Ike's Animal Victims Still Need Your Help!

I've just returned from a whirlwind trip to Anahuac, TX. I spent about $500 (all donated by 2 people, much more by 1 than another), drove about 600 miles, delivered I don't know how many hundreds of pounds of pet food & supplies, and transported 5 dogs -- all in just over 48 hours.

Those dogs could've been put to death. Instead, they will be spayed/neutered, nurtured, and adopted into carefully screened & approved homes, only when they are deemed ready. One poor momma dog had teets that literally dragged the ground. It was all she could do not to step on 'em with her back paws :( They sure were happy doggies. It was almost like they knew they were on a journey to a new life. That's why transporting is so rewarding, worth every mile it puts on a vehicle (and a rear-end)!!! Of course, one pupper wanted to listen to sports talk radio, one wanted the All Elvis station, and the others just couldn't decide. I told them that if they didn't settle down, I'd sing. That threat worked for a while. The rest of the afternoon, we were flippin' stations.

The supplies that were delivered to Anahuac are available at the vet clinic, for distribution to the people in the community who are in need. Dr. Whitten is a true animal angel. She had been providing supplies at her own expense before the supplies were delivered. Dr. Whitten has also been providing care to rescued or abandoned animals, at her own expense, without having to be asked, since day one.

I may be making another trip soon, this time to Beaumont, if they do not get a shipment very shortly. Houston may be returning to normal, with 99.9% of power restored and supplies being trucked in daily. Galveston has a lot further to go, but is also getting supplies on a regular basis; however, the smaller communities are desperately waiting for the most basic supplies. It was next to impossible just to find stainless steel dog & cat bowls in various sizes! Things that we take for granted, that we can pick up on a run to WalMart (well, our little Wally World in da' boonies only had 3 cat-sized ones), are a commodity there.

The 5 dogs from HS of SE TX are now safe in the arms of rescue in the TX Hill Country, on their way to a wonderful new life, never to produce for another backyard breeder! WOOHOO!!!!

There are still links here in the blog for the different animal-related non-profits that could use your help. Now that I've been there, I'd like to put in a plug for one :) I would like to encourage donations for the Humane Society of Southeast Texas. Their website appears to be down right now, but I'm sure it's a glitch because I've been in there quite a bit. I'll update as soon as it's available. This doesn't mean I don't think the others are worthy causes!! I'm not discouraging donations to any of them. I'm just putting it out there, saying I have seen the need, I've met in person a wonderful, wonderful woman named Ann whose character was immediately apparent. The bottom line is that there are animals in need.

Dr. Whitten is someone else whom I'd trust with my animals' lives and with my last dime. She is not a non-profit, but she has given from her own pocket and the bottom of her heart. I can't begin to tell you all she's done. She loves not only animals, but her community. I truly feel like I'm a better person just for having met her and her staff. I will never be able to pass through there on one of my many trips to Louisiana without stopping by just to say hello and thank you. There aren't enough people in the world like Dr. Whitten.

I'm too tired to be too organized or do much photo editing, so here's all ya' get. I didn't photograph damage, I would've been too ashamed to have anyone see me taking those pictures & I just didn't think it was necessary. I wanted the happy shots. I'm a picture freak, but I actually didn't take many because everyone down there really is so dang busy. The lady in the Humane Society shirt is from Beaumont, the HS of SE TX. Her name is Ann (great name! lol). As busy as she is, she brought the 5 dogs from Beaumont to cut my drive down a bit. Dr. Whitten is pictured with her staff and Pitty, a Staffordshire Terrier that she and my friend Christine rescued after Ike. Pitty is being treated for what was a bad skin infection, starvation, and heart worms. She is on the mend and will go to rescue when she is well enough. She has beautiful hazel eyes and a gentle, wounded soul yearning to heal. There's a bit of mischief in those hazel eyes!

Galveston Donation Management Team Announcement

City of Galveston
News Release
Thursday, September 25, 2008

Donation Management Team Announced for Galveston
Galveston - Galveston Island survived Hurricane Ike, but the damage the storm left in its wake has devastated many islanders’ homes and businesses.

Generous offers of aid and assistance have poured in from around the state and the nation. City officials are busy coordinating relief efforts with local, state, and federal agencies. All volunteer teams, donation of tangible items such as water, gift cards, and cleaning supplies, as well as offers of donated services such as construction and roofing will be organized through the city’s central management team.

Effective tomorrow, Friday, September 26, anyone wanting to assist with the recovery of Galveston Island can contact Carolyn Cox, Assistant City Manager, City of Galveston. To reach the city’s donation management team, please make contact by phone or email:

Phone: (409) 797-3650
Email: coxcar@cityofgalveston.org

Pets
The Galveston Island Humane Society is accepting monetary donations, pet food, and pet supplies to support, feed, and shelter all animals rescued after Hurricane Ike. For more information, please visit http://www.galvestonhumane.org

***** ***** ***** ***** end copy/paste ***** ***** ***** *****

Note from Ann:

The Galveston Island Humane Society is not to be confused with the Galveston County Animal Shelter!

It is strongly recommended that you call and speak to a someone physically located at the Galveston Island Humane Society before making donations, other than monetary one, to be sure that they are donations they will be able to accept.

This Just In...Regarding Taking Donations to Shelters in Texas

Galveston County [9/26 am - let me clarify here -- not referring to the entire county, just the Galveston County Shelter which is what would have been called, in the old days, "the pound"] AND the Humane Society in Beaumont both have state requests for supplies and have received donations from manufacturers as well, in addition to additional items being requested and the state paperwork being worked.

People should NOT just drive in. If they have something they want to donate, they need to contact the shelter directly and arrange for delivery. The Galveston Co shelter has also had two PetsMart Charities Waggins delivered with all that comes off of those, including cages. (2 - 18 wheelers full!).

