Hurricane Katrina
The following animal welfare/rights groups are involved in the rescue efforts. Their roles may differ, from rescuing animal trapped in the rubble, to providing temporary housing, to locating foster homes and coordinating adoption efforts. Many of the groups perform several of these functions. Take a moment to browse through their sites before deciding which you’d like to donate to or volunteer for.
Also, realize that many of the local Humane Societies and SPCAs are not funded by the national groups. If you would like your monetary donation to go to a local animal rescue group or shelter, then you probably need to make your donation directly to that organization. For example, when you donate to the ASPCA, you are donating to a national organization that only operates one shelter in NYC. The Louisiana SPCA is a different entity and will not necessarily receive any portion of your gift. Keep this in mind when deciding which group(s) you’d like to donate to. You may also want to check with your local animal shelters and rescue groups to see if they’re involved in any capacity.
Please give as much as you can, and volunteer if possible.
- Kelly
Groups Involved in the Rescue Effort
American Humane Association
www.americanhumane.org/
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)
www.aspca.org/
Animal Rescue New Orleans
www.AnimalRescueNewOrleans.com
Best Friends Animal Sanctuary
www.bestfriends.org/
Dogs Deserve Better
www.dogsdeservebetter.org/katrina.html
Houston SPCA
www.spcahouston.org/
The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS)
www.hsus.org/
International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW)
www.ifaw.org/
Kinship Circle
www.kinshipcircle.org/
Louisiana SPCA
www.la-spca.org/
Noah’s Wish
www.noahswish.org/
Psychology Volunteers for New Orleans Animals and Their People
www.psychologyvolunteers4animals.info/
United Animal Nations (EARS)
www.uan.org/
Additional Resources
The following websites offer additional resources re: the ongoing animal rescue efforts in the Gulf Coast. Those groups mentioned above also have a wealth of Hurricane Katrina information on their sites.
Best Friends Network: Hurricane Relief Community
network.bestfriends.org/hurricane/news/
Kinship Circle: Help for Katrina’s Forgotten Victims
www.kinshipcircle.org/katrina/katrina.html
Pet Finder: Hurricane Katrina Animal News
www.petfinder.com/disaster/
PETA’s Helping Animals.com: Rescuing Katrina’s Forgotten Victims
www.helpinganimals.com/f-katrina.asp
Unconditonal Friends: The Pets of Katrina, One Year Later
www.unconditionalfriends.com/
The War in the Middle East
Sadly, our “civilized” government quickly forgot those lessons learned in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. When fighting broke out in the Middle East in July of 2006, animal companions were not evacuated from Lebanon along with their human families. Thus, local animal rescue groups have been hit doubly hard: not only have their shelters been destroyed and their supplies, cut off, but their meager resources are now stretched to the max as they try to care for all those dogs, cats, and primates (yes, even primates!) left behind.
Please make a donation to one of these groups today:
Beirut for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (BETA)
animals.beirut.com/
Concern for Helping Animals in Israel (CHAI)
www.chai-online.org/
Additional information is available at the following web sites:
Best Friends Network: The Middle East Community
network.bestfriends.org/middleeast/news/
PETA’s Helping Animals.com: The Latest News from Lebanon
www.helpinganimals.com/f-lebanon_updates.asp
General Animal Disaster Relief Information
In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, animal rescue groups mobilized like never before in order to assist Katrina’s most vulnerable victims. Their work continues, both in the Gulf Coast and the world over. The lessons learned from Katrina have been put to use by animal rescue organizations, which have begun to develop a network to help the animal victims of natural (and man-made) disasters around the globe.
The following resources are dedicated to animal disaster news, preparedness, and assistance:
American Humane Association: Disaster Relief
www.americanhumane.org/site/PageServer?pagename=pa_disaster_relief
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals: Disaster Preparedness
www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=disaster
Best Friends Network: Disaster Response Team
network.bestfriends.org/disasterresponse/news/
FEMA: Disaster Information Index
www.fema.gov/hazard/index.shtm
FEMA: Disaster Preparedness for Livestock Owners
www.fema.gov/plan/prepare/livestock.shtm
FEMA: Disaster Preparedness for Pet Owners
www.fema.gov/plan/prepare/animals.shtm
The Humane Society of the United States: Disaster Center
www.hsus.org/hsus_field/hsus_disaster_center/
International Fund for Animal Welfare: Animal Rescue Blog
animalrescue.typepad.com/
Kinship Circle: Disaster Victims
www.kinshipcircle.org/disasters/default.html
United Animal Nations (EARS)
www.uan.org/
Did I forget an organization or link that should be included? Let me know!