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Animals and Hurricane Katrina
In New Orleans they are forcing people to abandon their animals before they allow them to get on the bus to go to Texas. Next time the national Humane Society asks you for money, ask them why they were not there with buses for the people with animals. Today I saw a woman abandon her little white dog who she had clung to for 4 days. Her choice was stay and die with the dog or just abandon him. She finally got on the bus and just left the dog. Many others there with dogs and cats will have to make the same choice.
When I think of all the money I gave to these animal organizations, I am resolved, Never Again. They talk a good game, hiring many educators but are simply not there when the chips are down. Oh they will come afterward and round up some of the companion animals still alive. They will show pictures of these pathetic animals in cages while they ask for money. They will tell us how the owners were not "responsible " as they did not take good care of the animals. Then they will kill the animals. Please send money. Soon we will start hearing their blame the victim lectures.
But they do nothing to HELP owners who desperately tried to save animals remain united with their animals. They do not spend money to hire buses to take animals AND owners out at the same time. It is in their economic interest to NOT help owners. If you have the strength, write them and tell them to get buses to the gulf NOW! Tell them to open shelters for animals and their owners!
Write President Bush and tell him next time he tours a disaster area with the red cross and salvation army he ought to bring the humane society and the ASPCA along. The ASPCA actually is the action organization and should be the primary organization to be funded. Tell him buses and shelters for people with animals have to be part of any evacuation planning and the FEMA reconstruction funding. He travels with his dog - tell him other people feel the same way about their dogs and cats.
"Feral Cats in the News" (link on green column) has a whole list of organizations asking for money so they can "help" but they have not been there. They are doing nothing to help animals and owners stay together. They ARE using this disaster as a fundraiser. Check to see what they are actually going to do before you give. There is a blame the victim philosophy in the animal rights movement that does not seek institutional response change but just blames animal caregivers for irresponsibility. They will not blame FEMA policies or do any organizing mobilization to change those policies. Don't fund them unless they commit to organizing for institutional change in disaster response policy.
Noah's Wish seems to be the only one actually in Louisiana but the workers say honestly that they feel overwhelmed and cut off. Nevertheless, at least they are actually trying. And the ASPCA To Donate $1 Million In Disaster Relief Funds For Animals Affected by Hurricane Katrina (posted 09/02/2005 - Actions You Can Take) .
There is more discussion of this on the Cat Out Loud blog. Look at the comment section under "Hurricane Katrina". There is a link to Cat Out Loud blog on the green column to your right.
When I think of all the money I gave to these animal organizations, I am resolved, Never Again. They talk a good game, hiring many educators but are simply not there when the chips are down. Oh they will come afterward and round up some of the companion animals still alive. They will show pictures of these pathetic animals in cages while they ask for money. They will tell us how the owners were not "responsible " as they did not take good care of the animals. Then they will kill the animals. Please send money. Soon we will start hearing their blame the victim lectures.
But they do nothing to HELP owners who desperately tried to save animals remain united with their animals. They do not spend money to hire buses to take animals AND owners out at the same time. It is in their economic interest to NOT help owners. If you have the strength, write them and tell them to get buses to the gulf NOW! Tell them to open shelters for animals and their owners!
Write President Bush and tell him next time he tours a disaster area with the red cross and salvation army he ought to bring the humane society and the ASPCA along. The ASPCA actually is the action organization and should be the primary organization to be funded. Tell him buses and shelters for people with animals have to be part of any evacuation planning and the FEMA reconstruction funding. He travels with his dog - tell him other people feel the same way about their dogs and cats.
"Feral Cats in the News" (link on green column) has a whole list of organizations asking for money so they can "help" but they have not been there. They are doing nothing to help animals and owners stay together. They ARE using this disaster as a fundraiser. Check to see what they are actually going to do before you give. There is a blame the victim philosophy in the animal rights movement that does not seek institutional response change but just blames animal caregivers for irresponsibility. They will not blame FEMA policies or do any organizing mobilization to change those policies. Don't fund them unless they commit to organizing for institutional change in disaster response policy.
Noah's Wish seems to be the only one actually in Louisiana but the workers say honestly that they feel overwhelmed and cut off. Nevertheless, at least they are actually trying. And the ASPCA To Donate $1 Million In Disaster Relief Funds For Animals Affected by Hurricane Katrina (posted 09/02/2005 - Actions You Can Take) .
There is more discussion of this on the Cat Out Loud blog. Look at the comment section under "Hurricane Katrina". There is a link to Cat Out Loud blog on the green column to your right.
posted by Greenconsciousness
at 6:58 PM - Link
10 Comments:
Thanks so much for writing this!!! I don't know how I found it, but I was curious to know how they were going to help the animals and what's happened to them. Now I know where to donate and where not to. I've also copied your article and sent it to everyone in my address book to get the ball rolling. Hope it helps!
