Evacuating the Waveland, MS shelter
Hi all,
I apologize for not writing sooner. The Friday before the hurricane was the last day I had computer access with my ARF mailing list and even though I got back to Mass. Thursday I have been straight out.
On Friday, August 29th a group of folks from MS helped evacuate the entire Waveland Animal Shelter. With a donated horse trailer belonging to Kelly Gilbert and Martha Lewis of Flora, MS and arranged by Debbie Young and Lisa Martin, of the Jackson area we easily transported every dog and puppy to the evacuation center in Jackson, MS. Cindy Shaw, cat rescuer extraordinaire, pulled up the rear with a van filled with every cat and kitten. Earlier in the day Brenda Cromwell and one of her volunteers Debbie left Waveland with 25 animals in a passenger van and drove them to upstate NY. Sadly we have lost 5 puppies from that transport since they arrived. It appears distemper may be the cause but we are not sure. At least one of the puppies was very emaciated and weak when she was taken on the van and even with sub q fluids throughout the trip and persistent care when they arrived she did not make it. It never gets easy.
The evacuation center in Jackson was amazing. We met some great folks from the Red Cross, the MS Animal Rescue Team (MART) and evacuees from New Orleans and surrounding parishes and Debby Young arranged for a steady supply of local volunteers to help us with the animals. Traci and June were relentless in the care of the kids and Peg Preble flew in from Mass. to assist primarily with the cats and kittens. When we arrived at the evac ctr. we found a litter of 5 feral kittens so Cindy Shaw set a trap and by the next morning we had trapped every one of them. Today they are being socialized at ARK in Madison, MS and soon will find wonderful homes.
The final tally was 94 animals all together. They included Buddy who will fly to Mass this week and Babay who has a new home in NC. Sammy and Mama were taken into Kelly and Martha's home and Cat and Brownie are going to take the drive back to Canada with June and Traci. We have one dog recovering from a parvo outbreak and he is at Debby's vet in Canton, MS. So far so good.
Today many of our dogs, puppies, cats and kittens are being cared for at ARK in Madison, MS. Lisa and Kelly have been there every day even though they are not on the payroll. Truth be told there is no payroll because ARK opened their doors a month early when they knew the Waveland animals had nowhere to go. I don't knew what I would have done without ARK. And I don't know what we would have done without you….many of you sent donations and they are very much needed. We have vet bills to cover and spays and neuters to perform. Buddy and Babay need to fly to their new homes and tomorrow I will take Kit and Buddha Blue to Robin Carlin, my vet, in western Mass. where they will be adopted to good homes where they will be loved. We did a lot right this time…
My gratitude to my MS friends, Debby, Lisa, Kelly, Elizabeth and Martha. All of the folks at ARK - Marlo, Sherri and Stacey. And thanks so much to Lydia, the new director of the Waveland Animal Shelter and Babay and Rusty of Waveland, MS who took Brenda and I into their home. While making us feel comfortable and welcomed they were busy packing up their valuables….they didn't want to lose everything again…….and the Ferry family of Waveland once again sent a large donation, the family who lost 10 family homes as a result of Katrina - they could have so much more to worry about or focus on but they help me every time. They are my powers of examples…
I am blessed to have this community of all of you who have supported me for three years, for all of "the fours" who have filled my life with purpose and love and for the volunteers who show up every time to help us keep the kids safe….and a BIG thank you to Kris Garvey for putting us back in touch with PAWS Chicago. PAWS will be leaving for Waveland this week to empty the shelter once again. If, God forbid Ike hits the coast of MS the Waveland Animal Shelter will be empty….again….
Here's Babay and some of our puppies!
Chris
Founder, Animal Rescue Front
"Until there are none save one"
I apologize for not writing sooner. The Friday before the hurricane was the last day I had computer access with my ARF mailing list and even though I got back to Mass. Thursday I have been straight out.
On Friday, August 29th a group of folks from MS helped evacuate the entire Waveland Animal Shelter. With a donated horse trailer belonging to Kelly Gilbert and Martha Lewis of Flora, MS and arranged by Debbie Young and Lisa Martin, of the Jackson area we easily transported every dog and puppy to the evacuation center in Jackson, MS. Cindy Shaw, cat rescuer extraordinaire, pulled up the rear with a van filled with every cat and kitten. Earlier in the day Brenda Cromwell and one of her volunteers Debbie left Waveland with 25 animals in a passenger van and drove them to upstate NY. Sadly we have lost 5 puppies from that transport since they arrived. It appears distemper may be the cause but we are not sure. At least one of the puppies was very emaciated and weak when she was taken on the van and even with sub q fluids throughout the trip and persistent care when they arrived she did not make it. It never gets easy.
The evacuation center in Jackson was amazing. We met some great folks from the Red Cross, the MS Animal Rescue Team (MART) and evacuees from New Orleans and surrounding parishes and Debby Young arranged for a steady supply of local volunteers to help us with the animals. Traci and June were relentless in the care of the kids and Peg Preble flew in from Mass. to assist primarily with the cats and kittens. When we arrived at the evac ctr. we found a litter of 5 feral kittens so Cindy Shaw set a trap and by the next morning we had trapped every one of them. Today they are being socialized at ARK in Madison, MS and soon will find wonderful homes.
The final tally was 94 animals all together. They included Buddy who will fly to Mass this week and Babay who has a new home in NC. Sammy and Mama were taken into Kelly and Martha's home and Cat and Brownie are going to take the drive back to Canada with June and Traci. We have one dog recovering from a parvo outbreak and he is at Debby's vet in Canton, MS. So far so good.
Today many of our dogs, puppies, cats and kittens are being cared for at ARK in Madison, MS. Lisa and Kelly have been there every day even though they are not on the payroll. Truth be told there is no payroll because ARK opened their doors a month early when they knew the Waveland animals had nowhere to go. I don't knew what I would have done without ARK. And I don't know what we would have done without you….many of you sent donations and they are very much needed. We have vet bills to cover and spays and neuters to perform. Buddy and Babay need to fly to their new homes and tomorrow I will take Kit and Buddha Blue to Robin Carlin, my vet, in western Mass. where they will be adopted to good homes where they will be loved. We did a lot right this time…
My gratitude to my MS friends, Debby, Lisa, Kelly, Elizabeth and Martha. All of the folks at ARK - Marlo, Sherri and Stacey. And thanks so much to Lydia, the new director of the Waveland Animal Shelter and Babay and Rusty of Waveland, MS who took Brenda and I into their home. While making us feel comfortable and welcomed they were busy packing up their valuables….they didn't want to lose everything again…….and the Ferry family of Waveland once again sent a large donation, the family who lost 10 family homes as a result of Katrina - they could have so much more to worry about or focus on but they help me every time. They are my powers of examples…
I am blessed to have this community of all of you who have supported me for three years, for all of "the fours" who have filled my life with purpose and love and for the volunteers who show up every time to help us keep the kids safe….and a BIG thank you to Kris Garvey for putting us back in touch with PAWS Chicago. PAWS will be leaving for Waveland this week to empty the shelter once again. If, God forbid Ike hits the coast of MS the Waveland Animal Shelter will be empty….again….
Here's Babay and some of our puppies!
Chris
Founder, Animal Rescue Front
"Until there are none save one"
Labels: animal rescue, cats, dogs, evacuation, gustave, mississippi, MS, shelter, waveland
posted by Rachel H. McKay | 7:06 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home