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The Search Continues

Deserted pets still being found by Rapid Response

It was another grueling day for the Best Friends Rapid Response team, working long hours in the hot Texas sun. They continued their search and rescue mission to find and save those animals left behind following Hurricane Ike.

Many were discovered past the point of rescue; however, the team was able to save twelve animals yesterday, including nine dogs, two cats and one bird. Three stranded lab mixes were found on a raised porch and the bird with three dogs were recovered from a home, where the pit mix puppy was so enthusiastic about his rescue, he literally ran into Rich’s arms (see a photo of the touching encounter featured in the Washington Post). Sadly one of their rescues was a dog who had successfully weathered the storm, but was then surrendered by his guardian.

Despite the widespread abandonment of their companion animals by evacuees, the policy at The Joe Vickery/Galveston County Animal Shelter is to return pets to their guardians if someone collects them. However, another local animal welfare organization, Shelter Buddies, has agreed to taken in all rescued pets who remain unclaimed.

As animal rescue efforts continue throughout Southeast Texas, the Best Friends Animal Help department has begun to receive reports of overcrowding at shelters. Attempts are being made to assist in finding placements for animals, though this is proving difficult, as networking is still occurring for animals who were affected by Hurricane Gustav only a few weeks ago.

One particularly urgent scenario is at Montgomery County Animal Shelter, where according to an article in today’s Montgomery County Courier, 200 animals are at risk of euthanasia on Saturday if placements are not found. Those wishing to save lives through adoption or fostering can go to the shelter at 8535 State Hwy 242 in Conroe, Texas or call 936-442-7738 for additional information.

For now, the Best Friends team continues to seek out additional abandoned pets in the Galveston area.

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

1. You don’t have to be on-site in Texas to help. Be a part of Best Friends’ efforts to save companion animals in emergency situations. Please make an online donation to the support the Best Friends Rescue Fund. It is through contributions like yours that Best Friends is able to provide assistance in disasters such as Hurricane Ike.

2. Donations are still needed for the The Joe Vickery/Galveston County Animal Shelter. Supplies such food, collapsible wire cages, de-wormer, disposable cat litter pans, and Frontline® flea & tick control are in great demand. Donations may be brought to the shelter at 3412 Loop 197 North in Texas City, Texas (map to location).

3. Interested in helping in future emergency situations? See Hurricane Ike Is Coming! for more on what you can do to prepare in advance to join the Best Friends Rapid Response team.

For more information:
• The Houston SPCA has activated a disaster hotline. If you need to report lost or found animals, please call 713-435-2990, 877-661-0161, or 713-861-0161.
• The Orange/Jefferson County disaster hotline is 409-980-7280 or call the Humane Society of Southeast Texas Rogers Spay and Neuter Clinic at 409-838-2510.
• FEMA: Caring for Animals
• Best Friends: Disaster, Safety, and First-Aid Websites
• Thousands of Cattle and Horses Roaming in Texas
• ‘These little guys survived’
• Best Friends Animal Society Rapid Response Community

Posted by Jennifer Hayes, Best Friends staff
Photo credit: taken by Joe Winston

Posted Sep 19 2008, 04:50 PM by jhayes

Comments

Posted 19 Sep 2008 5:40 PM by southerndogmom

I've said it before and I'll say it again: thank God for Best Friends and for the work of the Rapid Response teams.

Tell everyone you know about the rescue operation and about the animals left behind; emergency preparedness, personal accountability and responsible pet "ownership" simply must become priorities in our country.

Posted 19 Sep 2008 5:46 PM by Bear1

Thank you Best Friends for trying to save those that you can and even those who's destiny was already sealed.
Bless you and thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Lisa

Posted 19 Sep 2008 7:02 PM by Bipedal

Thanks to the work of Best Friends, 2 of my 'home
boys' are alive today. Each animal saved is a symbol of who we are, as humans, and who we should always be. Thanks Rich, Pam and the others onsite for your dedication and hard work.

Posted 19 Sep 2008 8:34 PM by sexykitty

After the heartbreak of Katrina - the many animals that perished and those that were rescued but have never been reunited with their people - it's just beyond belief that people would leave their companion animals behind when evacuating!!!

Thank God for groups like Best Friends who are rescuing these poor creatures, and for those folks who DID evacuate their companion animals.

Posted 19 Sep 2008 9:35 PM by BorderCollie

people who leave animals behind in a crisis such as this should be charged with animal cruelty, neglect and abuse and should face fines and imprisonment. being the caretaker of a companion animal is a lifetime commitment and not just a "when you feel like it" job. they should also never be allowed around animals again. send the bastards to jail.

