What about the pets & the animals...

[67guzzler]

I'm not sure how folks feel about this but I'm going to put myself out on a limb here.



I'm not comparing the value of a human life to that of an animal but I know there is also great need to save as many animals as possible.

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A dog peers out through the burglar bars

of a flooded home in New Orleans on

Monday. Animal rescuers have been

working furiously to save stranded pets in

the city. [size=-2](AP Photo/Dave Martin)[/size]​

To that end, I'm posting a link to The Human Society of The United States.



From their donation page:



[size=-2]"In response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina, The HSUS has launched a massive relief effort to rescue animals and assist their caregivers in the disaster areas. Our highly trained Disaster Animal Response Teams are in Louisiana and Mississippi coordinating a multi-state animal rescue and recovery effort. We're now in New Orleans and have rescued hundreds of animals in the hardest hit areas of Mississippi since Friday.



Our entire relief effort is funded by donations from people like you, and we desperately need your support. Please make an emergency contribution to our Disaster Relief Fund today! To donate, please complete the information on our secure online form below. Your tax-deductible gift will be used exclusively for our disaster animal relief work. "[/size]



You can donate as little as $10. 00 online with your credit card via a secure SSL connection.



If anyone doesn't politically agree with this charity (some think certain charities are too extreme, etc... ), think about a charity of your choice that will try to provide aid to animals caught in this tragedy and maybe send them a buck or two if you can.



Thanks for even considering it.

 

[rrausch]

I worried about the animals too. Generally they have more of a sense about where to go for shelter than people. Thanks for the post!

 

[WM-300]

The plight of the animals breaks my heart. Thanks for posting about the rescue efforts.



I fear many drowned, still chained or fenced in their yard.



WM-300

 

[KBennett]

I feel for the animals as well but I wouldn't send a dime to the Humane Society due to their anti-hunting stance.

 

[Sled Puller]

I saw an older couple leaving their house,being rescued, and LOCKING their 3 dogs inside, because they couldn't take them along.

Not sure about that deal, better off to turn them loose, eh?



Kbennett, are you endorsing hunting stray pets?

 

[67guzzler]

I feel for the animals as well but I wouldn't send a dime to the Humane Society due to their anti-hunting stance.

It's a problem. How do you find an agency that will save domestic pets but also supports hunter's rights? The only thing I can say is that the HSUS claims the funds will only go to help save animals suffering from the raveges of Katrina... If you can find some other agency that appeals to you, please let us know!

 

[GIT-R-DONE]

I saw an older couple leaving their house,being rescued, and LOCKING their 3 dogs inside, because they couldn't take them along.

Not sure about that deal, better off to turn them loose, eh?



QUOTE]





I saw that same thing as well. I couldnt believe that they would leave them behind. Totally unreal...

 

[KBennett]

I saw an older couple leaving their house,being rescued, and LOCKING their 3 dogs inside, because they couldn't take them along.

Not sure about that deal, better off to turn them loose, eh?



Kbennett, are you endorsing hunting stray pets?

If it was me I would have turned the pets loose.



No, I am not for hunting stray pets, my dogs take care of that problem

Here is a recent victory over the Humane Society:

http://www.nraila.org/News/Read/Releases.aspx?ID=5755



I think you will be hard pressed to find an "animal rights" organization that does not have a hidden agenda. If I come across something I'll let you know.

 

[67guzzler]

I agree with both of you guys. That was wrong of the HSUS -- they didn't even have a spay and neuter program? Someone messed up!



Regardless -- I just think it's a really tough situation. Ideals need to be balanced with the immediate emergency. I'm not suggesting anyone should change their principles -- just make an on the fly analysis of the positives and negatives and then make a temporary modification if it can mean helping those (people and / or animals) in need.



IF you believe that the HSUS will use the funds to save animals, even if you otherwise despise them, it might not be a compromise of your values...



Just a thought.

 

[jandtjil]

If you are looking for a way to help without a direct financial contribution, please consider helping the pet railroad http://www.projectstarfish.org./

or

http://www.petfinder.com/messageboard/viewtopic.php?t=73488



JJ

 

[67guzzler]

If you are looking for a way to help without a direct financial contribution, please consider helping the pet railroad http://www.projectstarfish.org./

or

http://www.petfinder.com/messageboard/viewtopic.php?t=73488



JJ

Great Post, JJ. The petfinder message board is down right now but the main petfinder site it up: http://www.petfinder.com



Your post helped me find an agency that appears to be dedicated to the placement of pets and not eroding the rights of NRA members or those who like to hunt. The same Petfinder.com website has a disaster page and on the right hand side of the page a link to donate to help save and place pets.



They represent that:



"Your gift will go to shelters and animal placements groups affected by Hurricane Katrina. The Petfinder.com Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation (#87-0694641). It will distribute funds as needed to animal shelters and placement groups devastated by the hurricane. "



So any donations are 100% tax deductable.



