A friend has just finished veterinary technician classes at the local college, and had been volunteering at shelters for months before that. He was on his way to the Caribbean to do a six-month internship but his flight out of Biloxi was cancelled. (He did make it to Pensacola.) He says he’s volunteering his services to help rescue animals displaced by Katrina.
I am going to volunteer with the Noah’s Wish organization when I work out when I can do the training - I had been thinking about doing something like this for a long time. Thanks for the links!
No. Animals have non-zero importance to these people. In all cases except for the most rabid PETA supporters I assume other people have a larger importance than animals. Given those two points, it is only logical for them to donate IN PROPORTION TO the perceived importance, i.e. do something for the animals, do more for the people. As I said in the pit, you seem to have a rare form of colour-blindness; you only see in black and white.
Is there a chance that he’ll be reunited with his dog sometime in the future? Or will the police just dump it in a shelter?
I just made a $25 donation. I wish I could make more , but am unemployed right now, so supporting myself and my own pets is difficult enough. My heart bleeds for these poor people and animals whose lives have been devistated.
I am battling to hold my tongue and keep from telling Unregistered Bull exactly what I think of him. Compassion is not limited to human beings.
The AVMA has moblized five VMAT teams (veterinary medical assistance teams) to the area. They comprise 20 or so trained veterinarians who assist with animals that need attention and sheltering.
They care for search and rescue dogs - as well as the local animals. They can be supported via the AVMA website.
The veterinary school at LSU has been a major staging ground for animal relief efforts.
Indeed (quick post cuz I must work). LSU vet med school students are staffing the pet shelter at Parker Colliseum in main campus LSU. They need more volunteers (especially since classes will start soon). Many of them also have families living with them due to the hurricane. Will post more later.
Just made a donation to the HSUS (Noah’s Wish’s website was giving me problems) via my company. There’s only 3 of us who work here and we’re extreme pet lovers, so we decided what little we could give we’d like to give to the animals.
Thanks to all who’re posting links.
hopefully, this is what happened to snowball (from today’s hsus newsletter):
In Louisiana, we’re helping to set up an emergency facility at the Coliseum in Baton Rouge where strays will be brought, evaluated, and then transported to safety. While thousands of people are being evacuated from the New Orleans Superdome and relocated to Houston to be sheltered in the Astrodome,* HSUS volunteers are helping transport animals from evacuees arriving at the Astrodome and ferrying them to the temporary shelter*, which will be fully operational today.
guinastasia, see my last post.
Thanks for the suggestion! I just made a donation to HSUS’ disaster relief effort, too.
His hateful and semicoherent torrent of verbal diarrhea on this subject reminded me to get off my butt and donate to HSUS. So he does serve some purpose, scummy* as he is.
*Yes, I realize that comparing Unregistered Bull to scum is an insult to scum everywhere.
Oh, that’s good to hear, thank you.
Unregistered bull…I think I understand where you might be coming from however, what you have to think about is that most domestic animals are here as a result of us. They are incapable of freeing themselves from tethers, or leashes which humans may have attached to them before the storm and therefore have died or are injured as a result of our actions.
Therefore, it is important that we realize this and make an effort to rescue them.
People who are willing to assist and rescue them deserve the highest praise. They are dedicated to their cause and people who rescue people are dedicated to theirs. At least, try to give them a chance. They deserve as much credit as the people who are trying to rescue people.
It is only our mercy who will let them live. Therefore we owe them that.
You should always try to think of both sides of the argument.
Don’t ever mistake, if it came down to leaving somewhere without my pets, I simply wouldn’t. That’s my choice and I have a right to that. And I feel my pets deserve that. You really should try to see both sides.
Not everyone feels the way you do and not everyone the way that I do…however, I do understand their right to a choice. You should to.
Gee, Bull, why don’t you take all this time you’re spending writing posts to a message board on the internet, and instead use it to really help save and give aid to human beings? And the money you’re spending for your ISP to connect to this message board, why don’t you spend that instead on aid for the human beings in need?
Obviously, since you’re wasting your time on a message board instead of giving aid to human beings, you’re immoral and don’t care.
Very , very well said. And I agree 100%. If my pets cannot go, I do not go . They are literally the only family I have, and they mean everything to me.
I’m going later today to help at the Parker Coliseum. I don’t work during the weekends, and they need people with their full series of rabies vaccines. Earlier this week my roomate and I gave our extra kennels and pet food. At last count they had over 1000 pets.
The pets and I are giving up treats and will be eating very cheaply for awhile so that we can contribute to those who are suffering from the hurricane. We send a blessing of unconditional love to all those who are helping in whatever way they can.
I made a donation to Noah’s Wish.
If there is a way to make a donation directly to LSU vet school for their direct efforts, please let me/us know.
(via the radio): In the DFW area, they’re expecting several thousand additional pets from the displaced area(s). Asking folks to call 1-800-SAV-A-PET if they can foster a pet for folks in the shelters.
Just fyi.
Front page of the vet school. Shirley and others, if you were interested.