Hurricane Katrina Rescue Diary

	September 25, 2005

Sunday, September 25, 2005
A Thank You from Kathy Warnick
President, Humane Society of Missouri

Yesterday, our Hurricane Katrina Disaster Rescue Team came full circle in its mission to rescue animals affected by this disaster. After rescuing more than 1,000 animals for the past 3 1/2 weeks in the devastated areas of southern Mississippi and Louisiana, they arrived in St. Louis bringing another 45 dogs from the New Orleans area. These animals, along with the more than 100 cats and dogs flown in from Mississippi earlier this week, will be placed with foster families from throughout the St. Louis area so that they can begin their road to recovery.

I just can’t say enough about the truly heroic efforts of our 12-person Disaster Rescue Team. Even as Katrina raged, they were planning to leave. By Wednesday, August 31, they were on the road with seven vehicles filled with veterinary and other animal supplies, people and pet food, water, a boat and chain saws. In cooperation with HSUS, one of our teams helped set up a temporary shelter near Waveland, Mississippi, and made daily trips to the Gulf Coast. The devastation they witnessed was incredible, piles of former homes and buildings were everywhere. Trees looked like it was winter, no leaves. Nothing left intact. And, of course, the sadness of people and pets in total desperation. Our second team set up in Gonzales, Louisiana just outside of New Orleans. Our team members went house to house in New Orleans in a Humane Society of Missouri boat rescuing countless animals and having to endure working in and near water that is being described as a “toxic soup”. The Gonzales team was featured on CNN as well as in the Washington Post.

“Killer” the nervous rescued Chihuahua appreciates your support

Our teams worked sunrise to well past sundown for 25 days straight, climbing over debris and through rank water, into remains of homes and towns searching for animals that needed help -- a cat under a porch, hungry and scared; 10 dogs who treaded water for hours eight inches from the ceiling in their home with their owner until the flood subsided; “Killer” the nervous Chihuahua and “Bear” the docile, big yellow mixed Labrador, who were scared and thirsty and happy to see our rescuers who had heard about their plight from area authorities. Dramas like this occurred every day -- in the ravaged streets and homes and in the temporary shelters in Hattiesburg, Mississippi and Gonzales, Louisiana.

To our Rescue Team: Debbie, Carmen, Brett, Kyle, Tim, Linda, John, Brian, Robb, Mette, Bonnie and Brandy:  YOU ARE OUR HEROES. We respect your dedication, admire your determination and applaud your untiring efforts to save the animals! 

To you, our loyal Humane Society supporters: thank you for keeping the team in your thoughts, sending your words of encouragement and following their daily diary.
Thanks to the more than 1400 people who volunteered to be emergency foster families.
And, thank you to all of our individual and corporate donors.
Your combined support has made our rescue efforts possible and helped save the lives of hundreds of abandoned animals.

OUR HEARTFELT THANKS TO ALL OF YOU!

Sincerely,
Kathryn Warnick, president
and all of the Staff and Volunteers of The Humane Society of Missouri

P.S. At this moment, the Disaster Rescue Team is planning to leave for Texas to aid in the Hurricane Rita recovery efforts. We wish them well in this endeavor, too.