Now if PetFinders doesn't work for you, The Best Friends Animal Society has set up a fund. From their website:



"Hurricane Relief Fund -- The animals endangered by Hurricane Katrina need your help. 100% of the funds raised will go toward relief efforts for the animals. Your generosity will help us save their lives. "



Here is their donation link but I don't know if it's a 501(c)(3) charity or not. If tax deductions are not important to you, this is another option.....



The Houston HSPCA is in dire need of funds too. Apparently they're taking in over 600 animals in Katrina's wake and more are coming in. From their site:



"We will continue to make space for the animals of our neighbors to the East. The Houston SPCA is offering free temporary board, shelter, and care to the pets of people streaming out of those states hardest hit by Hurricane Katrina. To make room for the anticipated flood of refugees, we are working with our dedicated adoption partners throughout the area, state, and United States to place our adoptable animals in other shelters. All owned animals will remain with the Houston SPCA to offer a central place for their families to reclaim them. People needing pet-related information are urged to call the Houston SPCA Hotline at 713-802-0555 from 9 am - 5 pm daily. Volunteers are standing by to take calls and assist pet owners. The Houston SPCA will also provide free pet food to anyone needing assistance. Pet owners can come by the shelter at 900 Portway Drive, Houston, TX 77024. Pet owners must show photo identification. "



Actually -- If anyone just google's for "Katrina Animal Rescue" there will be tons of links to places that will take your money to help save animals displaced from Katrina.

 

[BKenny]

Its good to see poeple looking out for pets im going to donate to the cause. The pets did,nt have a choice weather to stay or go . I hope they don,t get left for death it would be a shame.

 

[rrausch]

A friend of mine just told me a wonderful true story. Her brother is a Catholic Priest in Baton Rouge, at either St. Thomas More or St. Thomas Aquinas, I'm not sure which right now. Anyway, after the hurricane he was at the local Red Cross shelter and a lot of people were standing outside unable to get in because they had their pets with them and they didn't want to abandon the animals. He invited them all back to the Church and for the next few days the Church was jam-packed with people sleeping in pews with their dogs, cats, birds... she said there were even a couple of chickens and a pig!! She had moved to Idaho, but traveled to Baron Rouge to help out. Her parents are from N. O. and haven't been able to get home yet. The parents were actually visiting her in Idaho when the hurricane was building up, and returned to N. O. then had to leave again.

 

[67guzzler]

The authorities are going to have to re-evaluate the benefits of allowing people to take their pets with them to the shelters. I'm not sure that in this case it would have been possible considering all the negative factors involved. But where I live there seems to be hurricane evacuations several times per year. There are some but very few of the shelters are pet-friendly. I understand there are reasons but I think the authorities have to re-evalute the ratio when you consider that more people than not have some form of a pet as a member of their family. Additionally, a lot of people will ride out storms to stay with their pets because they can't go to shelters -- storms that they have no business riding out. So it's a public safety issue too for the humans. Thanks for that positive story man.

 

[WM-300]

Great Story, thanks for shareing it with us. I can not see how someone will abandon their dog/dogs. Its a hard plight for them, contaminated water, no food. Many will never link up with their families again. I fear that packs of wondering pets will eventually be shot. I cant speak for anyone else, but I would never leave my dogs, they go where I go. And if that means hiking out, so be it.



wm-300

 

[dresslered]

Thank you for reminding us all that this disaster has been felt by everyone. I made my donation to the The Human Society of The United States this morning. I also donated to the American Red Cross 2005 Hurricane Relief Fund through my work as they match my donations dollar to dollar.

 

[67guzzler]

Thank you for reminding us all that this disaster has been felt by everyone. I made my donation to the The Human Society of The United States this morning. I also donated to the American Red Cross 2005 Hurricane Relief Fund through my work as they match my donations dollar to dollar.

That's really generous of you. I'm sure that the rescue workers are going to need every dime we can provide.



People are really trying hard to save the animals but it's a race against time at this point. I just spotted this Pet rescuers race against time article on CNN which was posted this morning. The pictures and captions below are from this article.

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Above left: [size=-2]Best Friends Animal Society has been working with the troops to rescue animals. [/size]

Above Right: [size=-2]Veterinarian Debbie Rykoff holds a dog rescued from the streets of New Orleans. [/size]​

 

[DSteimle]

not all left behind

i too am amazed that someone could leave members of their family behind-my wife and i evacuated to GA and slept in the truck because of no hotels that would allow my doberman and chihuahua. i understand everyone's situation is different-but my dogs would lay their lives down for me if needed-btw we're back home now

 

[WM-300]

So glad to hear your back home with your 'entire family'. I am sure sleeping the truck was not good, but to keep your family together it was required. I commend you doing that. Best Wishes

WM-300

 

[jjordan1]

I agree w\ you. We sent in a donation already.