say goodbye especially to folks that you have spent every waking
moment with for the last 40 days! We began demobilizing the team on Friday, the seventh, and Connor and I finally left early
this morning.
How to sum up our operations? Two hurricanes, truckloads of MRE’s (Meals-Ready-to-Eat),
more unneutered pit bulls than I ever dreamed existed, too many nights with too little sleep to dream at all . . . Between
Rita and Katrina, our Animal Emergency Services truck and team moved nine times. I was fortunate enough to work with an endless
stream of wonderfully dedicated people -- the most exceptional ones being, not surprisingly, the nearly 50 responders
who joined the American Humane Association’s team at various times during our mission in the Gulf region. And, of course,
there’s the most important thing of all: the countless animals these amazing volunteers were able to rescue read more
CHECK THESE LINKS
FOR UPDATES & OTHER INFO:
ASPCA's Hurricane Hotline
For pets that have been left behind
or to volunteer in affected areas, leave a message on the the ASPCA's hurricane hotline at 866-275-3923 x 4700. Be sure to
leave as many details as possible and a way you can be contacted.
Check Craig's
List at www.craigslist.org (click on New Orleans) for
info on relief resources, missing people, temporary housing, temporary employment, missing pets, transportation/rideshare, volunteer, and Katrina
discussion.
See an AP News Photo of a National Guardsman, who did not want
to be identified, giving an abandoned rabbit water after he was discovered in a flooded home in Bay St. Louis, Miss., on Saturday,
Sept. 3, 2005. Homes were being searched for possible victims of Katrina. Click on: http://news.yahoo.com/photo/050903/480/msdp12209032220
IDEAS
ABOUT HOW TO HELP:
Posted 9/21/05. RABBIT RESCUE GROUP
NEEDED
RABBIT RESCUE GROUP NEEDED
CONTACT:
Shaun Palmisano
985-783-5010,
985-785-9136
LOCATION:
St. Charles Animal Shelter
13830 River Road; Luling, LA 70070
Lee Ann Matherne, Shelter
Director: 504-559-4779
VOLUNTEER NEEDS/SITUATION:
One of our volunteers called us, while onsite at this shelter.
This
is
legitimate, as of 9/21/05. At least 7, possibly more, rabbits need
rescue
from a qualified rabbit
rescue group able to handle their special
needs.
Please contact Shaun Palmisano right away if you can help.
Posted 9/21/05 Vehicle With A/C Needed
For Rabbit Transport
The University
of Florida Vet School will be going to Gonzales, La to rescue cats, dogs, two ferrets and twenty rabbits. As of last
late last night, they were trying to locate an air conditioned vehicle to transport the animals in. The Vet School has all the proper permits and paperwork to do this. They contacted our organization Gainesville Rabbit
Rescue to see if we could foster some rabbits and help in their transport (along with the two ferrets). We will be able to
foster a small number of the rabbits, and the Vet School will provide for the balance until they find foster or permanent
homes. We were notified of the situation last night, and for the rabbits the situation is desperate. They are
not handling the heat and stress very well and I have been informed that some rabbits (unknown figure) have died. I
am trying to get some of our volunteers together to go to Gonzales, but am afraid that we will be unable to get there before
the next storm and before the remaining rabbits perish. If there is any help you can offer to get the rabbits and two
ferrets out of Gonzales and to a point where we can meet it would be greatly appreciated. Please let me know if there
is any assistance you might be able to offer.
Kathy Finelli
Gainesville Rabbit Rescue
352-318-0028
Posted 9/20/05; HELP NEEDED!
FROM JANE GARRISON:
---------------------------------------
Subject: I am begging
the animal community
Dear Friends:
I have been at the hurricane scene in New Orleans for over two
weeks. In
this time I have organized search and rescue teams and food and water teams (for the animals on the streets). I have personally
pulled hundreds of animals from roof tops, attics and houses. It has been amazing to me that these animals are still
alive. I got a dog off a roof a few days ago who should have weighed 90 pounds but was down to 40 pounds from being stuck
on that roof with no food and water. These animals want to live and are showing us this everyday.
