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TLC Humane Society to Katrina
  
TLC Humane Society's Adoption and Disaster Response truck is headquartered
in Gonzales, Louisiana to help the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) with
the care of animals in New Orleans. more about truck
TLC was told to bring tents, sleeping bags, and lots of clean clothes, and we
were to leave behind our aversions to chaos and horrendous smells and sights. We
are also to bring thick skin and patience. Everyone is exhausted and their
tempers are worn thin. They may not be nice to volunteers right now. We will be
reporting directly to the HSUS Coordinator and bypassing the regular volunteer
channels.
Carolyn Upton, president of TLC, board member, Ruth Ann Jones, and
volunteer Novella Moletteri left early Friday morning and plan on returning
Monday night. HSUS said they really need the use of the truck but do not needs
supplies at this time. We will be taking some large dog crates that have been
donated to the cause.
We are very grateful to the donors who are underwriting this humanitarian
venture.
[disclaimer: The following is reported by the volunteers from
TLC. Anything reported aside from their personal experience must be considered
rumor until verified. Editorial comments are mine, Claudia Scarbrough] Times listed are
EST
UPDATE September 20, 2005
2:00 pm. The gals got back to Dahlonega after driving as much as they could
and stopping for naps. The new air conditioner died about 30 miles out.
Fortunately is is under warranty.
They came home hot, exhausted, and dirty. However, Carolyn said she would go
back whenever she could. Must not have been too bad.
They really made a difference in the lives of animals and other
volunteers.
UPDATE September 19, 2005
Carolyn and Novella have spent the day in Baton Rouge getting the air
conditioning unit replaced. It is an all day affair.
There are very few live animals being rescued any more. The feeding program
for healthy dogs still in New Orleans is continued. I don't know about plans to
continue to rescue animals should the hurricane Rita make land fall in the area.
My assumption is that the groups will follow up on the animals. At this point,
the locations of the all animals being fed are recorded.
Their group disbanded yesterday and our group was considering finding another
place to work because the need is still so great. When they heard that Rita is
possibly going to hit New Orleans and that the mayor has called for mandatory
evacuation for those in the city, they decided to come home tonight.
When the air conditioning unit is replaced they will return to camp in
Gonzales, load up and leave for home.
All three have worked to their max and are exhausted. They are surely
satisfied with the animals they rescued and the lives they have touched.
Last night they came back from New Orleans with the truck packed with
animals. Every cage was full and they had cages everywhere. They had
another three hour wait. They were concerned about their animals having so
little air but they were all okay. Carolyn and Novella were very frustrated and
their nerves are getting frayed.
Send positive thoughts and prayers to all.
UPDATE September 18, 2005
5:00. People are coming in with their animals. One man had lost his dog for
4 weeks. He found him on a rooftop with 9 other dogs. His name is Snoopy and he
is a golden retriever chow mix with a black tongue. The triage center gave him a
bath, fixed an abscess, gave him antibiotics, some dog food and told the man to
bring him back in two days. The man called his wife and children and told them
about Snoopy. His wife cried and his kids were running around screaming, they
were so happy. This can bring tears to volunteers too. The animal rescuers went
back to the address and picked up the 9 dogs.
Some 4-5 week old kittens were found on a sidewalk and brought to the center.
They were dehydrated and had ulcerated eyes from upper respiratory. The team
gave them fluids and treated their needs. They are doing better.
The truck was flagged down today by the Louisiana ASPCA, who wanted to know
what they were doing. When they found out they were working the triage unit
under the Louisiana ASPCA, they said 'Oh, you are the Georgia girls!"
Evidently their reputation had gone before them. Cool!
This afternoon someone took a picture of the truck covered in love bugs. They
had come through a thick swarm of them around Hattiesburg. There are no birds in
the area since Katrina and someone said that any birds coming in would die from
the sludge. The devastation to wildlife will be even more evident as time goes
on.
Volunteers are still needed but they must be persistent. Those coming without
a contact are turned away. Know what you want to do, research who is in charge
of that department and contact that person for permission before you go.
Your chances are really good then.
Gas around Gonzales is $2.65 a gallon and is plentiful.
The 17 dogs told about at noon are from the USS
Tortuga, [scroll down to MONDAY
12SEP05 for most of the animals info] US Navy out of Little
Creek, VA. As the sailors rescued people, many gave them their animals knowing
they could not take care of them. The 17 dogs were part of 80 dogs that the
sailors had adopted themselves and sent to Norfolk, VA. The 17 dogs were
awaiting transport. They all were well-behaved. That's our navy for you.
Transport is a real issue with the rescue groups. Air transport is being
preferred. Trucks are felt to be too risky because if the truck should break
down, the animals would die in the heat.
