Hurricane Katrina Rescue Diary

	September 03, 2005

Saturday, Sept. 03, 2005
by Debbie Hill, director of Rescues and Investigations

A dog found inside the Humane Society of Southern Mississippi

Last night, Linda Campbell, John Anderson, Brian Thomas and I drove the Animal Rescue Vehicle and a truck to Gulfport, Mississippi to rescue animals in the Humane Society of Southern Mississippi animal shelter. We were
part of a 16-person team consisting of a veterinary medical assessment group and workers from HSUS.

With no power, the facility was dark and very smelly. We loaded more than 90 dogs and 42 cats for transport back to Jackson.  High water marks of 4 ½' to 5' were obvious throughout the shelter. Obviously, the animals that survived swam in their cages until the water subsided. More than 20 animals died in that animal shelter as a result of the storm.

Dogs found inside the flooded Humane Society of Southern Mississippi animal shelter - a high-water mark is visible on the wall

One dog has a broken leg and many have kennel cough. Most of the cats have upper respiratory problems. Because raw sewage from the nearby waste treatment plant had flowed into the shelter, there are also concerns about Hepatitis A and B. Upon arrival in Jackson, each animal went through a decontamination bath. People and vehicles
will be scrubbed down, too.

High-water mark inside the Humane Society of Southern Mississippi

The round trip took all night. We arrived back in Jackson about 5:30 this morning.

Kyle, Carmen, Tim and Brett are in Pascagoula where Kyle reports that cats and dogs are running everywhere. The local animal control has only 8 runs in its shelter and has reported that they are shooting aggressive dogs and alligators. Another local shelter lost 70 percent of its animals. A local breeder reports that more than half of his animals died or are lost.

Having enough available fuel to make round trips is a continuing concern. We have a source of diesel here at the Coliseum. Regular gas is in short supply.

The generator on our Animal Rescue Vehicle went out and we are in the process of having it repaired. That involves a trip to Memphis to pick up an intake manifold. Fortunately, we have found a local repair shop that can do the work once the part arrives.

It looks like once the repair is made tomorrow and we have a chance to clean out the trailer, we will be on our way to southeast Mississippi, near where our other team has been working. A 150-animal shelter is available and we will probably set up headquarters there. We’ve been told there’s gas in Mobile, Alabama about 50 miles away.