Permission to cross-post now granted! Get the word out because help is
desperately needed.

Orleans:

September 19, 2005
Hi All,
I got home late last night from Louisiana.  I'm still trying to process
everything I've seen and done, not to mention trying to get the stench
out of my clothes!  We went to the LSU temporary shelter, which is well
run and organized.  They really have their act together and it's a
great place to volunteer.
Next stop was the Lamar Dixon Expo Center(aka Gonzales), the large
"clearing house" facility. LASPCA, HSUS, ASPCA, and VMAT are in a power
struggle over who is in charge.  It is total chaos. They don't have
anywhere near enough people to care for the 2000 animals (average) and
are turning away rescue groups bringing more animals in after sitting
in line for hours.
This place is HUGE, and the left hand doesn't know what the right hand
is doing. Dogs and cats sit for days waiting for vet care even if
illness is obvious. Many do not get out of their crates for 2+ days.
There is no leadership, no system, and the animals are suffering.
Vet care is obtained when they get the chance, and only after a request
is put in the "inbox", which happens to be a bucket.  Volunteers are so
burnt out they are in tears.  There are some very sick  animals who are
put in makeshift "wards" in the barns.  No bleach bucket outside for
shoes, and no where near any acceptable level of sanitation.  "Triage"
doesn't happened regularly, not enough vets & vet techs.
The Parvo stalls are in the middle of everything ... people in & out of
them constantly, and going directly in stalls with "healthy" dogs.  All
dogs & cats are kept in crates of all kinds.  We got yelled at by VMAT
for moving a puppy into a wire crate instead of a veri-kennel after
being told to do so by HSUS.  Don't know if it was because she was a
pit pup and therefore most likely not going to make it out of that
hellhole after all she'd been thru- she was air-vacced off the 610
bridge- or what.
There are huge buses, vans, RV's, tents everywhere, representives of
different states for each large group.  Animal Planet had their bus
there, and PETA was driving in as we were leaving. That's all well &
good, but the "negotiations" for control is disgusting.  Whoever gets
the government "grant" (aka "Contract") runs the show, and makes some
nice $$.  There are pallets of food, water, crates, etc from Walmart,
Petco, Petsmart, and a bunch of others.  They just don't have enough
people to clean & walk all these dogs, let alone feed, water, and med.
They DESPERATELY need more people to do the basic stuff.
We hooked up with Pasado Animal Rescue & did door to door searches for
animal survivors in New Orleans.  It is mind-blowing how many pets are
still alive, though many are going down hill fast.  Wednesday we did
water rescue in an area that was still flooded, and pulled over a dozen
dogs out of houses where they were trapped. We found animals alive in
homes that were boarded up & barricaded, having to break in using any
means necessary to get to them. The stench is unreal, and most homes
are booby-traps- furniture and appliances thrown everywhere by the
flood waters, the mold, sludge and god knows what makes walking in very
dangerous. You DO NOT want to fall and get that stuff on you.
The situation changes hour by hour, let alone day by day. They are
beginning to release animals to rescues at least from what I saw, at
least 50% of the dog population is Pitbull/Pit-mixes, approx 25%
Rotties & Chows, and the remaining 25% every breed you can imagine.
Some of the rescues are taking Pits & Rotties, though Lamar Dixon may
not be allowing them out, Pasado & LSU are.
I know there are other groups as well. Save A Dog is still there and
flying in volunteers.  They are also  doing door to door rescue in the
city now.
IF ANYONE CAN GO PLEASE GO!  Hotels are not an option.  If you go, plan
on sleeping in a tent (bring your own), or your vehicle. Personally, I
recommend the vehicle ... Fire Ants are everywhere, and from personal
experience, they will find you.  I spent 2 nights sleeping in a horse
stall before they realized I was there (the ants), but once they did,
it was all over.  Their bite is EXTREMELY painful and leaves blisters
that turn into something resembling a pimple.  Nothing seems to kill
them.  Showers are a luxury, if you can get one.  Bring your own food &
water, medical supplies, Rubbing Alcohol, bleach, etc to decontaminate
yourself after handling the animals, who are still covered with dry
toxic sewage.
This effort will be going on for months, and people will be needed all
the way thru.  Right now, the dogs & cats (and every other creature you
can imagine) are critical.  Many are dehydrated and starving, and it is
a VERY ugly scene.  I hope things will improve.  If anyone goes now, be
prepared to separate your personal feelings from what needs to be done
just to get these animals some help.  Hopefully it will improve over
the next few weeks/months, and someone will be in charge and get things
somewhat organized.
For those who can't turn off their feelings and just do the job as best
they can, don't go now.  Wait until it gets better.  If you have a
strong stomach, and can stay focused on just taking care of one at a
time, you are needed now.
Feral dog packs and cat colonies were well established in New Orleans
prior to the hurricane ... now they are feeding off each other, and
whatever they can find.  It is truly horrible.  The animal population
problem is beyond belief. Out of some 300 dogs Pasado Rescue pulled,
only TWO males were neutered, and I think ONE female.  There are dogs
who were severely neglected prior to the hurricane, mange is very
prevalent, and god only knows what else.  Most of the Pits have had
there ears cropped back to their heads ...."Home Jobs" done with
scissors or knives. The whole thing is just surreal. I did not dream at
all while I was down there, probably due to exhaustion - we were up at
6 am and lucky to get to bed by 3 or 4 am.  The nightmares are starting
now, and I can't get the images out of my mind.  I try to focus on the
ones we've saved, and pray they get into homes.  Enough for now, this
is too long as it is, and I'm starting to cry again.
B.