CONTACT: amberalsobrooks@hotmail.com
Dear Friends,
As many of you know, Bayou Rescue volunteers Jennifer Strom and Amber Alsobrooks just returned from Folsom, Louisiana, where we assisted Pasado's Safe Haven in caring for over 200 animals evacuated from ARNO and St. Bernard Parish Shelter. Pasado's had planned on returning all animals this weekend, but the ARNO shelter is severely damaged and the St. Bernard parish officials do not want animals moved back there before Ike (understood). Right now they are down to TWO people caring for over 200 animals.
Since we returned a couple days ago, we have received many other emails and phone calls asking for help in that area. Although many New Orleans residents were able to send their animals to safe shelter, many animals in other parts of Louisiana were still left stranded. These animals have had to endure subsequent flooding, entrapment, lack of food, and other dangers. These animals need to be rescued ASAP.
Adding insult to injury, several models show Ike heading for the gulf states again, with LA in the middle of projected 5-day forecasts. The animals need you, the people on the ground helping those animals need you.
If you are able to travel to Louisiana this week (prior to Ike), and potentially the following week (post Ike), please email amberalsobrooks@hotmail.com
We can recommend where to go based on your time and skills, and we can help you get there.
Volunteer opportunities for LA response include:
- Assisting mobile vet unit (leaving Fayetteville on Tuesday)
- Repairing animal shelters
- Sheltering animals (feeding/walking/cleaning cages)
- Direct animal rescue (requires FEMA certification and other specialized training/certification)
- Delivering supplies
- Fostering animals (does not require travel, must be currently affiliated with a 501c3 foster org)
- Coordinating / providing transport for animals to pre-screened foster care
Organizations that have current requests for volunteers include:
- Pasado's Safe Haven - http://www.pasadosafehaven.org/GUSTAV/Gustav_Home.htm
- ARNO (Animal Rescue New Orleans) - http://animalrescueneworleans.org/
- Kat5 - www.kat5.org
- Companion Animal Network
- Muttshack / Kinship Circle
If you can't travel, please know that we are always looking for more volunteers to help locally to support our partnership with the local chapters of the American Red Cross. Local opportunities include public education/awareness, fundraising/grant writing, providing pet foster homes for families who are displaced, providing transportation for animals, assisting animal services with local emergency sheltering, and MORE!
FINALLY, please let this be a reminder to review your plan and check your emergency kits - one for your family and one for your pets. For tips on what to put in your kit, please check out the main Bayou Rescue website: http://www.bayourescue.org/emergencyinfo.html
We will continue to provide updates on our blog: www.bayourescue.typepad.com.
Best Regards,
Amber Alsobrooks
Bayou Rescue
www.bayourescue.org
www.bayourescue.typepad.com
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