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| Guardians of Rescue pic |
Wearing a red jacket and hood, she stands in the rain, holding her dog
in her arms. Her face says it all: “She cannot bring her dog Missy into the
shelter for flood evacuees in Houston,” read the AP photo caption on August 28.
Where are they now? Now that
hurricanes seem to surround us – and we’re only halfway through hurricane
season. Now, with the Gulf Coast in recovery mode from Hurricane Harvey. Now,
after Hurricane Irma has ravaged the Caribbean and Florida comes next. Now, while Hurricanes Jose and Katia wait in line.
hurricanes seem to surround us – and we’re only halfway through hurricane
season. Now, with the Gulf Coast in recovery mode from Hurricane Harvey. Now,
after Hurricane Irma has ravaged the Caribbean and Florida comes next. Now, while Hurricanes Jose and Katia wait in line.
This has been a horrible time for humans – and animals. Efforts to
rescue people have looked comprehensive, with myriad agencies and volunteers
tirelessly pitching in, but there seemed to be much less planning for pets. Despite advance storm warnings and federal
legislation prompted by Hurricane Katrina’s horrific aftermath for animals,
countless terrified pet dogs and cats hid out as high as they could get, not
understanding what was going on or where their people were.
rescue people have looked comprehensive, with myriad agencies and volunteers
tirelessly pitching in, but there seemed to be much less planning for pets. Despite advance storm warnings and federal
legislation prompted by Hurricane Katrina’s horrific aftermath for animals,
countless terrified pet dogs and cats hid out as high as they could get, not
understanding what was going on or where their people were.
Stories and images of pets evacuated with their people have been too
scarce. The few pictures of families on the move with their pets have been rare, but welcome. They included one
family of six who took their pet pig and dog, and a woman whose family included
her own four dogs plus foster dogs and neighbors’ dogs, totaling 20 canines,
all in the rescue boat together.
scarce. The few pictures of families on the move with their pets have been rare, but welcome. They included one
family of six who took their pet pig and dog, and a woman whose family included
her own four dogs plus foster dogs and neighbors’ dogs, totaling 20 canines,
all in the rescue boat together.
Naturally, it wasn’t all bad
for animals, including pets. Early on, I saw horses being walked to safety
through flood waters and read about an organization determined to save as many
Texas bats as possible.
For me, these are Harvey-rescue highlights:
* The Animal
Protection League of NJ (www.APLNJ.org) had
worked with Guardians of Rescue (https://guardiansofrescue.org/) during Super Storm Sandy, finding them hugely helpful, organized, and dedicated, says Angi Metler, executive director. So “when
APL heard the Guardians were going to Texas, we wanted to support their efforts,
and they were thrilled that we sent them
as much as we could on their needs list. APLNJ and League of Humane Voters -NJ
members donated almost $2,500 in under one day!”
* The Animal
Protection League of NJ (www.APLNJ.org) had
worked with Guardians of Rescue (https://guardiansofrescue.org/) during Super Storm Sandy, finding them hugely helpful, organized, and dedicated, says Angi Metler, executive director. So “when
APL heard the Guardians were going to Texas, we wanted to support their efforts,
and they were thrilled that we sent them
as much as we could on their needs list. APLNJ and League of Humane Voters -NJ
members donated almost $2,500 in under one day!”
For starters, APLNJ
shipped a pallet full of dog and cat food, crates, blankets, carriers, grass
hay, alfalfa, leads, bowls, litter and litter boxes, as well as sustaining meals
for the volunteers.
shipped a pallet full of dog and cat food, crates, blankets, carriers, grass
hay, alfalfa, leads, bowls, litter and litter boxes, as well as sustaining meals
for the volunteers.
* The Humane Society of the United States
(HSUS) focused initially on those left
behind –rescuing terrified animals and moving area shelter animals who had been
up for adoption to other parts of the country. That made room to house pets
left homeless when their families evacuated or were rescued, according to ED
Wayne Pacelle’s blog.
(HSUS) focused initially on those left
behind –rescuing terrified animals and moving area shelter animals who had been
up for adoption to other parts of the country. That made room to house pets
left homeless when their families evacuated or were rescued, according to ED
Wayne Pacelle’s blog.
First responders and citizen rescuers who saved pets did
so in part because of disaster response policies HSUS had helped implement after
Katrina – chief among them, the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards
Act of 2006, requiring state and local officials to make evacuation plans and
provide shelter for animal companions.
so in part because of disaster response policies HSUS had helped implement after
Katrina – chief among them, the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards
Act of 2006, requiring state and local officials to make evacuation plans and
provide shelter for animal companions.
* Numerous other organizations, and even online
publications, stepped up to help.
publications, stepped up to help.
Finally, this background about the Red Cross, to which I’ll never contribute again. After Hurricane
Katrina, I completed a number of survivor bios I had volunteered to write for
the organization. Then I learned that the Red Cross had not evacuated pets or admitted
them into its hurricane shelters – often forcing residents to make the deadly
choice between their own rescue or staying with their beloved animals. I quit
immediately.
Katrina, I completed a number of survivor bios I had volunteered to write for
the organization. Then I learned that the Red Cross had not evacuated pets or admitted
them into its hurricane shelters – often forcing residents to make the deadly
choice between their own rescue or staying with their beloved animals. I quit
immediately.
Later, the Red Cross was deservedly chastised for
both its cruelty to animals and its
handling of the mega-money it received, earmarked for Katrina aid. I will not forget or forgive.
both its cruelty to animals and its
handling of the mega-money it received, earmarked for Katrina aid. I will not forget or forgive.
When hurricanes strike, people and animals alike deserve the
most extensive protection possible.
most extensive protection possible.
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