October 14: Once again, a rapidly changing situation in and around New Orleans this week.

OVERVIEW: Earlier this week, the official state rescue center at Gonzalez closed down as the owners of the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center took back their facility. On Monday, volunteer rescuers moved the last animals out of there – about 80 pit bulls. Fifty of them were flown to California, the rest came to the Best Friends relief center at Tylertown.

Before then, the Gonzalez operation had also been headquarters to about 85 teams of volunteer rescuers, many of whom have now disbanded. But about 10 teams are still on the ground in New Orleans, and working their way through lists of homes to visit where people left their animals. Most of the animals they rescue each day are now coming to the Best Friends relief center.

Regarding the three parishes of greater New Orleans – Jefferson, Orleans, and St. Bernard:

JEFFERSON PARISH: Best Friends continues our relationship with Jefferson Parish animal control, taking animals from their shelter needing special care. (Special cheers to animal care director Bert Smith and his staff for their tireless courage and perseverance – and for feeding our volunteers!)

ORLEANS PARISH: Animal care for Orleans Parish is managed by the Louisiana SPCA, which is being supported by the Humane Society of the U.S. The LASPCA was expecting to have a new shelter opening in Algiers by now. We’re told that they will have room there for 400 dogs and 150 cats, but that the facility is not yet open. Also that the LASPCA is not currently supporting private animal rescue volunteers around the city – which is why Best Friends is continuing that.

St. BERNARD PARISH: Their new temporary shelter is being supported by the ASPCA. Animal control officer Cecile Trog says that her contract with parish authorities continues through mid-November, but is uncertain after that. Whatever happens then, the ASPCA is committed to helping as necessary.

THE BEST FRIENDS RELIEF CENTER: We’re currently taking animals each day from the rescue teams in New Orleans (as described above). And Best Friends plans to keep our center open at Tylertown as long as necessary for rescued animals needing critical care from any of the New Orleans parishes. (Animals needing long-term special care are being brought to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Utah.)

TRANSPORT AND FOSTER: We’re working with local groups still rescuing animals and who need help getting them out to foster homes. Two new air-conditioned transport trucks are on their way to the Best Friends relief center in Tylertown. (We just heard that the trucks are going to be paid for by two very kind donors who have previously been involved in paying for airlift operations. Another blessing!)

OTHER SUPPORT: We continue to support local rescue groups around south-east Louisiana with supplies, equipment, finances, etc. to help them continue their work.

OTHER GOOD NEWS: Lots of reunions. Any moment now, the folks at Tylertown will be having a celebration as the 100th on-site reunion takes place. Off-site reunions are gathering steam, too. And the first two dogs we brought to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Utah for special care have just been identified by their families.

VOLUNTEERS AND OTHER OFFERS: Hundreds of members of Best Friends have volunteered their help, and we continue to work our way through your offers. Volunteers rotate through the relief center at Tylertown, and thanks to you, we’re always ready to send in replacements.

Best Friends Hurricane Relief Special Reports blogs are intended to encourage friendly discussion around the animals and the disaster.

In order to keep this a positive and constructive blog, we will remove messages that do not follow our guidelines: terms and conditions. We will also remove posts that encourage activities that will potentially harm the animals or the people involved in the aftermath of the hurricane.

October 20, 2005 : 1:02 AM ET
posted by: Barbara Hoover

While I was feeding abandoned pets in my area of New Orleans, Louisiana - and working with Lexie Montgomery from the Humane Society of New York - during the Hurricane Katrina and Rita disasters, someone or organization picked up my own three cats.

1) Baron: solid silver/gray short-haired male with gold eyes; healthy coat - under 2 years old; 2) Pinkie - black and white; small, fixed female - pink rhinestone collar; extremely shiny coat - under 2 years old; black body with white bib and paws; black face with white whiskers.

3) Hetzebah - black male with sultry gold eyes; long, slinky body; extremely shiny coat - under 2 years old.

I appreciate anyone wanting to rescue small creatures, as I stayed throughout to provide assistance. However, there is a procedure that resuce workers maintain. There wasn't any notification left at my house or posted anywhere in the surrounding area.

I live in the Faubourg-Marigny area in the 2400 block of Burgundy Street bounded by Spain Street and St. Roch.

We need the universe to assist us in locating these three cats, as they were used in Pet Therapy.

Barbara Hoover - e-mail: jmarti03@cox.net

October 20, 2005 : 12:56 AM ET
posted by: sfc331

Thank you for your post regarding Spaulding Death Row animals. Do not worry about Jazz. I will sponsor her until she will get adopted. If you are interested in doing something like this for further dogs/cats in danger, I can put you in touch with the person rescuing down there. Contact me at sfc331@aol.com thanks!

