HELP FEED THE NEW ORLEANS KATRINA PETS
by making a donation
towards the purchase of food for the Katrina pets.
Remember:
it could have been your city and
it could be YOUR PETS struggling to survive!
Please help feed the Katrina
pets by making a tax deductible donation towards food! Your donation
will not go to us, the St. Martin Humane Society, but to Animal
Rights for Life, one of the groups feeding the New Orleans Katrina
pets.
Look at this map. New
Orleans has been divided into 42 sections by volunteer feeders from
groups like Animal
Rights for Life and Animal
Rescue New Orleans.
This is only ONE of those sections and every dot or pushpin
represents a feeding station where previously spotted groups of
homeless pets would find food and clean water, IF
volunteers and food were always available! Instead some sections
are only visited once a month, sometimes every other month!
Your donation will be used to buy food for the homeless Katrina
pets.
Here are some videos and
a message from Pam Leavy, one of these tireless
volunteers:
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- Troubled
Waters
video - Dec. 2006
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2G5ssfTOIu4
- Still
Forgotten -
Filmed July-Sept 2006 (with some early year footage)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pl4D3dW0N_o
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- Somebody's
Praying -
Filmed Dec. 2005
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnrAnRnGUrY
- I
Want To Live -
Filmed Oct.-Nov. 2005
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqVAFaCRNe4
- You'll
Never Walk Alone
- Filmed Sept-Oct. 2005
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kvtKcrQ-3o
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"Occasionally criticized and
questioned about my continued involvement with animal relief in New
Orleans, I again feel it necessary to explain why we continue to
provide life for these animals. Before Katrina, feral colonies
naturally formed around food sources, with the colonies growing to
the size that the food sources could accommodate---restaurants,
dumpsters, places of business where employees often fed the strays.
Also, controlled feral colonies existed, fed by volunteers, just as
we do now, only the colonies were concentrated to target areas
instead of being spread out throughout an entire city. Katrina not
only dismantled the colonies, killing thousands of ferals and strays,
as well as house pets, but Katrina also destroyed their food sources,
leaving sludge, dirt, and mold/mildew. In addition, the storm tossed
inexperienced household pets into a frightening environment in which
even the most experienced feral animal would have great difficulty
surviving. While rescues continued for several months after the
storm, resulting in many happy reunions, we fed those who remained on
the street. We fed pets and ferals alike. We saved the lives of
family pets who'd died of starvation had we not intervened. My most
memorable letters are from pet owners thanking feeders for keeping
their pets alive. At what point do we stop? I have no idea. I'd
love for the critics to walk in my shoes, to see these animals
waiting for me, sitting at empty feeding pans, or hiding in bushes
and debris, waiting for me to walk away. Heart wrenching! Why
would feeders volunteer to do this if it were not necessary? I can
think of a hundred other things I'd rather do than drive to N.O. and
spend hours filling f/w stations in the extreme heat, in the pouring
rain, in freezing temperatures, in dense fog, crawling under houses
and over debris, in mud, etc. But on the other hand, I can't think
of a thing I rather do than provide a life source for these innocent
animals who have no one else. To walk away now, would mean certain
death for most of them---hey guys, this disaster could have happened
to any of us (terrorism, chemical/hazardous substance accidents,
tornadoes, etc.) We could be banned from reaching our homes and our
pets in a sudden disaster when there was no time for an organized
evacuation--we weren't home. Our own pets could tossed out on the
streets. I'd hope someone would be looking after them as we are now.
"
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...
And a New Orleans prayer
Twas The Night
Before Christmas 2005 (A New Orleans Prayer)
Dave F. Metairie, LA December 23, 2005
'Twas the night before
Christmas, let me give you the scoop.
Not a creature was stirring, cause they all fled the
coop.
No G-Ma in Lakeview, no Joe in Chalmette,
No Towanda on St. Claude, no one's heard from her yet.
No Boudreaux in
Waveland, no Jacque in Grand Isle,
No Jean in Slidell, man that girl makes me smile.
The place it was emptied by Katrina's great tide.
They all headed north, now they're spread far and wide.
As I sat there alone, I wondered out loud,
What Christmas would bring without the usual crowd.
And I questioned how Santa would find all my friends,
Now they're gone cross the country from beginning to
end.
So I sat at my desk, which was no more than a book,
Cause all of my stuff damn Katrina done took.
And I wrote me a letter, crafted with care,
Made my list for St. Nick, a New Orleans prayer.
I start, "Pere Noel, you know times are hard,
And I guess fun and laughter, well they're not in my
cards.
But I have a few favors to ask on this night,
And perhaps you can help before morning's first light.
I ask for good weather, so all of these crews
Can give lights to the city, before this year's through.
Bring water and gas to all of the houses,
And to Rite-Aide, and Popeye's, and Frost Stop and
Rouse's.
And for all of those
businesses, once doing fine,
A shopper or two, and a "We're Open" sign.
And the schools sitting empty, now void of all noise,
A teacher or two and some girls and some boys.
For those who lost loved ones, I ask that they find
Some love in their hearts and some peace in their mind.
And for those who were lost who had no one to cry,
Family in heaven to sit by their side.
To the four legged
creatures, and the ones who have wings,
A backyard to run in…a big cage with a swing.
For the people who found them, and fed them, I pray
That their own little companions never wander or stray.
For the young men and women who protected our
streets,
Who gave ice and gave water, and something to eat.
May the heavens look down and see all that you've done.
And bless you and your families for lifetimes to come.
And as long as I'm
asking these favors of you,
There is one more thing that I wish you would do.
In the Dome let the Saints win just one more game,
While those two words, New Orleans, are still in front of
their name.
But mostly the reason I'm writing today,
Is for something we both know won't fit on your sleigh.
For all of the people who wander and roam,
For the New Orleans natives from Houston to Nome.
A place to come back to, with family and friends.
The knowledge that soon their long journey will end
For all of those people in shelters and trailers,
A place to call home, oh, and no levee failures.
So when you head South on your sleigh ride tonight,
You'll find very few people, and fewer bright lights
But the spirit is here, sent back home from afar...
So shout "Merry Christmas New Orleans, wherever you
are."
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