In order for their sites to not become a donations management nightmare, people considering taking donations directly to these shelters need to talk directly w/the shelters, NOT just start collecting things and driving down, AND not relying on what volunteers may be stating (including the postings from Best Friends Animal Society). They need to talk to the shelters in Galveston or other shelters like Beaumont, Mont Belvieu, Texas City, Etc.

(this post addresses many, many posts circulating on the www, including some from the Best Friends Network, and some right here on this blog -- this post, for example)

Remember, this does not mean that there are no shelters or rescues still in need of supplies! This only means that you need to actually speak to someone at the shelters you wish to help before you actually make the trip, verify that they will actually use the supplies and are not inundated or full to the brim with no storage space for the items or no need for them. Also, one thing that almost all shelters and rescues can always use is cold, hard cash! Just make sure that your donations are going only to responsible, reputable rescues/shelters!

If you have already collected items and can not find a shelter or rescue that is willing to take the items, please do not get discouraged. The shelters that are in the news are definitely not the only ones out there, they are just the ones that get more attention. There may be other, smaller, more rural shelters that don't know about the options available to them or may not get the attention the others do (we know there are communities where the people aren't getting the attention they deserve, so...). There may also be groups that are reaching out to people in their communities who need help with their pets in their homes. There are some of us looking into that as well.

I will continue to try to keep you updated as I get information. Special thanks to those who take time out of their busy schedules to help me get answers/set me straight! They are appreciated :)

Unpleasant Pictures

It's late (or early), I'm sick, and I'm tired -- but I can't even imagine how weary the people who lived on the Bolivar Peninsula or Galveston Island, in Winnie or Bridge City, in Chambers County or Calcasieu Parish Louisiana must be.

Take a look at some of these pictures. Think about skipping that Starbucks Coffee or that Krispy Kreme donut and instead donating $5 to Portlight Strategies, Inc. or one of the non-profit animal rescues/shelters mentioned in Monday's or Tuesday's posts instead. I guarantee it's a better investment. How about doing that every week for a month or a year? Think of the difference one small sacrifice could make for another person, for an animal, or even for you!

Believe it or not, those aren't even close to the worst of it. I'm just too tired to bring out the "best", the before & afters. I'll try to get to it in the morning.

All I can say right now is, God Bless Texas.

Quick note (9/24 a/noon) - didn't want anyone thinking I'm taking credit for these pics!! If you click on them, you'll be taken to the sites from which they come :)

WWWUD

That's "What Would Weather Underground Do" to help after Hurricane Ike

Well, if your WU screen name is Patrap, you start making plans as soon as Ike makes landfall, and if your screen name is Presslord or Stormjunkie, you jump right in. Together, the 3 of you start kickin' ass! You raise over $14,000 in cash from WU bloggers and others, get a bunch of walkers, crutches, and electric wheelchairs donated, & get trucks and drivers donated by the FL chapter of the American Red Cross to deliver that medical equipment to TX, -- that's all within just one week of Ike hitting the Texas Coast!

If you're Patrap and Mrs. Patrap, you make plans and start working there in New Orleans, soliciting donations of bulk items, giving up your valuable family time to help your Texas neighbors by filling the truck that the two of you will drive.

If you're Stormjunkie, within the first week, you're on the road with Presslord's wife ( Wait, how'd that happen? ) with a truckload of goodies -- and we're not just talkin' water and ice -- reaching out to some of hard-hit rural communities in Texas, those that are most in need, the ones that aren't being reached by the bigger aid foundations, the "forgotten" communities, with the people that can't stop thanking you when you arrive, that shed their first tears of happiness since Ike has hit.

When your truck is empty, you don't immediately head back. You go out into the communities, make connections with the proper authorities, and make assessments to determine what the needs are so that you can return and meet those needs.

Wait, someone is missing here. Hmmmm. Who could I be forgetting? Oh, that'd be Presslord! I think I heard something about him staying back, drinking scotch and dressing in drag. But hey, if that's what it takes for him to keep rakin' in the dough, make all the phone calls (for which he's paying), hook up the air-freight connections, secure the trucks at awesome rates, get the medical equipment donated (the value of that alone is staggering), get the cooperation of the Red Cross chapters that have helped, accept the donations from people who have come to his office, etc., then I'm willing to spring for a bottle of scotch and, well...Paul, what is your dress size and how much of a hem would you like on that?

Let's not forget all the work that Pat (Patrap), Paul (Presslord), John (Stormjunkie), and many others are doing behind the scenes. There's so much involved that there's just no way to mention it all or thank everyone -- Plus there are all of those in the WU community who are reaching into their pockets and donating, spreading the word far and wide, and cheerleading.

But, that's not all, folks. You then get more trucks rented, with one sweet hook-up from the rental companies who want to do their part to help, and keep working on donations of goods and cash, you have more trucks lined up before the first ones are even empty. You decide you are in this for the long haul despite the other commitments in your life. You see a need and you aim to fill it. You even inspire others along the way, whether you realize it or not.

So, that's the answer to the WWWUD question. Now, WWUD (What Would You Do)? Click here & here for more information, pictures, and donation information. All donations are tax deductible.

Ann
A proud member of the WU Community :)

Animal Victims -- Rescues & Shelters That Could Use Some Help

Here are some additional shelters/rescues in the affected areas, although the list is by no means meant to be all-inclusive. Listing them here also does not mean that I am offering my endorsement ;)

** read about this one in my blog post from earlier today, 9/22** Bay Area Pet Adoptions, from San Leon, is now operating out of the Katy Special Pals Facility. Read about the special people at Katy Special Pals who are so kindly assisting the animals, and people, from Bay Area Pet Adoptions. *

The Houston Humane Society
In need of gift cards for PetSmart, PetCo, WalMart, & gas stations. Capacity at HHS has nearly quintupled due to the care of animals from La Porte, Pasadena, & other municipalities in & around Houston. Resources are getting scarce. Kitty litter, towels, and blankets are desperately needed! Donations can be dropped off or mailed -- Alameda Rd (no street #), Houston, TX, 77053. For information about how to donate by phone or online, please visit this page on the HHS site.

