Update: September 3, 2005 1:00 a.m. Louisiana Time
The 65 member rescue team has been very busy setting up the shelter in Slidell and completing rescue requests from evacuated victims and law enforcement personnel and performing door to door searches. Noah’s Wish teams are currently managing rescued animals in 3 locations with the numbers growing rapidly:
168 in a boarding kennel
100 in the emergency shelter
40 in a grooming shop
During the rescue, the teams have come across numerous pets with injuries cause by windborne debris, collapsed building and being struck by automobiles. The injured have been taken to the Louisiana State University Veterinary Hospital for treatment. There have also been happy surprises such as the Chihuahua found waiting patiently in the kitchen sink for rescue after the flood waters receded leaving him stranded.
The website has not been updated as much as we all would like due to the extremely difficult logistics in getting to a phone. Even satellite telephones failed for a good portion of the day. The closest reliable telephone connection is in Baton Rouge almost 2 hours away. Along the route, if you happen to find a gas station with fuel, you will wait for hours for your turn at the pump.
We will have many more stories and pictures in the near future as fuel and telephone services improve.
Noah’s Wish would like to thank you all for allowing us to do whatever it takes to save our often forgotten companions. Without your support, it would not be possible for us to answer this need.
Details relayed via phone from Terri Crisp
***************************************************************************
Update: September 2, 2005 1:00 p.m. Louisiana Time
Press Release
NOAH’S WISH COORDINATING PET RESCUE IN SLIDELL, LA
(NEW YORK, NY) September 1, 2005 – Noah’s Wish is working with animal control officials in the city of Slidell, Louisiana to coordinate animal rescue. Terri Crisp, Founder and Director of Noah’s Wish, has met with Slidell Mayor Ben Morris and Animal Control Director Damian Anti to assess the city’s needs and a coordinated pet rescue operation is being implemented.
The animal control facility in Slidell was flooded with 10 feet of water and approximately 50 animals were evacuated prior to the storm. The Mayor of Slidell has made available a large warehouse that is being used to set up a temporary shelter for cats and small dogs. In a lot behind the warehouse, tents are being set up and chain link dog runs being built to house larger dogs. Once completed, the temporary shelter will be able to house over 1,000 animals. Over 400 trained Noah’s Wish volunteers and 25 veterinarians will work around the clock to provide medical support and care to these pets.
“There are many dogs running loose throughout the city,” said Crisp. “Many people left their animals behind when they evacuated and law enforcement has been cutting dogs loose as they find them.” Approximately 200 stray animals have already been picked up by animal control and these animals will be moved to the temporary shelter. A database will track all animals who enter the shelter, with the goal of reuniting owners with their lost pets. Temporary shelter for pets will be offered to residents who lost their homes and are unable to keep their animals with them in shelters or hotels. One Noah’s Wish volunteer, a veterinary technician from Indianapolis, is working to assess the needs of local veterinarians in Slidell so they can open their offices to treat injured animals.
The city of Slidell, located directly north of Lake Ponchatrain was devastated by Katrina. “We can use all the help we can get right now and I am incredibly grateful to have Noah’s Wish here to coordinate relief efforts for pets,” said Slidell Mayor Ben Morris.
***************************************************************************
Update: August 31, 2005 - 9:00 p.m. Louisiana Time
The Noah's Wish team reached Slidell, Louisiana today. We have met with emergency management and animal control. Tomorrow we will begin to provide assistance for animals in this devastated area. Almost everyone we talked with this afternoon had a story to tell of an animal. Unfortunately, many of the stories were of animals that were left behind when people had to evacuate. People are getting desperate to find their animals.
Areas of Slidell are still underwater this evening and the devastation is widespread. There is no electricity, gasoline, or phone service (landlines and cell). In order to post this update I had to travel almost two hours back to Baton Rouge where I could get internet access. Even here cell phone usage is impossible. We truly feel cut off. I will be driving back to Hammond tonight where our team is staying at the home of one of our Volunteers.
Tomorrow evening I will return to Baton Rouge with a much more detailed update and photographs.
Report Submitted By: Terri Crisp - Noah's Wish Director
***************************************************************************