Like a broken record...
Sep. 29th, 2005 09:00 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
misfoksYes, I'm still going on about the pet rescues. I know it's all old boring news by now, but they're still being found. Some were left with enough food and water that they survived in good health. Others have barely made it, bony and weak. Those which are found but can't be rescued right away (ie, transport vehicles already full) are being left with food and water so they can hold out a little longer. Of course many more are already just dead by now, but the fact that many are still being rescued means the issue is no less important now than it was back when this was all new and exciting, and there're many houses still left to check.
So here's my little update. As always please pass the info on wherever y'all deem it might be of use.
Along with wading through opinions and misinformation to try getting to something resembling solid fact, one of the problems with trying to keep up is that situations change so quickly. When I first started writing this report, volunteers are being begged for on location--especially people who can assist with the daily care activities for rescued animals (feed & water them, walk the dogs, clean poop and crates), as well as actively take part in rescues. Checking in today though, it sounds like the LA state vet is trying to put a halt to rescue efforts by external groups and just let everything be handled by the LASPCA--which has been active already, granted, but is small enough to be fairly ineffectual alone.
Time for some more info links. One opinion I'm hearing continually from those on the ground is that the following have been the most visibly active and effective in rescue efforts:
The press released I promised previously, which was postponed into a news conference, and finally posted via FEMA--to those who took the time to call, thank you. Note the language downplaying private rescue efforts, and sounding as if government assistance had been involved all along:
Along those lines, Senator John Ensign (R-NV) seems to be one of the politicians out kicking some ass; good for him:
For the most part traditional news outlets have been relatively useless (see comments in my previous entry for a random assortment of exceptions), though rescuers have been pleased by CNN anchor Anderson Cooper's coverage so far. (As someone who rarely watches the news, I actually have no idea who this guy is or what prior reputation he might have.) The following are some of the more raw outlets I've tried to follow, the first two being the most readable while the open discussion fora naturally being most filled with the usual rumors, in-fighting, hysteria, etc, as well as info really only of interest to specific local pet owners:
And a couple extra links for good measure:
The Red Cross has come under heavy criticism for their policy of requiring owners leave animals behind (including assistance animals). Interestingly, the UK Red Cross seems to have provisions for rescuing both people and pets simultaneously; pity we don't seem to be as civilized. The following is a link where anyone can contribute their thoughts:
HSUS and ASPCA have also been catching a lot of flak from the volunteer crews for being sluggish bureaucratic leviathans, more interested in lining their executive payrolls than doing real work. In the interests of keeping some modicum of fairness, here's a view from the other side:
Take it as rational or apologist as you wish. And with that, I close this entry.
So here's my little update. As always please pass the info on wherever y'all deem it might be of use.
Along with wading through opinions and misinformation to try getting to something resembling solid fact, one of the problems with trying to keep up is that situations change so quickly. When I first started writing this report, volunteers are being begged for on location--especially people who can assist with the daily care activities for rescued animals (feed & water them, walk the dogs, clean poop and crates), as well as actively take part in rescues. Checking in today though, it sounds like the LA state vet is trying to put a halt to rescue efforts by external groups and just let everything be handled by the LASPCA--which has been active already, granted, but is small enough to be fairly ineffectual alone.
Time for some more info links. One opinion I'm hearing continually from those on the ground is that the following have been the most visibly active and effective in rescue efforts:
The press released I promised previously, which was postponed into a news conference, and finally posted via FEMA--to those who took the time to call, thank you. Note the language downplaying private rescue efforts, and sounding as if government assistance had been involved all along:
Along those lines, Senator John Ensign (R-NV) seems to be one of the politicians out kicking some ass; good for him:
For the most part traditional news outlets have been relatively useless (see comments in my previous entry for a random assortment of exceptions), though rescuers have been pleased by CNN anchor Anderson Cooper's coverage so far. (As someone who rarely watches the news, I actually have no idea who this guy is or what prior reputation he might have.) The following are some of the more raw outlets I've tried to follow, the first two being the most readable while the open discussion fora naturally being most filled with the usual rumors, in-fighting, hysteria, etc, as well as info really only of interest to specific local pet owners:
- http://ericsdogblog.com/
http://katrinadogrescue.com/
http://neworleans.craigslist.org/pet/
http://forums.neworleans.craigslist.org/?forumID=2121
And a couple extra links for good measure:
- http://www.caat-katrina.org/ (courtesy of
![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif){kind=small}
kfops) http://katrinahelp.info/wiki/index.php/Animal_Rescue_Resources
The Red Cross has come under heavy criticism for their policy of requiring owners leave animals behind (including assistance animals). Interestingly, the UK Red Cross seems to have provisions for rescuing both people and pets simultaneously; pity we don't seem to be as civilized. The following is a link where anyone can contribute their thoughts:
HSUS and ASPCA have also been catching a lot of flak from the volunteer crews for being sluggish bureaucratic leviathans, more interested in lining their executive payrolls than doing real work. In the interests of keeping some modicum of fairness, here's a view from the other side:
Take it as rational or apologist as you wish. And with that, I close this entry.
