We've got a lot of good news to share with you about rescue efforts to help
the animal victims of Katrina. According to Kelly Harrington, Field
Commander for ASPCA Search and Rescue Operations, land-based rescues are
going very well. Check out our Rescue Crew Photo Album to see the first
batch of photos we've received from our colleagues in the field.

We'd like to extend a big thank you to everyone who has given so generously
to the ASPCA Disaster Relief Fund, which goes to help animals affected by
natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina. If you would like to donate,
please call (866) 275-3923. You can also make a secure online donation at
ASPCA.org.

As an additional way to give, we invite you to sign up for the ASPCA Credit
Card. Upon first use of your new card, the ASPCA will receive a $75 donation
dedicated to the ASPCA Disaster Relief Fund-at no cost to you.

Please know that you can always keep updated on the situation by visiting
the Hurricane Relief section of our website. And you can also aid in our
efforts to help the animal victims of Katrina by placing one of our ASPCA
Disaster Relief Fund banners on your website or blog.

MORNING UPDATE, SEPTEMBER 10

We just got our first batch of photos from ASPCA Search and Rescue
Operations. Courtesy of ASPCA Humane Law Enforcement agent Richard Raheb,
the images feature efforts in New Orleans and the Lamar Dixon Staging area
in Gonzales, where rescued animals are brought. As we receive more photos
from our Rescue Crew, we'll share them with you.

According to Kelly Harrington, Field Commander for ASPCA Search and Rescue
Operations and the director of ASPCA Disaster Response Services, who is on
site in Gonzales, land-based rescues are going very well. The veterinarians
deployed by the LA State Veterinarian's Office are relieved to see that
animals are still coming out of New Orleans in decent shape, and they feel
that animal rescue efforts will be viable for days to come. There are
currently a thousand animals at the site, both pets and large animals, and
they expect to receive another two thousand in the next couple of days.

Louisiana's Angels
Louisiana SPCA staff members have been manning the staging area round the
clock upon their return from Houston, where they had evacuated all their
shelter animals prior to the hurricane. Many of these folks have lost
everything and are homeless-yet they come back each day and work to save
animals. Because of donations received from groups like the ASPCA, which has
sent them $200,000 to date, Louisiana SPCA executive director Laura Maloney
has been able to purchase a home for at least 15 staff members to live out
of during their time in Gonzales. As you can imagine, housing is in short
supply in the New Orleans area. Maloney states that the house's former owner
received many offers at much higher prices, but she said the Lord directed
her to us because we needed a place to live. Her staff cried when they heard
about the fully furnished house.

Petfinder.com Database: The Place to Make Your Report
Our friends at Petfinder.com have created a portal to enter all Hurricane
Katrina-related lost and missing pet reports. Go to
http://disaster.petfinder.com/to place your report. This site is
coordinating ALL information-gathering and dispensing. Houston SPCA
volunteers are busy photographing pets housed at the staging area at Lamar
Dixon, so this information can be put in the Petfinder.com database to
facilitate reuniting pets with their families as swiftly as possible.

Great News in Alabama
Jama Singley, Alabama Humane Federation president, reports that Alabama made
it through the storm okay, except for the influx of animals. She spoke with
the Mobile SPCA, the shelter closest to the disaster area, and reports that
they are fine. They have actually been collecting and sending supplies to
areas worse hit.

Mercy Hospital Animals Rescued
Forty-six dogs and 13 cats had been brought to Mercy Hospital in New Orleans
(also known as Lindy Boggs Hospital) when their owners, all employees of the
hospital, reported for work during the hurricane. Staff and patients were
eventually rescued, but the animals remained behind with a caretaker. While
all the details are not available at this writing, we do know that Dr. Randy
Doran and his staff from Aledo Veterinary Hospital transported all of the
Mercy animals back to Aledo, TX, and they are currently being housed in
foster homes until they can be reunited with their families.