Best Friends provides aid to pets left behind

Once the storm decreased in intensity, Best Friends Rapid Response Manager, Rich Crook, convergent volunteers, and Jefferson Parish Animal Shelter animal control officers set out yesterday to check on the addresses where animals were reported to have been left behind.

One family entrusted their dog, Cam, with a neighbor who had planned on weathering out the storm. However, when the mandatory evacuation was imposed, she had no choice but to leave Cam behind. No knowing what else to do, she contacted Best Friends. Lucky Cam was frightened, but none the worse for wear when Crook climbed the tall fence to hoist the big boy over. For the whole story of his rescue, click here.

Unfortunately, Cam was not the only animal left behind when their guardians evacuated.

“We were unable to contact owners of the animals we spotted, so tonight we just noted their locations, made sure they were safe and secure, and left them fresh food and water,” noted Crook. “We will be back out first thing in the morning,”

They were forced to cut their search and rescue mission short due to poor weather.

Tomorrow, it is hoped the team can complete final assessments so that volunteer deployment status can be determined.

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

1. You can help fund Best Friends’ efforts to help save companion animals in emergency situations with an online donation to the Best Friends Rescue Fund.

2. If you wish to help in emergencies like this, you must be prepared in advance. All volunteers must complete the following five course, available through the FEMA website, in order to be placed on the “ready” list:

- FEMA IS-100 Introduction to the Incident Command System, I-100
- FEMA IS-200 ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents
- FEMA IS-700 National Incident Management System (NIMS), An Introduction
- FEMA IS-800.B National Response Framework, An Introduction
- FEMA IS-10 Animals in Disaster, Module A: Awareness and Preparedness

Additional volunteer requirements can be found in the Rapid Response community resources, in the “Requirements for Volunteers” folder.

Once complete, please contact Ellen Gilmore at elleng@bestfriends.org for more information on joining the Best Friends Rapid Response team.

For more information:
• Best Friends Animal Society Rapid Response Community
• See Emergency.Louisiana.gov for the area’s latest information, including the Louisiana State Animal Response Team (LSART) evacuation details
• Riding the Storm Out, blog by Best Friends Network Louisiana community and Ambassador Team Leader, Patty Meehan
• Hurricane Gustav, Best Friends on the Scene in New Orleans

Posted by Jennifer Hayes, Best Friends staff
Photo credit: provided courtesy of FEMA/Patsy Lynch of a dog waiting for evacuation from Beaumont, Texas.

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