Humane Society of Montgomery County
Located in Conroe
Last I heard, they really needed some help to relieve their over-burdened volunteers, some kitty litter and disposable litter pans, and monetary donations; however, because things often get confused in such chaotic times, the only things I can be sure they need are the monetary donations :) Please contact them to verify any other needs. (936) 441-4762

Noah's Ark
Located in Cypress (Harris County)
Has been damaged by Hurricane Ike -- cattery flooded, outside kennels crushed, roof of the horse barn damaged by fallen tree limbs. Among many of their immediate needs? Rebuilding a 7'-9' fence that partially encloses the dog yard, which would allow the dogs supervised free-play time & free volunteers to work on other projects instead of spending that time walking the dogs on a leash.

The Humane Society of S.E. TX
Located in Beaumont
Their greatest need at this time is for money, please see their home page for an excellent explanation.

Hopeful Haven Equine Rescue
Located in Louisiana
See my blog post date 9/21 for details of a great deal on hay if donations reach a "magic number'!

No Fences Hurricane Ike Horse & Cattle Relief Fund
Online Donations – Texas AgriLife Extension
Phone-in Donations – AgriLife Extension Conference Services 979-845-2604
If you can make in-kind donations of items such as hay or feed, or are able to help with transportation, call the Texas Department of Agriculture’s Hay Hotline at 877-429-1998 or 1-800-835-5832 and press zero.

The Houston SPCA

Citizens for Animal Protection (CAP)

Animal Shelter is Sheltering Animals & People

*updated 2:09 pm to correct original location of Bay Area Pet Adoptions

The story below was posted here on 9/21/08. It is a wonderful story. It led me to this -- Basically, Bay Area Pet Adoptions, from San Leon, is now operating out of the Katy Special Pals Facility. Read about the special people at Katy Special Pals who are so kindly assisting the animals, and people, from Bay Area Pet Adoptions. Here’s how I found it:

Katy-area animal shelter takes in 100 from flooded San Leon shelter

Donations Sought as Special Pals Animal Shelter Takes in 100 Bay Area Homeless Pets

Houston, TX (September 18, 2008) -- A Katy-area pet rescue shelter has opened its doors to help Bay Area Pet Adoption Shelter after it evacuated 100 animals from its San Leon location.

Special Pals on Greenhouse Road near Clay Road is now dealing with the sudden influx of animals, and it is also temporarily hosting the staff of the Bay Area shelter, who are working at the Special Pals location to care for the animals they brought in. Eventually, the Bay Area shelter will require new facilities, as three of its five buildings were destroyed by Hurricane Ike and the remainder may be uninhabitable.

It's important to note that the animals evacuated are adoptable animals which had been in the care of the shelter, and are not lost or stray animals due to the storm.

Donations from the Katy and Houston community are urgently needed to help people and animals evacuated from San Leon, said Special Pals Executive Director Yvonne David. "We have plenty of pet food, but we didn't expect to be hosting displaced people as well. We hope a local hotel might donate a few rooms for them so they can shower and sleep."

What's needed most:
Cash donations
Grocery store gift cards
Gasoline gift cards for animal rescue transportation due to a 120 mile round trip
Donated lunches or restaurant gift cards for volunteers
Furniture dollies to move animal crates
Heavy-duty dollies to move pet food bags and litter
Rubber gloves
Cat litter (clay only)
Pressure washers
New Commercial Washers and Dryers
Lawn & garden carts (wagon style)
Roof repairs
Plumber - drain cleaning
Minor building and kennel repairs
Storage containers - Bay Area
Mini Mobil Buildings with A/C - Bay Area
Land & tree removal - Bay Area

Note: donations of pet food are not needed at this time

For additional information and donation opportunities, please contact Special Pals,
281-579-7387 or visit www.specialpalsshelter.org or Bay Area Pet Adoptions at 281-559-1359 help@bayareapetadoptions.org and visit www.bayareapetadoptions.org.

Horses Victims of Gustav, Need Help

I received this e-mail from a good friend in the Dallas area. We have been dealing with Ike's aftermath, but we can't forget that there are still victims of Gustav that need our help! Here's what Mary Anne says:

I have posted to the group re: HHERO before & their ongoing efforts to help the livestock victims of Hurricane Gustav. I received another email tonight from Debra with some very graphic pictures attached, so I didn't forward them to the group. If anyone wants to see them, please email me privately & I will forward them to you. Debra has located someone to sell them 4x4 round bales of hay for $8.00 a bale. It sounds like they have to buy 400 bales in bulk to get the deal & the delivery = total $3200.00 all together. She had a donor pledge to match the first $1001.00 all the way from Rhode Island. I know we all are stretched these days with our own issues at home, but $8.00 and one 4x4 round bale can really go a long way to feed some livestock in salt water flooded & oil covered fields. The web address for HHERO: www.hopefulhaven.com from this site you can make donations via PayPal or the address is also on the page for mailing. They are also needing buckets, halters (all sizes), lead ropes, feed (any), fencing, etc. These are also listed on the site. I will be making a trip over there next Sat. I already offered to do any dog transports at that time, so I will include transport of any donations for HHERO as well. If I have enough I will bring the horse trailer to make sure I get everything over to them. She also wanted to thank everyone for their prayers & continued support of all the rescue communities. Thank you- Mary Anne Barnett Independent Rescue (Decatur, TX) rvt1213@yahoo.com

Best Friends Left Behind in Ike's Path

From the Best Friends Network

Disaster Response

“Sad and Emotional Day”

September 18, 2008 : 5:48 PM

Many Hurricane Ike evacuees chose to leave without their pets

“Persons not heeding evacuation orders in single-family one- or two-story homes will face certain death,” noted a National Weather Service advisory to Galveston Island residents prior to Hurricane Ike.

Unfortunately, many of those same people did not give that same consideration to their pets.

