Pet owners reunited with animals at shelter by The Times-Picayune Monday September 01, 2008, 6:26 PM
Pet owners who evacuated for Hurricane Gustav are helping national humane organizations care for more than 1,100 dogs, cats, birds, snakes, hamsters and hermit crabs housed at a shelter in Shreveport.
Officials with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said residents were reunited with their pets at the "Louisiana Mega Shelter" housed at Hersh Barn at the Louisiana State Fairgrounds. The animals were evacuated to Shreveport in air-conditioned vehicles, while the pet owners rode to a Red Cross shelter in chartered buses.
"It's gone really well," said Allison Cardona, director of disaster preparedness for the ASPCA. "In Katrina, we were rescuing animals because people couldn't leave with them. This difference this time is that people could bring their pets. They're so happy to be here to help with their animals."
The Red Cross shelter for residents is nearby the fairgrounds, so owners have easy access to their pets. The owners have been given color-coded wrist bands allowing them to help walk, feed and care for the animals at the shelter.
ASPCA teams were working 12-hour shifts in tandem with staff from four other national humane organizations at the shelter. The other organizations include the Humane Society of the United States, the American Humane Association, Noah's Wish and the International Fund for Animal Welfare.
I saw on the news this one lady holding her bunny. she said during katrina she lost all of her pets and this time she wasn't leaving them behind. I am glad they didn't have to!
Yes. People died during Katrina because they refused to leave their pets.
Really a good outcome!!!
what a difference it made from the last time! Good work to all levels of government!
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