Here is the problem.
We still have 3,000 addresses of homes where animals are trapped.
These are addresses
where people have called either HSUS or LASPCA and asked for us to
rescue their animals. I know that there are thousands
of other homes
where animals are trapped that no one called about. I know this b/c I have rescued hundreds of animals
from homes after hearing barking that were not on our lists.
CONSIDER THIS: Amazingly we are finding that half of the homes we
get into have animals still alive. With a MINIMUM
of 3,000 addresses that is
at least 1500 animals who are waiting behind closed doors for a loving hand to rescue them.
With the current teams we have now we can only get into approximately 300 homes each day. The animals will NEVER be alive
if we continue at this rate. I am begging each and everyone of you to get to New Orleans to help. It does not take a "certified
disaster rescuer" to break into a house and at last provide fresh food and water (to sustain that animal until someone qualified
can get them out). We only have a week at most to save some of these desperate animals. Please do your part...we are all the
animals have.
Jane Garrison
JaneGarrison@comcast.net
(END OF JANE'S NOTE)
--------------------------------------
GONZALES
SHELTER CONTACTS:
Louisiana SPCA Shelter established at:
9093 St. Landry Rd.
Gonzales, LA 70737
225-647-0712
(This number may not be answered.)
Food and water volunteers should report to Jane Garrison outside the
volunteer
food tent by barns 1 and 2. There is a 6am briefing every
morning.
Note: Large air-conditioned vehicles in
which animals can be
transported are still needed. But Jane's note makes it clear that
anybody with transport for
him or herself, who can go to houses and
feed animals, regardless of being able to transport them, is needed.
If you
don't have your own transport, but can get yourself to
Gonzales, you will be paired up at the daily 6am briefing meeting
with somebody who has transport. OR -- the shelter desperately
needs people to work there.
FEMA now has
a large air-conditioned tent in which volunteers can
sleep. (Though it is safest to bring a tent just in case.)
VOLUNTEER
PERSONAL SUPPLIES LIST (IDEAL)
Some dogs on the ground have become dangerous. Some risks are due to
contaminated water.
Animals who have consumed this or stood in the
water for
long periods may be sick. You may also be exposed to water/mud
yourselves. You
also need protection from mosquitoes and wild animals. Overall,
depending
upon where you travel,
you need to come self-sufficient, as if
preparing for
a camping trip.
current Hepatitis vaccinations
current
Tetanus shot
pepper spray
hand sanitizer
insect repellent
sunscreen
first aid kits
thick "bite-proof"
work gloves
sturdy, waterproof (rubber) work boots/shoes
waders
long sleeve shirts
long pants
belt (to hang
gear/supplies from)
mouth coverings (surgical masks, bandannas)
eye protection (sunglasses)
flashlights
containers
full of gasoline
waterproof walkie talkies
D batteries
toilet paper
other personal-care items
----------------------------------------
Kate
Danaher, who has just come back from Gonzales, has sent the
following note:
"I just returned from 7 days on-site at
the Lamar Dixon Expo Center
in Gonzales, LA. Volunteers are desperately needed to clean shelter
cages and walk
dogs, to drop food and water to feed animals in the
streets and stuck in houses, to do data entry of notes from the
field,
to clean crates, and do general site organization and clean-
up. If you are interested please call me. I can
brief you on my
experience and give you directions on what to expect and how to get
right to work when you arrive.
Do
not need supplies. Need strong loving and patient people to work
very very hard under very challenging circumstances.
You
are NEEDED.
Please consider this call for help.
I look forward to hearing from you."
Kate recommends bringing
spray paint, for marking and dating houses
with food and water drop dates (what you did at the house) and also
water
markers to mark your vehicle as LASPCA, pad and pen for field
notes, a crowbar for breaking in if necessary, and maps
of New
Orleans. She is happy to provide guidance for anybody ready to go.