The situation in Southeast Texas is far more dire than anticipated, not only because of the tremendous destruction caused by Hurricane Ike, but because of pet guardian apathy.

The Rapid Response team, along with Galveston Animal Control officers and a sheriff performed search and rescue throughout the day yesterday, saving six animals including one kitten, one wart hog (who will be released) and four dogs, one of whom was found chained and caught in a fence. However, those victories were bittersweet as the team encountered many deceased animals who had been abandoned by their guardians prior to evacuation.

“Wednesday was a sad and emotional day for everybody,” noted Rich Crook, Best Friends Rapid Response Manager. “It is difficult to see that people would leave their animals.”

The team estimates that at least 50% of the evacuees left without their pets. Despite repeated warnings from local officials of catastrophic flooding, numerous animals were left behind - chained or crated - many of whom have paid the ultimate price for their guardians’ indifference.

Outrage following Hurricane Katrina, when people were forced to evacuate without their pets, prompted the national passage of H.R. 3858: Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act of 2006. This law ensures that both local and state emergency plans are to include companion animals.

Such legislation leaves no excuse for anyone leaving a pet behind during the Hurricane Ike evacuation or any other emergency situation.

“Any pet owner who willfully left their pet behind, chained up outside or left in crates, after advanced warnings of catastrophic flooding, should be charged to the fullest extent of whatever cruelty laws are on the books there in Texas,” said Paul Berry, Best Friends, CEO. “Such careless, thoughtless neglect for another life is absolutely inexcusable.”

What those guardians did when they left their chained dogs behind was not only inexcusable, they actually broke the law. H.B. 1411 passed during the last Texas legislative session and became effective 9/1/07. The new law specifically prohibits guardians from leaving dogs tethered outside between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. or in extreme weather conditions, including hurricanes.

So the clock is ticking for those abandoned animals who survived the storm, now going on five days without food or water. Best Friends will continue to search for those unfortunate pets whose guardians chose to leave behind and will provide the medical care and assistance needed (see Rapid Response in action in Hurricane Ike – Left Behind).

Best Friends is assessing the situation. Additional measures must be in place to encourage residents to evacuate with their pets, to prevent a reoccurrence. Please check back regularly for updates on how you can help avert such catastrophes in the future.

Take action now:

The government includes pets in evacuation plans, so it is important for all caregivers to take personal responsibility and never leave in an emergency without your animals. Keep in mind, disasters are not limited to hurricanes, so whether or not you live in a coastal area, it is important that you prepare now, so you are ready in case disaster strikes.

FEMA offers plans on care for animals prior to, during, and after emergency situations. Additional links to informative sites can be found here.

Remember, your pets are entirely reliant on you for their care and safety. Possessions can be replaced, but family can not. You can start immediately by preparing an emergency kit for your pets as well as an emergency plan.

Do not spend a lifetime of regret because you failed to prepare today.

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

1. You don’t have to be on-site in Texas to help. Be a part of Best Friends’ efforts to save companion animals in emergency situations. Please make an online donation to the support the Best Friends Rescue Fund. It is through contributions like yours that Best Friends is able to provide assistance in disasters such as Hurricane Ike.

2. Donations are needed by the The Joe Vickery/Galveston County Animal Shelter. Supplies such food, collapsible wire cages, de-wormer, disposable cat litter pans, and Frontline® flea & tick control are in great demand. Donations may be brought to the shelter at 3412 Loop 197 North in Texas City, Texas (map to location).

3. Interested in helping in future emergency situations? See Hurricane Ike Is Coming! for more on what you can do to prepare in advance to join the Best Friends Rapid Response team.

For more information:
• The Houston SPCA has activated a disaster hotline. If you need to report lost or found animals, please call 713-435-2990, 877-661-0161, or 713-861-0161.
• The Orange/Jefferson County disaster hotline is 409-980-7280 or call the Humane Society of Southeast Texas Rogers Spay and Neuter Clinic at 409-838-2510.
• Thousands of Cattle and Horses Roaming in Texas
• ‘Like Katrina without the water’
• Best Friends Animal Society Rapid Response Community

Posted by Jennifer Hayes, Best Friends staff
Photo credit: taken by Pam Crook

Link to this story

Galveston CO Animals Need Help NOW

Two e-mails - the first is from someone working on the ground in Galveston, dated 9/16/08; the second is requesting help getting media attention, the links to the news stations she mentions are on the left side of my blog

From: "Finneman Farm" <finnefarm@wildblue.net>
Date: Tue, 16 Sep 2008 17:56:30

I am a large animal first responder with Habitat for Horses, an equine rescue group based in Hitchcock, Texas. I was personally on the West end of Galveston Island for 6 hours yesterday. You may want to know that horses were removed from the West end of Galveston, and are being housed at the Jack Brooks Park arena In Hitchcock (the site of the Galveston County Fairgrounds on Highway 6) under the care of Habitat for Horses. Additional horses are being collected today.

A convoy of trucks and animal rescue personel left the Galveston County Animal Shelter today bound for the island. Companion animals rescued will be housed at the Galveston County Animal Shelter, located at 3412 Loop 197 North in Texas City, Texas (just off of Highway 146). Participants in the convoy included Galveston County Animal Shelter personel, and equipment and rescuers from Best Friends Animal Sanctuary of Knabe, Utah. Best Friends are the great folks with a No-Kill shelter which is the home to several of the pitbulls that were seized from Michael Vick, the football player turned dog-fighter who is now doing prison time for animal cruelty. The progress of these dogs is chronicled in the TV series "Dogtown").

If you are missing your pet, go to the shelter to file a missing pet report. Be as specific as possible, and try to provide a photo of the animal. Be very complete with yoru description of your residence or barn, pasture, etc. Remember, many areas have no street signs or house numbers, as they were obliterated in the storm.

The shelter, as of 1:03 pm today, has no electricity or running water. It also sustained moderate flooding . The shelter has not been able to respond to phone calls. So, please visit, and when you visit, why not assist the pets and staff by bringing some of the following needed supplies? You will be helping them help your animal.

