(no subject)

[misfoks]

Some good news finally.

Word is that departments in the Federal government will finally be getting involved in rescuing stranded pets in NOLA. Only about a fortnight late, but better late than never eh? OK, quotes ahoy:

A four step process will be announced that includes: (1) Recovery of animal; (2) bathing, decontaminating, etc; (3) Vet inspection - done by Military vets, LA State vets, and all other volunteer vets; and (4) microchipping with as much info about where pet was found etc. as possible. Dr. Larry Hawkins the Public Relations Coordinator, Louisiana School of Veterinary Medicine will be mentioned in the press release and will be playing a central role in this multi-agency effort. DHS hopes that the press will pick up on this and get the word out so people know that their pets and the animals have a chance.

As of now I don't see it on the DHS press release page, so I guess by the end of today we'll see if the source for this was right or not.

PS--from the same source as above: "The person who gave me the information did so at some risk [...] please do not call or email DHS asking about the "press release"! It will be issued."

Update: The press release has been postponed until a Friday joint press conference between ASPCA, HSUS, and state and Federal agencies, so everyone can try to take credit for what was more likely due to public pressure. :P This doesn't mean action isn't already happening, just the public announcement of it is delayed.

Comments

[agentpineapple.livejournal.com]

this doesnt have anything to do with this post. but i clicked on your community ( city grit) and it would be an awesome community.. but its not a live.. if you're interested in pictures like that i have some.. maybe we could share?

[kfops.livejournal.com]

I also heard on the news this morning that there was a site Canadians could go to if they wished to make donations for vets that are headed south to help. I thought they said the site was something like cat-katrina.org or something, but any variation I try turns up nothin'.

[urocyon.livejournal.com]

Bunch of people joined, but nobody'e posting. :/ I should get to working up some more shots to post. Maybe that'll encourage everyone else to contribute. And sure, lemme see some of your city gritty shots.

[urocyon.livejournal.com]

There's a website under katrina.org which has some info, but I don't think that's the domain you meant. LSU (http://www.vetmed.lsu.edu/) seems to be the main coordination center for vetly donations, though other orgs are forwarding donations down to them.

ah...

[tdpratt.livejournal.com]

I see you've updated here...I came to the other post via (well, a long list of search links...) I still sent out the message to interested friends. I just hope it's not too late...I know it is for many... :-(

Re: ah...

[urocyon.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I think this post hopefully answers your questions under the other post. And no worries about how you came to find it, I'm just glad the word was getting out somehow. The calling campaign for getting the Feds involved is obviously over now that the Feds are finally involved, but it doesn't hurt to let reps know that their constituents would like to see emergencies handled just a tad bit better in the future. Meanwhile, I'm sure the upcoming public announcement will be a lovely whitewash over the gross incompetence up 'til now, rather than admitting it was public anger which finally kicked their oblivious asses into action.

As for updates, it's really hard to weed through all the rumors and speculation flying around and passing off as fact (or equally much, official spin downplaying unsavory bits as rumor). But it does appear that vets licensed in other states are finally being allowed in. There've been spotty reports of unofficial military assistance here and there since pet rescue operations began, as well as military interference; supposedly there's already more coordinated effort by National Guard at the very least to help rescuers now, but I've not found solid reports of it happening yet.

Right now it sounds like the effort to find dead humans has higher priority than finding still-living animals (not that the cadavers will be any less dead for finding them before beasties add to the body counts), though feel-good news articles can easily be found which make the overall rescue effort sound more successful than it is. Actually, with so many orgs involved and circumstances varying so much in different areas, it's credible that some may report great successes while others are having a harder time of it--which is exactly what I'm hearing so far. From one source, donations and supplies are in abundance, while other groups are still struggling hard.

Slightly amusing tangent--Blanco's staff voices their opinion in a quote someone posted: «a caseworker IN HER OWN OFFICE told me today when I called to complain about things told me..."You don't have to tell me Ma'am. We made a huge mistake electing her." HER OWN STAFF!» So much for those who're using Katrina to push their partisan agendas--representatives of both big parties, at state and Federal levels, screwed the pooch real good.

Here's a metric buttload of links I've snagged amidst anecdotal updates, from news stories to donation info, but haven't gone through enough yet to decide which might merit putting up in a main journal entry. Maybe you'll find some of them interesting.

http://www.newsday.com/news/opinion/ny-opdaw144425166sep14,0,4638050.story?coll=ny-viewpoints-headlines
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0509130071sep13,1,16047.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed&ctrack=1&cset=true
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0509150187sep15,1,4800187.story
http://www.avma.org/press/releases/050902_hurricane_katrina.asp (Sept 2--faster than a speeding FEMA!)
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2005/09/14/swept_from_aquarium_pool_dolphins_found_alive_offshore/
http://neworleans.craigslist.org/pet/97724275.html
http://www.oregonhumane.org/news/KatrinaAnimalFactsMyths.htm
http://www.projectstarfish.org/waystohelp.php
http://www.pasadosafehaven.org/NEWS/NEWS.htm