Her number is:
415-459-1149
katedanaher@animalearthhuman.org
Brenda
Shoss at Kinship Circle is also an excellent resource for
information on volunteer efforts at the various shelters.
Her
email is info@kinshipcircle.org
desk: 314-863-9445
cell: 314-795-2646
Look under "Animals" for links to organizations rescuing
animals.
Best Friends is
asking that you contact any friends or relatives that you have who were required to evacuate the disaster areas. If
they have companion animals that were left behind, please have them contact the Best Friends Hurricane center:
(435)644-3965 Ext. 4455
We are compiling a list of animals in need to distribute to people on the ground rescuing stranded animals.
Please ask them to include:
Contact name
Contact phone numbers
Address where the
animals are
Name(s) of animal(s)
Description of animal(s)
We hope that you can help us to ease
the minds of those animal caregivers who have already lost so much. Please pass this message on to as many people as you can.
Thank
you for caring about the animals and the people who love them.
Kelly Koeller
Network Manager, Resources &
Content
Best Friends Animal Society
5001 Angel Canyon Road
Kanab, Utah 84741
435-644-2001 ext 256
kelly@bestfriends.orgwww.bestfriends.org
ADOPT
KATRINA RABBITS
Posted 9/6/05: ADOPT KATRINA RABBITS
From Craigslist: http://neworleans.craigslist.org/pet/95568924.html
Would you like to adopt a pet?Coordinating effort in
MS - please read
Reply to: katrina_alaska@yahoo.com
Date: 2005-09-05, 3:14PM
Hello: My Name is Cynthia and I
am a volunteer with C.A.R.A (Community
Animal Rescue Adoption) in Clinton Mississippi (although I am located
in Alaska,
as are many volunteers around the states).
They have 340 animals that need adoption. 200 dogs, 100 cats, birds,
ferrets,
and goats. We are currently attempting to match up an animal
with a new home (hopefully YOU!)
If you feel you can
give one of these pets a home, would you please
provide the following:
1. Your name
2. Your phone number
3.
Your e-mail address
4. Your city and state
5. A veterinarian reference
6. Do you want to adopt a:
Dog (size
and type, understanding most are not purebreds)
Cat (same as above)
Bird
Ferret
Goat
Rabbit
Other preference
7. Are you able to adopt more than one pet?
All of these pets have
been turned over by their owners, and you can
imagine the circumstances why.
Once a match is made, the animal will
be transported to you by
volunteers. This will not happen overnight, so please be patient.
Please give this e-mail
widest dissemination.
If you cannot adopt but would like to make a donation to this endeavor
instead, please do
so to the following:
C.A.R.A Inc.
PO Box 231
Clinton MS 39060
(A 501 C3 organization)
Additionally,
Mississippi Animal Disaster Relief Fund
209 South Lafayette St
Starkville MS 39759
(662-324-9380)
Thank
you
Original URL: http://neworleans.craigslist.org/pet/95568924.html
Posted 9/6/05: ADOPT KATRINA RABBITS:
Shelter in Jackson, MS needs pets adopted to permanent homes. So far they
have over three hundred pets that were turned over by their owners because they could no longer care for them due to
having lost their homes - dogs, cats, bunnies and exotic birds.
Transportation to your home will be provided!
Include:
First Name Last Name
City
State
Your Vet's #
Please don't hesitate to contact us with any comments or concerns.
Regards,
For anyone not able to get to the MCHS (Montgomery County , MD) drop-off in time, or for those in VA who couldn't
make it to Rockville, there is a site in the Leesburg area that is collecting all sorts of supplies. (originally listed
on WTOP.com). Their main info only lists "human"-type items, but if you click on the link that says "need more ideas for items?
click here", the last item is pet supplies, crates, etc. They are collecting every day this week.
http://www.americas911foundation.org/<http://www.americas911foundation.org/
Posted 9/14/05
This is a tough time for rabbits in the Bay area, as well as for
the Hurricane affected area. Reliable fosters and adopters are VERY URGENTLY
needed to save lives. We are grateful to Marin Humane Society for their efforts to help and for their trust in us to
be their partner for the rabbits.
