Hurricane Katrina Rescue Diary

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	September 27, 2005

Tuesday, September 27, 2005
The 12-person Humane Society of Missouri Hurricane Katrina Disaster Rescue Team has come 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 home in St. Louis Saturday, Sept. 24.

They traveled with seven vehicles filled with veterinary and other animal supplies, people and pet food, water, a boat and chain saws. They helped set up temporary shelters in Jackson and Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and worked as part of the shelter team in Gonzales, Louisiana. Team members made daily rescue trips to towns along the Gulf Coast from New Orleans to Ocean City. 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 team 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 blonde 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 animal shelters in Mississippi and Louisiana.

More than 150 dogs and cats from those shelters have been received by the Humane Society of Missouri. They currently are in foster homes of some of the more than 1400 people from throughout the St. Louis area who volunteered to provide the extra love and care these animals need. We truly are grateful to everyone who has volunteered; donated time, materials and money and kept our team and the animals in their thoughts.

The team is now headed to Beaumont, Texas to
help the animals affected by Hurricane Rita.

 

Build-A-Bear Workshop and Nestle Purina Pet Care are proud major supporters of the Humane Society of Missouri's Hurricane Katrina rescue team.