As pet lovers, one thing I’m sure has been on all of our minds, is the heartbreak and tragedy befalling the pets of Hurricane Katrina victims. Perhaps like me, you’ve tried to imagine what it would be like to be stranded as a refugee with two small children, two cats and a dog, no food or water, and nowhere to go. Actually, in this scenario we would be one of the lucky families, because at least we would all be alive and together.
For many pets, they have not been so lucky. While extensive pet rescue efforts have been underway, there are still thousands of animals who have nowhere to go, and untold thousands more who are perishing while still awaiting animal search and rescue teams. Some of these animals have families who are hoping to be reunited. Others will be seeking permanent homes.
If you’d like to help out from a pet perspective, there are many things you can do. Of course, you can donate pet food, leashes, collars, crates/carriers, blankets, or money. But another important thing you could do would be to open your home to a Katrina survivor pet who needs a foster or permanent home.
You’ll need to keep in mind that it would be a long term foster situation, because it could take months to match up the displaced pets with their owners. Some pets may never be claimed, and you would then need to participate in finding an appropriate permanent home, or keeping the pet yourself.
Following, I have compiled several resources for those interested in helping the pet survivors in one way or another. When deciding how many pets to take in, it would be a good idea to find out whether the organization will help out with the animals’ medical care expenses or whether you’ll be paying for that yourself. Fostering might be just the right way to assist these otherwise helpless animals.
www.1-800-Save-A-Pet.com- Is coordinating with the SPCA and HSUS to match potential fosters with animals in need.
www.hsus.org- The Humane Society of the United States’ website has a lot of info on how you can help or donate, and reports on the efforts of their extensive Disaster Animal Response Teams.
www.aspca.org- To donate to The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Donated pet supplies can be dropped off at the most local animal control offices or shelters. Contact your local animal shelter or humane society for dropoff points. Visit our resources page to find a shelter near you.
If you’ve been considering adding a new pet to your family, now is the time. Remember that even if you don’t specifically adopt a Katrina pet survivor, each pet adopted leaves a space available for another to be saved.
Lori Verni-Fogarsi has been an author, speaker, small business consultant, and Certified Master Trainer for 18+ years. Her novel, “Momnesia,” (contemporary women’s fiction) has been designated a National Indie Excellence Book Awards Finalist, and her nonfiction book, “Everything You Need to Know About House Training Puppies and Adult Dogs,” has been widely acclaimed in its genre. To learn more, please visit www.LoriTheAuthor.com and join Lori on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LoriTheAuthor.