October 19, 2005 : 10:16 PM ET
posted by: bucafri

SROBIN, I don't know if you have had any luck finding your dog yet, but that particular ID (53282) is listed on the petfinder website. If you go to the "Retrieve a Single Record" search and just enter the number 1609, you will see that the first record listed is connected to 53282, the other ID number you have. I wish you the best of luck and hope that it is your dog. I think it said "Chow Chow Mix." Sincerely, Krista

October 19, 2005 : 7:07 PM ET
posted by: carolynevans

http://www.spaldingcountyanimalshelter.com/dogs1.htm Please help me by trying to find someone to rescue the female Lab named "Jazz" and the other dogs on death row in Spalding. I have sent e-mails to many, many rescue groups but have received no response. My heart is just sick. I will donate money, I just want them saved. I would adopt Jazz but I have three pets and one is a special needs animal. Please help get the message out that these dogs at Spalding are on their last days! This should be against the law. Also people surrendering their dogs for convience is a sin and they should be ashamed. Animal care is for life!

October 19, 2005 : 12:13 PM ET
posted by: Joy

New Hope in Loomis,

Please note that Best Friends/St. Francis is not the only shelter operating in Tylertown, so please don't assume that any message referring to Tyertown is us.

October 19, 2005 : 11:38 AM ET
posted by: For Murphy

Sorry Srobin wanted to get out fast that was to list Black chow/ retriever

October 19, 2005 : 11:36 AM ET
posted by: For Murphy

To Srobin 1228 Regarding Black show receiver I saw the photo. Go to best friends site click on hurricane relief picture find your pet picture. At top click on Animal Emer. Response , click on search reports of found, rescues, then go to bottom retrieve a single record put your number in PF53282 click on may be your dog. Good Luck

October 19, 2005 : 6:17 AM ET
posted by: karenkrs

i hope all will not have another situation this coming weekend with hurricane wilma as they have stated it is now a cat 5 storm and should still be a cat 4 when it hits land..and they are pointing the finger almost certainly fla.

October 18, 2005 : 7:15 PM ET
posted by: lotzofpawz

THANK YOU, Best Friends! You are all wonderful people!

October 18, 2005 : 5:45 PM ET
posted by: srobin1228

I was informed on 10-17-05 a black chow/retreiver mix dog was rescued and fit the description of my dog from New Orleans, LA. She was left upstairs at 3018 Toulouse; but the person who called me stated the dog was found on North Prieur Street in New Orleans, LA; my sister had gone back to New Orleans on last Thursday and said there was writing on the house spray-painted "9/30/05,SPCA,1DOG DECEASED". I don't believe it was my dog; my dog's dish was found outside, her 20 lb bag of dog food was empty, and someone stated that a woman was feeding my dog. The number stated on phone is BF 1609/PF 53282. Please reply. I have had my beautiful, healthy dog for seven and 3/4 years. Phone to contact me is 601-437-5526. Thank you.

October 18, 2005 : 5:15 PM ET
posted by: Jazzy

Let me be entirely clear. Although I stated in my prior post that I saw people surrounding the facilities at Tylertown for an opportunity to steal pit bulls and other dogs to use at bait dogs, none have been stolen recently. Please try to avoid any rumors about this situation. Some were taken early on in the rescue in the midst of the chaos when the mission was more focused on rescuing and the rescue organizations were caught off guard, but dogs are not actually stolen often and certainly not every day. The point is that it could be a problem considering the fighting rings have people going out every night, as I indicated in my earlier post, and that a statement by Best Friends regarding where a multitude of pit bulls are being housed is not, in my opinion, helping the security issue.

October 18, 2005 : 5:04 PM ET
posted by: BF Fan

You have no idea how very thankful I was when I discovered BF a long time ago. I donated money until I fell on hard times. Now it just hurts so much not to be able to donate my time (single Mom) or money to help the animals. Along with everyone else, I celebrate your many triumphs large and small as your organization serves as a guiding light in our allegedly advanced civilization. It is my dream to open a sanctuary in NC where I will eventually retire. When my house sells here in CA, I will be sending you some well deserved money and also looking into improving the Lancaster, CA (Los Angeles County) shelter which really needs some help. The animals ALWAYS look so shell shocked there - it's so heartbreaking.

Anyway, on a lighter note - To Wanda P: You are an awesome neighbor to the north! I love you and the others in your community for your desire to help your American neighbors (2 & 4 legged!) to the south. You are wonderful people and I still remember how our Canadian friends helped out so many of our embassy people at the beginning of the Iran hostage crisis. You always come to the rescue and WE LOVE YOU! ! !

I also agree with noble (Karen N.) that we need to support BF so they can keep growing, spreading the positive word through education and their great work. We couldn't ask for better role models. I love you all dearly. I will continue to keep you in my thoughts and prayers.