Celebration Station, a new staging area in New Orleans, is just about ready to roll.

The center (a former arcade in Metarie), which includes a triage area for the animals, is a joint effort between national rescue groups to temporarily house and process the remaining displaced Katrina pets before they go out to either their people or to new homes.

There's plenty to celebrate at Celebration Station. The center means that the thousands of needy pets still roaming New Orleans and Gulf Coast streets can be rounded up and taken to one of two staging areas.

More volunteers are arriving each day, and 50 dogs and about half as many cats have already been rescued from the streets.

Pictured above is a beagle recently picked up in New Orleans by a volunteer and taken to Celebration Station.

Article by Cathy Scott. Photo by Clay Myers

Note: All animals rescued in New Orleans are first taken to the Louisiana SPCA for triage where photos are taken and uploaded and vaccinations given before heading to the Best Friends rescue center at Celebration Station where animals are held for 5 days before being placed up for adoption.

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