Nov 9: Update from Best Friends.
HURRICANE RESCUE CENTER
“A fabulous group of volunteers from all walks of life who are good to each other as well as being very dedicated to their care for the animals,” says Anne Mejia about all the people at the Best Friends rescue center outside of New Orleans.
Anne and Cyrus Mejia, who’ve been running rescue operations from back at the sanctuary, are on a tour of duty at the rescue center. “Dr. Dawn leaves tomorrow, a wonderful, thorough, gentle vet. You can get attached very easily to these angels. Two new volunteer vets arriving tomorrow.
“The exotic animals are cared for by Melissa, a young lady who lost everything in Katrina and maintains a spirit that sparkles.
“As I write this, staff and volunteers are gathered under a newly erected very large white mess tent. This is the first evening we’ve had it, and with the lighting and music added it provides a lovely place for folks to linger after dinner, relax after a hard day’s work, engage in conversation, laugh, and complete their day on a pleasant social note.”
THE STATS
Currently at the rescue center, waiting to be reunited with family or to go to foster homes: 166 cats and 216 dogs, along with 2 snakes (very large!), some chickens, fish, and a sugar glider.
New admissions average 20 per day, with the same number going out to foster or being reunited with family. Numbers are expected to increase now that new foster groups are opening up. (Many thanks to all of you.)
Caregivers include 15 Best Friends staff members and 45 volunteers. Many thanks to all who responded to our appeal for volunteers. A really great infusion! More volunteers, including 5 veterinarians, are expected during the week.
If you’d like to join the volunteer team at the rescue center and have not yet applied, please e-mail sherry.command@bestfriends.org.
IN THE CITY
While there are still very occasional amazing rescues of living animals locked in homes from the earliest days, that phase of the work is essentially over.
The remaining rescue work involves basically dogs and cats who are managing to survive on the streets. Most of the friendly ones have been gathered up. Those who remain are either very scared and hiding out under houses, or they are gathering into packs or starting to go feral. In these cases, humane trapping is required. We’re working with other rescue groups who are doing much of this careful work.
We’re getting conflicting reports of the situation in different parts of New Orleans – some people saying there are barely any animals on the streets, others that they are still seeing hundreds of animals at night. Best Friends staff are now conducting our own assessment, including video, of the situation in both Orleans and St. Bernard parishes.
FARM ANIMALS
We’re receiving calls for help every day from people needing hay and feed for farm animals along the Gulf areas. We’re sending supplies, either purchased or donated, as needed.
VETERINARIANS
The State of Louisiana is still causing problems by having revoked permission for out-of-state veterinarians to come in as volunteers to help. This does not affect the Best Friends center, which is across the state border, but it is hurting other rescue efforts in New Orleans – in particular trap-neuter-return for alley cats. There are not remotely enough vets in state to handle this.
Diplomatic moves are still being made to resolve this in a collegial fashion, but that can’t go on much longer.
OTHER RESCUE ORGANIZATIONS
Jane Garrison, Alley Cat Allies, Mutt Shack, and Grass Roots Animal Rescue (the group formerly known as Winn-Dixie) have been discussing the strategy for handling cat rescue. Current plan is to rescue friendly cats and cats whose family have returned to find that their cat is too scared to come to them. They will trap and relocate cats living in areas scheduled for demolition. Trap/neuter/return for alley cats will not be actively pursued until there is a solution to the lack of vet care in New Orleans.