Posted 19 Sep 2008 10:56 PM by Maxie88

I'm so grateful you are down there helping these poor animals. What I don't understand is with everything that happened with Katrina, why did these people not learn to take their animals along when they evacuated?

Posted 20 Sep 2008 8:54 AM by bogiedew

Didnt a lot of the people that lost their homes in N.O. after Katrina move to Houston? So bascially they are just repeating what they did last time.

Posted 20 Sep 2008 7:13 PM by QMD333

Bordercollie,

I agree with you 100%

Well said!

It is very frustrating to hear that some deadbeats managed to evacuate well ahead of time, locked the doors, protected their "valuables", and yet "forget" one important thing: TO TAKE THEIR FOUR-LEGGED FAMILY MEMBERS WITH THEM!
Only irresponsible, heartless lowlives with no talent for prioritizing would do such a thing.

We are seeing it alot in the home foreclosure crisis.

These degenerates CAN take their four-legged family members with them (or to a safe place where they will receive care and wont be murdered) if they really want to, but instead choose to leave them behind, because they just dont care enough about what happens to them.
There is no debate about this: You leave your pet alone in the house, and you are leaving them to die.
NO amount of excuses and no amount of creativity inserted into the excuses can excuse this abandonment.

Same thing with a natural disaster...IF you have 1 second to pick up your Cat or to grab your Dog, and instead leave them behind, you are a deadbeat pet parent and you should be punished.
Remember, these are humans who could have taken their pets with them, but arbitrarily left them behind, who we are talking about. We are not talking about the house being hit by a crashing plane, and the roof caving in over their heads. Even then, just like they would risk life and limb to save their two-legged children, they should do the same and save their four-legged children.
We are talking about humans who knowingly leave their pets behind to die. There is no excuse for this behavior. You have money problems? That's sad. TAKE YOUR PETS WITH YOU!
A hurricane is coming? That's scary. TAKE YOUR PETS WITH YOU!!
Tornado sirens are going off? Freaky. Get to the cellar or to the safest room in the house and TAKE YOUR PETS WITH YOU.
When you adopt a pet, you are making the promise to forever love them, care for them, protect them, etc.
And to anyone who may think that I am being too harsh, answer this question for me:
You are two years old. Your parents have their homes foreclosed, or are told to evacuate due to a hurricane coming. They lock up, gather their "valuables", and drive away. One problem. YOU have been left alone in the house to fend for yourself....you have been left to die. Are you ok with this?
Of course not.
I rest my case, my friends.

It is hard to face the harsh truth. It makes me very mad.

Posted 21 Sep 2008 6:13 AM by lammy

I found a wonderfully positive website for "Friend's of Montgomery County Animal Shelter, TX. " They seem to be very actively engaged in the current situation. People in the community responded to Montgomery Co's shelters overcrowding when they are given a few days notice.

Posted 24 Sep 2008 10:57 AM by RobinHC

I so agree with all of you! As an ex-social worker (foster care) who couldn't bear it any more and gave it up 20 years ago to work on a horse farm, I believe that many people should not be allowed to have children or pets. The casualness of these people toward the care and responsibility for their own children and their pets is frightening.

Posted 25 Sep 2008 9:26 AM by jhayes

Just wanted to share (thanks Mom), that photo of Rich and the pit puppy is featured on last week's Animal Tracks Slide Show on MSNBC. Would have been nice if they had mentioned he was with Best Friends though.

Posted 3 Oct 2008 6:34 AM by Spstculy

I was raised in this area of Southeast Texas and the animal cruelty and neglect are appalling. For most people, it wouldn't even be an afterthought to leave the animals behind. These are the same people who keep their dogs chained to trees for their entire lives. By nature, these storms hit the Deep South, and there are alot of poor, stupid people who just replace their "pets" from a litter of the neighbor's dog who is allowed to roam without being altered. I have vivid childhood memories of dogs lying in the dirt at the end of their chains next to kids sitting in the driveway screaming in their filthy diapers. Can't say I miss it, but bless the wonderful people who do the rescue in the aftermath. Unfortunately, you can't really teach compassion to adults and they think they've done nothing wrong. See the story of the "exotic animal collector" who was keeping a lion in High Island. The press coverage of this has been as if it is a charming, eccentric story... a lion in a church - wacky and funny! Not so much.