THANK YOU FOR DISTRIBUTING IT AND BE SURE TO USE THE RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THE CAT OUT LOUD ENTRY ABOVE THIS ONE--- BLESS YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS!!!
Information and resources mentioned on Katrina Animals Pets at catsinthenews.blogspot.com (Feral Cats in the News ~ the Feral Cat Blog!) are informational, not endorsements or recommendations, unless so stated. All of the national animal rescue groups mentioned in the original listing ARE on the ground in the disaster area.
Yes Barb - they are there NOW exactly as I said they would be after the fact. I want them to there with buses which will evacuate animals AND their owners together, with shelters that will house animals and their owners together before people are forced to abandon their animals.. - I want them to lobby FEMA and the states to fund such efforts BEFORE the next emergency so that we act differently.
As it is they are "rescuing" the abandoned who should never be abandoned and collecting tons of money from people like me who care about animals while they are doing it. Disaster is a profit generator for the animal rights movement.
But I want to see a lobby effort before the next disaster to allow owners to stay with their animals in special buses and in special shelters because that bond should be a priority for preservation. They can use the events of this occurrence as evidence that people will not evacuate if they have to leave their animals.
Being a savior after the fact is very satisfying to those who do it and it will always need doing but a better effort can be made to help animals in natural disasters if we cause the relief agencies to acknowledge the value of the bond between owners and animals with a separate plan for the evacuation of animal owners.
I am willing to fund such efforts but only if they are combined with a lobby effort to change FEMA and state policy so as to keep owners and animals together throughout the ordeal. Especially people trapped with their animals in poverty who do not have the resources to save themselves or who choose to stay with their animals rather than abandon them.
I believe this movement needs to develop a lot more respect for animal owners who are not part of the movement clique but who are caring for their own animals with great love. It is only common sense to understand that all work for animals should have the ultimate goal of putting the workers out of business.
I could go on and on... But it is the animal lovers who will have to work for institutional change because the large animal welfare organizations will not do it.
Ordinary pet owners must demand that their rights be respected by those who always think they know better. Write to the media, write to your congress people and the president. Start petitions. Don't leave it to the "humane" society ----
"I just got off the phone w/ her & she is overwhelmed by the number of animals they are trying to care for."
Blame game? If not now when? Plenty of time afterward? They will NEVER discuss this afterward. There is a woman on TV right now with TiKi who has been delivering water to people all week with Tiki and she now wants to leave. The guard is telling her she has to abandon Tiki. I do not give a damn about people who are "overwhelmed" I want that woman to be able to stay with her dog rather than raise money for rescuers. Yes I am angry and I am bitter about people such as yourself. Why doesn't the Vet School go on TV RIGHT NOW - get the media in there, show them all the animals and say it is WRONG to do this to people and their animals??? WHY?? ANSWER ME!@! NO instead they USE this to ask for money. PUKE ON VETS who are afraid to look foolish by demanding that animals and their owners NOT be separated! I am glad you wrote your opinion but I disagree strongly. WE NEED TO GET THE CAMERAS INTO THE CAGES RIGHT NOW WHILE THE MEDIA IS PAYING ATTENTION. NOT ONE MORE DIME FOR RESCUE WITHOUT INSTITUTIONAL CHANGE EFFORTS FROM THOSE WHO ASK FOR MONEY!!!!!
Did the school tell the media that it is wrong for the state to refuse to evacuate the animals with their owners? Or did they let them film the pathetic animals so they could use them to ask for money for the school? I bet it was the later in which case you sound like a con artist with your hand out.
I don't care who's right or wrong, I only care about the animals that are scared, hungry and displaced!!!!!! At this point it is scary to make a donation to anyone for fear it will not be used in the IMMEDIATE sense it should be!! I will donate thru my local Humane Society, I know them and trust them.
I understand this reaction - this was my reaction for the last 20 years. I am over it. I don't think you know the humane society - none of us really do.
If you do give them money this time at least write with that money and say that you want them to work to change the policy of separating owners and their animals. That you will agitate with your elected representatives so that the ASPCA and Noah's Wish (and the Humane Society) are funded to hire special buses and shelters that transport people with their animals, that shelter people with their animals. Will you at least do that much to change things? Because in two months the humane society will have killed most of the unclaimed animals they rescue today.
And that is not the worst - breaking the bond of love between people and the only thing they have in the world to love that loves them in return- that is the worst. The hardening and coldness that takes the place of love is the worst, especially in the children.
I think you have use my blog long enough - take your game somewhere else.
Petfinders was on TV tonight. The spokeswoman said there have been no rescues of stranded pets because the animal organizations have "not been let in to do it". The pets in shelters are those they found around the SuperDome.
Did she say separating animals from their owners was wrong? Did she demand that the rescue groups be let in? No, she gave a lecture about keeping your pet on a leash and buying cages.
My disgust is an ocean
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