From: cougar@goowy.com   
      
   Permission to cross-post now granted! Get the word out because help is   
   desperately needed. From a Connecticut shelter volunteer that just came   
   back from New 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.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)