Hurricane Katrina Rescue Diary
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September
03, 2005 |
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Saturday, Sept. 03, 2005
by Debbie Hill, director of Rescues and Investigations
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A
dog found inside the
Humane Society of
Southern Mississippi |
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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.
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Dogs
found inside the flooded
Humane Society of
Southern Mississippi
animal shelter -
a high-water mark is visible on the wall |
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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.
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High-water
mark inside the Humane
Society of Southern
Mississippi |
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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.
All
copyrights in photographs and diaries are claimed and reserved
by the Humane Society of Missouri. |