1) Clay cat litter
2) Canned good quality cat and kitten and puppy and dog food
3) Bottled water
4) Soda for the staff and rescuers (especially Diet Pepsi, Dr. Pepper, Coke and Diet Coke).
5) ICE! Desperately needed!

Also, if there is a real Animal Angel or Sugar Daddy out there, a commerical generator would be ideal to help restore power to the shelter building. I would need to coordinate with the facilities folks concerning kilowatts needed, etc.

Please do not try to phone the shelter at this time, as phone service is seriously limited. It might make sense to combine your inquiries with several of your friends and neighbors'. Then, only one person would be making the visit to lthe shelter. Naturally, when power is restored, communications will be easier.

I hope I've provided you with information which is useful. Please try to be patient, gather your documents and photos of your pet, and file a report. And the next time...
1) Take your pet with you
2) Microchip your pet (available for as little as $20 )
3) And, you can get yourself ICS certified if you truly want to help with the next animal disaster.

Good luck,

Lark Tedesco
President, Shelter Buddies of Texas

***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****

Hi everyone I want to ask all members of the group to start e-mailing/calling all TV news, radio stations, etc.like we did after Katrina.

This is was also vital when Katrina hit, as people really started to pay attention when standed aniamals where shown on TV. So far the only one saying anything about pets(very little) has bee Fox news.
We know the situation is bad and there is total devastation due to Ike in many parts of TX's Galveston I believe being the worse..
Since in many areas they are not letting people in yet we need the media to cover the pets affected by Ike, they are there, they have cameras, they can air it and they have the power to bring people together.
The goverment is only going to pay attention to the animals, I mean real attention to the animals once the media gets involved.
People need to see the need on TV, so these animals get rescue or at least as many as possible.
Please write or call.
I don't have the time really to put the list of News stations as I did 3 years ago with Katrina.
But if anyone on this group has the information please share it so it will be easier for all members.
Thank you for being here.

Celene Albano
HPR Rescue CEO
Website: www.hurricanepetsrescue.org
ADOPTIONS:www.hurricanepets.petfinder.com
Telephone:786-999-8239

Animal Rescues Post Ike

Some Hurricane Ike Cats, Dogs Headed to McKinney Shelter

American Humane Moves into Texas Following Hurricane Ike

Waco - Shelter Has Hands Full with Evacuated Pets

Houston SPCA Needs Monetary Donations

A story today (that I can not for the life of me find again to link to here) on one of the Houston t.v. station's websites, said that the SPCA in Houston actually had a good number of volunteers. People who themselves had issues at their own homes were still taking time to volunteer at the shelter. They said that their greatest need right now was for monetary donations.

The contact info for the Houston SPCA is:
Houston Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA)
713-869-7722
www.spcahouston.org

Livestock in S.E. TX Needs Help!

September 15, 2008 - 7:20PM
Scott Lawrence

LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) - At least 20,000 head of livestock roamed loose throughout several Southeast Texas counties Monday, said state officials who are working to get feed and water to the cattle and horses that have been without either since Hurricane Ike came ashore Saturday.

Agriculture and animal health officials said Ike's winds and storm surge tore down fences throughout Chambers, Jefferson and Orange counties, allowing the livestock to flee from enclosed pastures - and away from water sources.

Dead cows lay stiff on the sides of roads in Orange County.

Without feed and water for three days, livestock become stressed and many are drinking salt water left behind by the storm. The water will not quench their thirsts.

Contributions of hay, water troughs, feedstocks, such as range cubes, or cash are needed to help keep livestock alive, agriculture officials said.

Cowboy Loren Doucet of the Edwards Ranch in Southeast Texas rode a chestnut quarter horse named Sister on Monday to herd cattle from a highway into a raised pasture.

"They were stuck in a field that was full of water, salt water," he said. "We're just getting them in where they can drink fresh water."

It is not yet known how many animals were killed by the storm.

"We can't put out numbers until we know for sure," Texas Animal Health Commission spokeswoman Carla Everett said.

The estimate on wandering livestock is preliminary and could rise, officials said. Agriculture officials were surveying the area by helicopter late Monday and could give a more accurate assessment of losses Tuesday, Everett said.

The state and region's largest cattle producing organization, the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, is also joining in efforts to help livestock producers and their animals as part of Operation No Fences: Hurricane Ike Horse and Cattle Relief.

A group of special rangers from the association is assisting.

"The storm surge destroyed pastures and water supplies," said Dave Scott, the association's first vice president. "With no grazing land and no fresh water, it's like those ranchers went into drought overnight."

In Galveston, about 20 Longhorns roamed empty neighborhoods with one herd sunning themselves in front of an empty, storm-battered hotel named Escapes!.

Elsewhere, two calves wandered amid the ghost town that Galveston has become, spooked when a reporter approached.

"They'll have a hard time making it," Kathleen Phillips, spokeswoman from Texas AgriLive Extension Service, said of the several that have been born since the storm hit.

The west end of Galveston Island, while dotted with vacation bungalows and expensive homes, also has undeveloped grazing lands where herds escaped after ranchers fled. Water from Ike's surge stormed over the shore and across a main beachfront road, and the longhorns apparently had to swim or wade through floodwaters to find high ground.
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Those wishing to make contributions can call the Texas Department of Agriculture's hay hotline at 1-877-429-1998 or another hotline set up by the state's 4H association at 1-979-845-1213. To donate materials for fencing, panels, water troughs and other non-feed and non-cash donations contact Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association at 800-242-7820, ext. 147, to speak to Tim Niedecken.
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Associated Press writers John Gambrell in Galveston and Allen Breed in Southeast Texas contributed to this report.
By BETSY BLANEY
Associated Press Writer
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Link to this story

Ike a Disaster for Many in Multiple States, Especially TX & LA

Ike made landfall (defined as when the center of the circulation crosses land) at 2 a.m. CDT on Saturday as a category 2 storm with 110 mph winds, 1 mph from being a category 2 storm. Though there are those who are saying that Ike did not live up to the hype, those who have seen the Bolivar Peninsula, and people from Galveston to New Orleans, would tell you Ike was all that and then some. Not only that, but had Ike’s official landfall been just a few miles further down the Texas coast (as little as 20-50 miles, which could've happened with just one wobble of the storm), the story could have been even more tragic. The thousands upon thousands who did not obey the mandatory evacuation order for Galveston Island could have all perished. Not even the most well-educated, forecaster can predict the exact intensity or exact landfall of a hurricane with the tools currently available. There was no "hype" with this storm. Ike was a large, ugly, mean storm and if the damage estimates are correct, Ike will be the 3rd costliest storm in U.S. history.