Please contact me ASAP if you can help.
On behalf of the rabbits,
Thank
you
Marcy Schaaf
Chapter Manager
SaveABunny
San Francisco/ Marin House Rabbit Society
_www.saveabunny.com_
(http://www.saveabunny.com/)415-388-2790
Posted 9/8/05
Posted 9/14/05
RABBIT FOSTERERS NEEDED IN DC AREA
Six Katrina rabbits are arriving late tonight.
We're setting them up with hay, litter, water, Oxbow Bunny Basics-T and toys in dog pens, and have already called to make
sure they get medical exams at the Stahl Exotic Animal Veterinary Services in Vienna, Va. However, what we don't have
is space to foster them.
If anyone in the DC-metropolitan area has room to take in six foster
rabbits, please contact me directly at information@friendsofrabbits.org, or call (703) 548-6793.
BUNNY BUDDIES IN HOUSTON NEEDS HELP
Posted October 10, 2005
Working in conjunction with the Houston SPCA and Bunny Buddies,
Inc. of Houston, we have 6 Hurricane Rita rabbits and 2 "overflow" rabbits that we need to place with other reputable
rescue organizations that adhere to the same adoption policies, ASAP. The adoption policies include that the bunnies
are spayed/neutered before going with the adopting families. No breeders. No outside hutch bunnies. Some of the
bunnies are already spayed/neutered and, If needed, arrangements can be made to spay/neuter others before they're transferred
to the new rescue organizations.
We've been dancing as fast and hard as we can to take care of all the
displaced hurricane lagamorph victims, but we're losing. If your organization meets the
adoption criteria and you
can help, please contact us.
Debbie Hanson: email
velvetlop@yahoo.com
CAUTION!
Avoid Scams: Go Directly to Website to Donate; e.g. type in
URL
PLEASE FORWARD TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW -- THIS IS A
SERIOUS, WIDESPREAD SCAM!
http://www.pet-abuse.com/pages/posts/20050902_5.phphttp://blogs.washingtonpost.com/securityfix/2005/08/katrina_phishin.html
Caution Urged When Donating to Hurricane Katrina Relief Funds
Posted
on Sep 02 2005
During times of crisis, the human spirit is capable of such compassion and kindness. Over just
the past few years, the world has seen the capacity of the human heart, as donations and volunteers poured in to help humans
and animals alike during the Tsunami in Asia and the September 11 terror attack in New York City.
Unfortunately, these
times of crisis also bring out scammers, con-artists and other ilk who prey upon the goodness of others for their own financial
gain. Just as reports are streaming in about looters in the devastated areas of the country, there are plenty of cyber-looters
lurking in the internet ether. They hide behind the anonymity of the Internet and seek out Internet users who are not
aware of how to detect a scam.
While several of the well-established, legitimate organizations such as the ASPCA, the
Humane Society of the United States, United Animal Nations and Best Friends Animal Sanctuary are working on an extraordinary
level to send aid and relief to the animal victims of Hurricane Katrina, there are many other individuals and "organizations"
with less than honest intentions.
Over the course of just a week, we have received numerous reports of con-artists
attempting to collect donations under the guise of sending aid to the
animals in Louisiana and Mississippi. Those
that wish to lend financial support to this cause are strongly urged to be extremely cautious and closely examine the people
and groups they are sending money to. And
dishonesty knows no species - these scams are appearing under the ruse
of helping both animals and people.
