From: Companion Animal Network
Subject: HURRICANE RELIEF DEPLOYMENT ISSUED
To:
Date: Thursday, September 4, 2008, 11:30 PM

++++++++++++   PLEASE CROSSPOST +++++++++++++++

Companion Animal Network (NY, NC, LA) and Kat 5 (GA), two disaster experienced agencies, are launching a joint collaborative effort to assist animal control agencies, rescue groups, and low income pet owners in all hurricane affected Louisiana parishes.

A 24 ft. mobile vet clinic (picture attached) with staffed veterinarians, registered nurses, and vet techs capable of providing on-site surgeries will be traveling the affected region, along with volunteers to help with the clean up of shelters and provide animal care. We are seeking volunteers to join us between Sept. 10 and Sept 21.

We have several Louisiana veterinarians to staff the mobile unit for the entirety of the 11 days it will be in Louisiana. The Mobile Vet vehicle will travel to the outer parishes to provide whatever assistance that is needed, beginning with Terrebonne parish on Sept. 10th.

Unlike many of the other parishes Terrebonne Parish is a vast area with no gas, no electricity at all, no drinkable water, no sewer. Dogs are tied up and left in homes, a picture from Reuters is below. Animal Control is addressing rescuing of the dogs issue. This effort's purpose is ONLY TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO THE AUTHORITIES. Anyone who volunteers with this effort will be obliged to operate as support to the needs of the local animal control agency. YOU MUST BE SELF SUFFICIENT. ALL SUPPLIES NEEDED MUST BE BROUGHT, INCLUDING SPARE GASOLINE TANKS AS THERE ARE NO GAS STATIONS FOR OVER 100 MILES IN TERREBONNE. All those coming can either drive with their own vehicles to Terrebonne Parish animal control and rendezvous with us there or meet us in Fayetteville, NC, where our mobile vet unit is departing from on Tuesday afternoon. Please contact me with your phone number if you can deploy with us. If another hurricane hits, we will on ground to provide relief immediately, but only UNDER THE INSTRUCTIONS OF THE AUTHORITIES.

We need vehicles, vehicles, vehicles, large ones. Cages, dog food, cat food, medicine, feeding bowls, bring gas tanks, tarps, sleeping bags, most of all BRING DRINKABLE WATER. There are 7 gallon water jugs for $7 at Walmarts and Sams Clubs. Need a whole bunch of those. PORTABLE GENERATORS ARE NEEDED.

DONATIONS ARE ALSO NEEDED. AS USUAL, THIS IS BEING LAUNCHED WITH PERSONAL MONIES, MANY OF US GOING INTO DEBT ON CREDIT CARDS. Please send donations to Companion Animal Network or Kat 5 or both. Companion Animal Network's web site from which you can make a paypal donation is http://www.companionanimalnetworktv.org/Donation.html.

We will mobilize this Friday and Saturday and Sunday and Monday. Please bring everything. Imagine going to the moon with literally nothing available on site.