There And Back Again - Part I

On September 29, 2005 six travelers endeavored a journey of hope and need down to New Orleans.  We were two trucks pulling horse trailers and the Humane Society van filled to the gills with supplies for the animals and rescuers down in the ravaged area of the Gulf Coast. The “Pet Rescue Team” comprised of volunteers Cindy Capone and Lauren Deahl who spearheaded the operation, including making contacts in the Gulf region, completing the required paperwork for participation, organizing donations and arranging transport; Christine Bowen, super driver; Cara Donato, HSFC caretaker, organizational nerd and energizer Bunny; Don Zimar, super packer and organizer who helped get the show on the road; and Mary Kendall, cat whisperer and Tim Tuggle, big strong guy who could figure out practically any problem who were both trained in disaster animal rescue.

Our adventure began weeks before the trip – contacting various organizations in Mississippi and Louisiana to determine where the most need was, completing applications to participate including Homeland Security approvals, collecting donations in the Northern Virginia area, obtaining transportation, etc.  Requests for donations resulted in an abundance of much needed supplies for the animals and rescuers.  Those involved with collections were astonished with the generosity of the local community.  The supply rooms at the HSFC building and farm were filled within days as well as garages of volunteer’s homes.  The support of the community was awesome and we can’t thank all of those who donated enough.

We were invited to participate with a group called MuttShack, a rescue organization based out of California.  Their location in the Gulf was in the Northeast section of New Orleans.  Bags packed, supplies loaded, and an extra sleeping bag laid out in the backseats for our planned “cat naps” since we would not be stopping, we began our 20-hour journey to New Orleans.

Right from the beginning, we knew this was going to be quit the journey. Once people saw us motoring down the highways and byways with our Pet Rescue Team and HSFC decals on the vehicles, they knew where we were going and gave us sobering thumbs up.

We were all overwhelmed when we entered Southern Mississippi and then New Orleans. Mississippi was decimated by spin off tornados.  The New Orleans area was something out of a disaster film – many thought of the movie Mad Max upon first site.  Weeks had passed since Katrina had hit New Orleans and Rita had sent high winds and rain a week prior, yet there was still no electricity or running water where we were located.  Roads were dry and people had begun to return to literally try and pick up the pieces of their past. It looked like no part of America that we knew.

After driving 20 hours straight, we arrived at MuttShack which had based itself in an elementary school – one street away from Lake Ponchatrain.  After a brief intro to the site, we all found our niche and started working.  Quickly we learned that no matter what your ability was, it could be utilized. Some people had the heart and desire to rescue, others helped clean cages, some walked dogs, others emptied trash and others worked in the vet MASH unit.  The need was everywhere!! Sitting down was not a part of the day.  A typical day was wake up at 6am to walk dogs for the first of many times during the day, non-stop search and rescue, medical attention as necessary in the triage area, daily care including feedings, scooping litter, etc, providing some play time for the animals, etc.  All of this was done in 90+-degree weather with 80%-100% humidity.  By 9:30 a.m. we were soaked with sweat and covered with bug spray to keep the biting black flies off of us.  If we were lucky, we made it downtown by 8 p.m. to have dinner offered by the National Guard and to take a shower.  If not, PB&J sandwiches sufficed.  Assuming nothing else went on for the night, we would hit our sleeping bags under the stars or in our tents by about midnight.

Keeping in mind that any animal found would have gone over 30 days without food and water, we prepared ourselves for the worst.  Animals brought to MuttShack were hardly alive – most starving, some dehydrated, some with chemical burns, etc.  A triage system was set up to assess need for medical treatment as the animals arrived. We were privileged to have worked with Susan Marino, a vet tech and a volunteer with Angel’s Gate, and Dr. Diane Levitan, of the Center for Specialized Veterinary Medicine in Long Island. It was a relief to have such experienced caring people working to save these precious creatures. We were in awe that the animals that were coming through after weeks were still fighting to live.  Within the same hour that we arrived, one of the rescue teams came crashing in, yelling “incoming, incoming!” They had just arrived with approximately 20 cats in extremely poor condition.  One of the rescuers described the situation as one of the most gruesome sites they’d seen while doing rescue.  The cats came from an assumed “hoarding situation.”  While 20 were brought in alive, they found approximately 50 deceased cats – all in the same small house.  After dropping these cats off, they headed back to the same house in search of cats they could hear trapped in the walls.

A special patient that touched all of us was Sparky the cow, a black and white cat whose full body skin was necrotic.  The vet had to improvise to attempt to help him, but he continued to fight on even while he was in a full body wrap.  Others who touched us were Razz Ma Tazz, a gorgeous and sweet natured pit bull, which had war wounds on his head from where he must have had to fight for his food; Rina, a white pit bull, who looked as if she had just had a litter and had nearly no hair left. All of the animals we encountered were wonderful and sweet; even after all they had gone through.

We were always on alert. When would the next group come in? How many dead? Alive? We only had to walk around the corner to see cages of animal bones now dried and bleached. If only they had been set free they might have had a chance to survive.   The waterways that were everywhere were all polluted. Swans, ducks, turtles, etc. had no way to survive. We drove around the neighborhood with the truck and trailer, loaded with crates and kennels just in case.   Friday night, after a non-stop day, we saw two little bunnies hopping around near the road.  Out we went. Just around the corner we had noticed a hungry cat lurking. We had heard reports of rescuers seeing packs of dogs feasting on small animals. After much creative persistence, the bunnies were captured and later would make their way back to the HSFC.

Pet owners would show up throughout the day in hopes of finding their animals.  In hand, they had pictures and tissues.  It was a time of hope and sorrow - praying that THIS would be the place where their animal children would be found. Most left tearfully to go on to the next organization; however, we did hear of one joyful reunion.  A dog named Tiger had been left at a kennel by his owner prior to Katrina because they were not allowed to take their pets when they were evacuated.  When the city was reopened to its citizens, Tiger’s owner arrived at her house to find Tiger sitting on the front porch waiting for her.  In a time of tragedy and sorrow, this was a story needed by all.

As Sunday rolled around (our last day in New Orleans), we all desperately wished that we could stay longer. Who cares about jobs and money when life hung so precariously in the balance. There was so much yet to do.  Good-byes to those who had placed a mark on our hearts were made. This was a time and a place that would not soon be forgotten.  We had much time to reflect on what we had just experienced on our 20-hour drive back home.   For the six of us, the Katrina and Rita disasters have had enduring personal and professional outcomes on our lives.

MuttShack had established fostering programs with organizations across the country.  Many of the organizations on site had earmarked a number of the approximately 80 dogs and 50 cats to be fostered at their facilities.  Coming back with us were 5 malnourished cats (four kittens and 1 calico cat) and 2 starving rabbits with bites on them that would be fostered by the HSFC.  Additionally, 3 dogs were transported back for another local organization to foster and one turtle was brought back to his new home with Lauren.  All have received medical attention and are recovering nicely.  The cats and rabbits were required to be held until mid-December in an effort to reunite them with their families.  Unfortunately, none of the animals were reunited (although we’re still trying) and are now available for adoption.

We are still in constant contact with Muttshack.  The need is still very real – and will be for some time.  We encourage all of those willing and able to assist in any way possible.  Volunteers are desperately needed and as far as the animals of the region are concerned that need is real and immediate.