The types of scams we have seen so far include (but are not limited to): Online
Scams:
http://blogs.washingtonpost.com/securityfix/2005/08/katrina_phishin.html * Scam websites that collect donations with no intention
of sending aid to victims of Hurricane Katrina
* Scam websites that pose as relief funds but are actually
designed to trick you into entering financial information about bank accounts, credit cards and PayPal accounts, also known
as "phishing". more...
Be skeptical of websites with domain names like KatrinaHelp.Com, etc. Just
as you have no doubt become more web savvy over the past few years, so have the criminals who are out to take your money.
In the
aftermath of these tragedies, scam domain name registrations skyrocket - see for yourself. While there may
be a few legitimate efforts in the mix, you should consider sending your money to well-established organizations instead.
Learn
how phishing works, how to detect a phishing scam and how to prevent becoming a victim.
Be on the lookout for scam
sites connected to SPAM e-mails or chain letters. If you receive one of these e-mails from a friend or co-worker, be
sure to alert them that the e-mail is or could be a scam, and urge
them to be cautious.
While we haven't heard reports
yet of a Hurricane Katrina computer virus, this is only a matter of time. Avoid opening suspicious e-mails, even
if they appear to come from someone you know. If you receive an e-mail from an address you know, but you're not 100%
sure it is authentic, e-mail the sender and ask them. Virus programs often use the addresses from an
infected computer's
address book and e-mail folders to make their nefarious worm programs appear as though they came from a trusted source.
If
you use virus protection on your computer (which you absolutely SHOULD), make sure your virus definitions are updated DAILY.
If you use
anti-spyware programs, be sure to update these definitions every day as well. If you are not currently
using any kind of virus and spyware
protection, you should consider yourself at VERY high risk, especially during this
time. We suggest you invest in these protective programs as soon as possible.
For virus protection, Norton Anti-Virus
and McAfee are very popular choices. For spyware detection and removal, Ad Aware by Lavasoft is a good choice, although
Microsoft's AntiSpyware program seems to be
more successful at getting rid of hard-to-remove spyware and other malware.
Offline Scams
Avoid giving money to door-to-door or phone solicitors.
If you receive a phone call asking for financial help, do NOT give them your credit card or
bank information. Ask
them to send you information on the relief efforts. This will give you time to investigate the organization and make
an informed decision.
Watch for charlatans who pose as members of a reputable charity. Their appeal may sound sincere
and their organization may seem worthy. However, it's best to ask that information be mailed to you so you can
research
the charity before you decide. If the caller refuses, don't donate, simply hang up. If you want to help with relief
efforts, call organizations yourself. That way, you know you're dealing with a legitimate agency.
Do not let
anyone pressure you into giving them your financial information. Scammers are skilled at tugging on heartstrings to get what
they want. Legitimate organizations will never pressure you to donate. Be wary of appeals that are long on emotion, but short
on what the agency will do to address the needs of recipients.
Do not give money to an organization you are not familiar
with. While there are organizations local to the devastation in the south that are working to provide assistance, organizations
located elsewhere in
the country that you do not know could easily be up to no good.
When in doubt, go with an
organization you are comfortable with. Larger organizations will often have more resources at their disposal, so if
you have even the slightest suspicion that a person or group may not be legitimate, don't give them your money.
Lastly,
use common sense and good judgement, and do your homework before giving anyone any money - there are organizations out there
that truly are stepping up to the plate to help, but you must be careful. If you
wish to add your financial support
to the hurricane relief efforts, we recommend you go through one of the trusted organizations below
Animal Aid
*
United Animal Nations: http://www.uan.org/* Best Friends Animal Sanctuary:
http://www.bestfriends.org/* ASPCA: http://www.aspca.org/* The Humane Society of the United States:
www.hsus.org
Additional Useful Links
* Federal Emergency Management Agency:
http://www.fema.gov/ * California Department of Consumer Affairs -
Hurricane
Katrina Scam Alert:
http://www.dca.ca.gov/hurricane_scam.htm
* Better Business Bureau: http://www.bbb.org/
Click here to donate to Best Friends.
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