Many people who ignored mandatory evacuation orders called 911 Friday night, only to be told (rightfully so) that they would have to wait until rescuers could safely venture out again after the storm's passage. We can only hope that more people evacuated than was originally estimated, and that those who stayed & survived will spread the word to friends and family about the importance of obeying evacuation orders. It’s believed that as many as 400 people are missing from the Bolivar Peninsula.

Many parts of the area saw significant flooding, wind damage, & power outages. Bayous & creeks overflowed their banks. In downtown Houston, glass was blown out of the windows of high-rise buildings. Many parts of IH-10 were completely submerged. Neighborhood streets were impassible due to downed power lines, uprooted trees, and water flowing like raging rivers. On I-45 South, large boats and debris completely blocked the highway.

While the Bolivar Peninsula was likely the hardest-hit, there were other areas hit that have not received much coverage. I do not mean to discount any of the problems experienced by these other communities and hope to address them later. Being a Texan, my concentration has been Texas & some of the info on the smaller communities is quite limited at this time. I hope to dig into that this evening. Until then, try the links for Beaumont, Port Arthur, & Orange. Flooding in Louisiana is significant as well. The surge there has breached several non-federal levees and flooded an estimated 13,000 homes. An area that took a direct hit from Gustav saw more flooding from Ike’s storm surge than it did from Ike.

The storm continued to cause problems, and that’s an understatement, after it exited the state of TX. For more information, see Dr. Masters’ blog (nope, can’t get a post from me w/out a link to his blog).


THE ANIMALS

One report out of Houston said that the SPCA had rescued 300 animals as of Saturday afternoon, so I can only imagine that number has risen exponentially since that time. As of Friday, San Antonio was playing host to over 500 visiting pets of evacuees. The first shelter was overflowing and a second had to be opened. While I’m sure some of the evacuees have headed home, there are also more that have come in because of the numbers of homes that are completely gone or uninhabitable on Galveston Island, the Bolivar Peninsula, and in so many other communities along the Coast. Many evacuees and their pets were transported to San Antonio by bus yesterday and more have come in today.

DISTURBING IMAGES

The image above, courtesy of Google Maps, shows the Bolivar Peninsula & some notes I've made. Clicking on the map will take you to the satellite image in Google Maps, where you can zoom-in to navigate the “before” image of the peninsula. You can then go here and view new satellite pictures from NOAA. The degree of devastation is just unimaginable.

YOU CAN HELP

• Donate to the Humane Society/SPCA of Bexar County to help defray the costs of caring for these pets. Visit their website here.
  
  
• A regular fixture of Dr. Masters’ blog, Pat, has started a grass-roots effort to get some relief directly to the people who need it most. Pat is a New Orleans resident & a hurricane Katrina survivor. Pat is coordinating with another one of the good-guys of the blog, Paul, and his 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Paul is a hurricane Hugo survivor himself. These 2 men have an understanding of what it means to help your neighbors and how someone who has "been there, done that" can bring a whole new level of compassion to a relief effort. They are truly honest men putting a lot of effort into making this a success. Pat hopes to have the truck rented, filled, and on the way to the Houston/Galveston area with the first load of donations by the end of the week. You can read more here & you can make donations through PayPal. Click on Pat's name above & read the comments in his blog to see some of the items he has already received for this first trip, and for more testimonials about Pat & Paul.
  
  
• Donate to another charity of your choice.
  
  IN SE TX or the SAN ANTONIO AREA?
  
  
  • Donate blood! Blood shortages are expected. You just need to be over the age of 18, weigh at least 110 lbs, and be generally healthy.
    
    
  • Volunteer to help with the evacuees or the evacuees’ pets! Visit the VOAD Center - originally located at the Freeman Coliseum, the Volunteer Operation Center has moved to Brooks City Base, 8039 Challenger Dr. The phone # is 210-224-5365
    

Regarding Volunteering/Donations for Animals in LA Post-Gustav/Ike

The following information came to me, Ann, directly. This is not second-hand information. This needs to be posted to all the rescue-related Yahoo! groups that have had the multiple messages posted about assistance in LA.

It has been suggested that when someone makes a request such as this one, someone should e-mail or call the rescue requesting assistance and let them know that they can contact LSART or LASPCA, or even PetsMart Charaties, and let them know what they need.

The first part I'm pasting below is what was posted to another blog I have. I had been cross-posting the many requests for assistance that were posted to the many animal rescue boards to which I belong & to my other blog, before I started this one. The second is a direct reply from the same poster to me, after I sent her an e-mail in response to her post to my blog. I was asking for some clarification. I was wondering if this was applied to evacuations only, to evacuations and rescue from areas greatly affected, or to pretty much all before and after, including those requesting donations of things such as the dog food and other items requested in the post mentioned above. She has been absolutely wonderful and very helpful.

