10/28/05 - Volunteers Still Rescuing Animals from a Devastated New Orleans

Volunteers for IDA's Project Hope animal relief team continue to rescue animals in New Orleans, though much of their effort is going toward finding strays and feeding animals that are at large in the area rather than conducting house-to-house search and rescue. The city is starting to reopen, but there are some large areas of New Orleans that are still completely devastated.

Matt Rossell, Lesley Hemstreet, Staci Hendryx and Eric Phelps are just some of the volunteers going into the ravaged city each day to take strays who need homes off the streets. By this point, most of the rescued animals are severely emaciated and suffering from injuries and illnesses. Many animals still roam the deserted streets, and the Project Hope team is one of the only groups putting food and water out for animals that are living in the area. Every night, an 18-wheeler has been taking rescued animals to a Best Friends sanctuary in Tylertown, Miss.

The shelters in the disaster zone have just about reached full capacity, and cannot take in any more animals. The Cleveland/Bolivar animal shelter in Mississippi has been one of Project Hope's most dedicated allies in the area, not only taking care of dogs rescued by the Project Hope team but often helping with recovery efforts. IDA and Project Hope are grateful to shelter director Sherri Norquest and her crew for their hard work and devotion to animals. 

Project Hope has forged other valuable alliances with shelters in Missouri, Colorado and North Carolina. Transporting dogs from Louisiana and Mississippi to these faraway states is often a Herculean effort, but it is the only way to save the lives of animals left homeless by the hurricane. Team members have made the 19-hour drive (each way) from Jackson, Miss. to the Humane Society shelter in Denver, Colo. with animals in tow. They are making another trip this week to get animals who have surpassed the thirty-day waiting period to the shelter in time for their big adopt-a-thon on Saturday.

Many rescued animals have become available for adoption because a great number of guardians no longer have the means to support their animal friends. Some people are still living in tent cities or in government-run shelters that won't allow animals. These guardians have had to make a painful choice under extremely difficult circumstances, and are trying to do what is best for their animal companions even if it means that someone else will have to take them. The sad fact remains that many animals are still roaming the streets of New Orleans and Southern Mississippi and our job is not close to being over. We are proud that IDA's Project Hope and other groups are working hard to find homes for these animals where they will be loved and cared for. 

- The Colorado Humane Society in Denver is donating a trailer full of food and supplies for the relief effort in New Orleans, but they need a trucker with a big rig to haul it to Jackson, Miss. If you or someone you know can make this important run, please contact hurricanekatrinainquiries@idausa.org.

- Project Hope is looking for more shelters outside of the disaster zone to take homeless animals rescued from New Orleans. Please contact hurricanekatrinainquiries@idausa.org if you can provide space for needy animals.

- Give to IDA's Hurricane Katrina Animal Relief Fund. Money is still desperately needed for food, medical supplies and transportation costs. To donate, send checks made payable to IDA with a note reading "for hurricane relief" to:

In Defense of Animals
131 Camino Alto
Mill Valley, CA 94941