12:00. Today the triage team was met by 17 large dogs in
crates that were transferred to Norfolk, VA. They didn't need any medical
treatment.
Ruth Ann is at Lamar-Dixon using her skills doing data entry. Gas, expected
to be a problem, has been readily available.
The sludge that is left after the water recedes is very toxic. The rumor is
that homes that have been in the water will not be habitable for 10 years. Also
2 volunteers [not from the animal community] have died because of the toxicity.
The TLC truck is a part of a triage unit much like MASH. They are set up in
an army tent in an abandoned grocery store parking lot 3 blocks from the Super
Dome and 2 blocks from Canal Street. Our group is representing HSUS and are
working with the New York ASPCA under the direction of the Louisiana ASPCA.
There are 2 veterinarians, 3-4 vet techs, 3-4 vet students and Carolyn and
Novella from TLC.
Generators are in very short supply and HSUS is very happy to have the use of
our truck and volunteers. TLC is also transporting water and medical supplies
from Lamar-Dixon Animal Expo in Gonzales to the triage site. The Texas
National Guard is protecting the triage team and their equipment.
Lamar-Dixon is a large expo center where they have horse shows and such. It
is a huge place and has over 3000 animals on site. They are shipping out dogs in
cargo planes every day to large shelters, 200 at a time. The shelters will hold
them for 30 days if they are not claimed and as long as needed if they are
claimed.
Yesterday, the triage center helped 15 dogs and 9 cats that were brought in
by families who were returning to their homes. One was a Dalmatian and her son,
both elderly. The son was given 1 bag of fluids and was up walking around but
the mom was much worse. Her body temperature was 106.9 degrees. She was packed
in ice, given two bags of fluids with glucose and placed in the truck with air
conditioning. She is being released to her family today with the understanding
that she immediately is taken to a veterinarian. She is still very ill and
possibly has other problems as well.
Another animal in serious condition was a pit bull brought in by his family.
He was very skinny, treated and kept in the truck for a while. He is a much
loved dog.
Pit bulls are a very big issue in the rescue. There was lots of pit bull
fighting in New Orleans. Some come in with many old and new wounds, though many
look like beloved pets. There are 333 pits at Lamar-Dixon that no one will take.
Some pit rescue groups have been notified. They need help in this area.
During the day, the animals are slow in coming as they are brought in by the
teams after their searches. The volunteers and the truck have to leave by 5:00
in the afternoon to be back to Lamar-Dixon before 8:00 when the gates close.
Yesterday, the team got back about 7:00 but there were over 200 dogs ahead of
them. Security is very tight. There have been many instances of people
representing themselves and stealing dogs. With all the red tape it took 3
hours for our team to get through. HSUS was going from vehicle to vehicle
offering food and water. HSUS is doing well with all the bureaucracy. They just
take it in stride.
There are 30 teams in the field searching for animals. If they suspect that
an animal is in a house they break in. If the animals are in good shape they
leave lots of food and water so they are okay until their family returns. They
remove animals that are in a debilitated state. The teams are setting up feeding
stations with food and water outside to keep the animals close to their homes
and make it easier for them to be found by their families.
UPDATE September 17, 2005
1:00 pm. Our truck is located 2 blocks from the Astrodome and is being used
as part of an intensive care unit. The generator is providing power for
equipment and air conditioning and the cages inside the truck will be used for
the animals from the intensive care unit. The truck is using its air
conditioning for the sick animals. Carolyn says the pace is good for her but
Novella is getting antsy wanting to get closer to the action. Ruth Ann stayed in
Gonzales doing what needed to be done there.
Morning. No one got a lot of sleep. Two slept in the truck, and one in the
tent. Carolyn slept on the bed that is also a dinette. She said it wasn't too
bad. It was lumpy at first but got better as the night went on. Novella slept on
a folding lounge that she brought for the purpose. They were very hot as the
group are not using the generator for their own use, saving the gas for the
animals.
Ruth Ann slept in the tent on an air mattress. The tent was musty from being
stored, but was otherwise okay. She was very hot too.
UPDATE September 16, 2005
8:00 pm. The volunteers are frustrated in their desire to immediately take
the truck into the affected area. They were grounded because each volunteer
needed to be certified to enter New Orleans. They had set up their campsite,
walked dogs, and did whatever was needed, which was plenty.
Please send your positive thoughts and prayers to all that are a part of this
disaster.
More later.
Please send donations to:
TLC Humane Society
P.O. Box 535
Dahlonega, GA 3055
Or click on "make a donation " at the top right of this
page to make an online donation..
Our heartfelt thanks go out to you for your concern for homeless and
abandoned animals both at TLC and in the storm ravaged areas.
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