Here we go:

1st:

Just wanted to let you know that all of the evacuations from Louisiana and offers to help, need to be coordinated through Dr. Renee Poirrier with LSART and the lead agency for all evacuations and rescue dispatching is LASPCA in New Orleans. If you want to help in Louisiana in the future you will need to contact and register with them first and not just "show up" to help. They have gotten very strict since Katrina and will not tolerate folks working outside the system. They did arrest a few folks during Gustav for just this reason. I know it sounds harsh, but in order to make such a huge evacuation work effectively you need to work under the Incident Command System. This ensures that animals are moved to safety in a safe manner and that resources are not wasted. I worked Gustav and our group evacuated close to 700 animals in two day previous to Gustav and the only problem we encountered were people showing up in Ryder trucks or other vehicles that were not appropriate for transport unannounced or bringing supplies that were either not needed or to the wrong place.

I strongly recommend that if you want to help in disasters in the future that you take any or all of the classes offered by several of the organizations that have experience in disaster response. Some of these groups are:

United Animal Nations-EARS
Best Friends
The Humane Society of the United States-NDART
Noah's Wish
ASPCA

Most of the gulf coast states will not allow unaffiliated or un-credentialed volunteers into their states. It is becoming very serious to them and they ARE and WILL either arrest you or kick you out of the state. Just after Gustav hit, some people were out "rescuing" animals from peoples yards and these animals did not need "rescuing" their owners were home and they were basically stolen from people. They had as many as 5 or six people that ran into the city to get the same dog or cat because someone cross posted an email and no one knew what was going on and there was not main contact to verify that the animal really needed help or where he had been taken to. Imagine if it were your animal and you came home to find him gone and had no idea who had him or where he was.

I know all of you have huge hearts and want to help and this really is the best way to do it. So please get trained and get involved with one or all of these groups (volunteering for several is a great idea!) You will help more animals in their time of need and put resources to their best use!

2nd:

Everyone that wants to help before and after a disaster should go through the main agency, in this case LSART or LASPCA. They have a person that is in charge of things like donations, offers to foster, transport needs, medical needs, etc. Basically one clearing house for all animal issues. What tends to happen if everyone goes off on their own is, let's say someone posts on some blog or sends out an email that they need cat food sent to help Jefferson Parrish. The next thing you know, there are 1000 bags of cat food being delivered, but the cats have all been relocated to another shelter. In Mississippi during Hurricane Katrina, someone sent an email that said the animals were suffering from dehydration and we needed fluids.......we ended up with trucks full of fluids and it took 3 or 4 people that could have been helping work in the shelter to just unload and put it all in a warehouse! If they had checked with the State vets office (they were lead for animals issues in Mississippi) they could have saved tons of money, effort and fuel because they would have been told that we really only had a few that needed fluids and that had been taken care of a week ago! Like I said, people have big hearts, but if they just go off on their own, they waste so much time, money and resources just to sort and manage the donations. We literally had to hire fork lift drivers to move mountains of supplies that we could not use and most of it went to waste. People showed up to transport animals in vehicles that were not appropriate all the time. We had one group that showed up to take some dogs and the had a flatbed trailer that they had sectioned of with chicken wire into little cubicles and were planning to drive animals across 6 states like that!! Then they got mad because I said they could not take any animals until they found a safe form of transport for them! I felt bad they really thought they were doing a good thing and their hearts were in the right place, but...........we could not allow the animals to be loaded into an unsafe vehicle with not protection from weather and in unsafe holding cages. So, I would encourage everyone to go through LSART or at the very least contact LSPCA who is the lead companion animal agency for Louisiana.

Bottom Line:

You must go through LSART or LASPCA to help in Louisiana unless you are with one of the following groups who, it appears, may contact you to join them, having coordinated through LSART or LASPCA themselves:
United Animal Nations-EARS
Best Friends
The Humane Society of the United States-NDART
Noah's Wish
ASPCA

That means that the other organizations are kind of going "rouge". You can notify them that they should contact LSART or LASPCA for assistance.

For more information, visit the website for LSART, www.lsart.org

Ike Bigger than Katrina - Yep, Really

Ike's radius of tropical storm force winds is 275 miles & 115 miles for hurricane force winds. Katrinas were 230 miles for tropical storm force & 105 for hurricane force.

Ike is currently a category 2 storm with winds of 100 mph. The storm is not currently forecast to intensify rapidly, but he is forecast to intensify. He is still projected to make landfall late Friday night/early Saturday morning as a major hurricane, which is category 3 or higher. The current official NHC forecast calls for a landfall near Galveston, with winds of 105 knots (approx. 121 mph), making it a category 3 hurricane.

Again, the major concern with the storm is the surge. The title of Dr. Masters' blog this afternoon is, " Ike's storm surge an extreme danger to Texas". One notable quote from that entry, "Ike will probably inundate a 250-mile stretch of Texas coast from Port O'Connor to the Louisiana border with a 10-15 foot storm surge. This will occur even if Ike is a Category 1 storm at landfall. If Ike is a Category 3+ hurricane at landfall, surges of 20+ feet are possible." Be sure to see Dr. Masters' blog for his usual great explanation of current conditions, and to get his forecast for Ike.

More links have been added to the left side of the blog and more information has been added down below. I'll be added even more later tonight or tomorrow.

On to the images, even though it's almost time for some more to come out from NHC & WU :) I'll add those this evening.

clicking these images will open the larger version in a new window

1 pm & 4 pm CDT NHC Forecast Tracks



8 am & 2 pm EDT Computer Models from WU
(standard & zoom views)

Hurricane Ike Likely to Be Devastating

Hurricane Ike has recovered all too well from his passage cross Cuba. Ike is a large and powerful storm that is only getting more powerful. In fact, the storm is rapidly intensifying and very well could be a category 4 storm by morning. The outlook for the TX Gulf Coast is looking quite grim. Ike will likely make landfall as major hurricane, which is a category 3 or stronger, and he is already almost as large as Katrina was, his wind field building up a large storm surge.

There is still quite a bit of uncertainty concerning landfall. It had appeared that models were coming into better agreement, but there has again been some divergence. The NHC has moved that darn center line, yep, the same one to which we're not supposed to pay attention but have such a hard time ignoring, quite a bit north as of the 10 p.m. CDT advisory; but, as I read on a blog this week, "If you're in the zone, you're hurricane prone". Not to make light of it, because it has quickly become an all too serious situation, but that about sums it up. I say "about" because even the cone is only right 2/3 of the time. So, if you're in the cone and you're thinking that there is no way you're going to get hit, just remember that 1/3 of the time someone outside the cone gets hit! Pay attention to your local authorities, always err on the side of caution, and be prepared!

There are a lot of new links in the blog today. If you think of any links that should be added, just leave a comment and I'll see about getting it added.

Hopefully, I'll be able to update much earlier tomorrow.

Here's an article on San Antonio's preparations for the pets of evacuees:
Watch out Hurricane Ike, San Antonio Animal Groups Are Ready

You know I can't do an entry w/out mention of Dr. Masters' blog. For those living along the TX & LA Gulf Coast, I recommend it even more today than ever . Here is something that really stands out, "Ike is likely to be a extremely dangerous major hurricane at landfall, and will likely do $10-$30 billion in damage. The chances of hundreds of people being killed in this storm is high if people do not heed evacuation orders."

Now, on to the images:

NHC Forecast Track
7 am CDT & 10 pm CDT


NHC Forecast Track
7 am CDT & 10 pm CDT
cropped/close-up to show change in cone


Computer Models from WU Page
Initialized 8 a.m. vs Initialized 2 p.m.

Tuesday Night Update on (Y)Ike(s)

Later tonight, I hope to be posting links to a lot of good info regarding animals in evacuations, t.v. stations & city websites for areas that could be impacted by Ike, and more. So, for right now, I'm just going to post some quotes from Dr. Masters' blog, encourage you to visit that blog for his full view, and post some images. They are the latest available as of this posting (there was no change to the cone at the 8 pm EDT update).

I say all the time that we shouldn't pay attention to the center line, but it's hard not to do it. It's human nature! Because we all do it, I figure it's at least a good way to illustrate the way things change from update to update. So, I'm once again urging you to notice that uncertainty, how things change from update to update.

It's getting closer and closer to what is almost certain to be a TX landfall. In the next couple hours, I hope to start adding the links that will help everyone get the information they need. Please check back often!

One note of comfort -- Dr. M. does think that the models we'll see tomorrow morning really should give us a much better idea of where Ike will make landfall.

Most notable quotes from Dr. Masters' Blog:

"All indications are that Ike will intensify into a very dangerous major hurricane that will hit the Texas coast Friday night or Saturday."

"...Still, there is a significant chance that an evacuation of large stretches of the Texas coast--including portions of Houston--will have to be ordered on Wednesday or Thursday."

"I forecast a 50% chance Ike will be a major hurricane at landfall:
Category 1 or weaker: 20%
Category 2: 30%
Category 3: 30%
Category 4 or 5: 20%"

And now, for the images. Clicking on an image will open a larger version in a new window. You can find updated images from the NHC here, and from WU here.

NHC 5-Day Track Forecast Cone

2 p.m. EDT & 5 p.m. EDT

My Cropped Images of Those Same NHC Images

To Illustrate the Change in 3 Hours

Computer Models Image from WU

Runs from 2 p.m. EDT

runs are at 2 a.m./p.m. & 8 a.m./p.m.

they are not always up "on the dot"

notice the "initialized" time not the time stamp in the upper left corner of the image

This image links to the WU page where this image/updates are found

Ike Visiting Texas?

If evacuations to the San Antonio area begin, from anywhere along the TX Coast, I will post what information I can gather from reliable, verifiable sources. If you have information you would like me to post, especially regarding animals, please leave a comment and I will get it posted. I'll update more frequently as Ike approaches TX.

Right now, it looks like Ike could make landfall on Friday, anywhere from about Galveston to just south of the TX/MEX border. Before anyone starts blaming the NHC for poor forecasting, let me tell you that it is strictly a Mother Nature issue. A lot depends on the timing, and possibly strength, of a couple of different troughs.

Unfortunately, it does appear that Ike will be able to re-strengthen and possibly make landfall as a category 2 or 3 storm.

Here are the latest images. Click on them for a larger view in a new window. I've posted the 8 am and 11 am NHC Forecast tracks, including zoomed versions of a portion of each, so you can compare them and see how the long-range forecast can change quite a bit in just a short time. Forecasts are very hard to make beyond 36 hours and that should always be taken into consideration.

Clicking this image will take you to the latest 5-day forecast track on the WU site

Ike's Been All Over the Place Today...

and so have I. Hopefully I can get out a better update tomorrow.

Please be sure to see the pleas for help with animal evacuees/rescues in LA in my earlier entries today, and post them far and wide!

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For this blog entry, when you click on the images you will be taken to the bigger version instead of to the WU or NHC page. That's only because I want you to be able to compare them instead of seeing the latest update. I want you see the uncertainty involved in predicting/forecasting hurricantes.

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Here are just a few things to consider regarding Ike:

Take a look at the two images below. The first one is portion of the 11 a.m. NHC forecast track & the second is the 11 p.m. forecast track. See how much that center line and the edges of the cone of uncertainty have changed in just 12 hours? That is why everyone along the Gulf Coast, but especially those in TX & LA, need to keep an eye on IKE.

11:00 AM 9/8

11:00 PM 9/8

To see the latest NHC forecast track, click here.

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I am posting the track from WU only to show the forecast intensity. I want to add that Dr. Masters notes in his blog that Ike could just as easily be a Cat 1 or Cat 3 at landfall.

Courtesy Weather Underground 11 PM EDT

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Here are the model runs from the WU page. Click to see the larger versions in a new window. See how much those changed from the 8 a.m. runs to the 8 p.m. runs? Please note the "initialized" times, not the time on the top left side of the picture.

To see the latest models on the WU page, just go here.



Of course, since I'm just now finishing this up at almost 1 am CDT and the next update is due about now... Oh well, likely the 2 am EDT models won't be out right at 2 so I'm posting before I accidentally fall asleep with my Hershey's bar and laptop in my bed.