Hurricane Isaac Response: ASPCA on the Ground

Thursday, August 30, 2012 - 5:00pm
Hurricane Isaac Response: ASPCA on the Ground

As you know, exactly seven years after Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Isaac is devastating Gulf Coast communities. Waist-high flooding has forced thousands to evacuate their homes, and as first responders work to rescue people stranded by the storm, the ASPCA is planning rescue operations for stranded and imperiled animals.

The ASPCA’s response to this crisis is only just beginning and is evolving by the minute, but we have taken the following measures:

  • Our top experts are working closely with the Louisiana State Animal Response Team to plan and execute rescue.
  • We’re deploying responders to conduct door-to-door rescue of animals in flooded or abandoned homes.
  • We’re assisting a Louisiana animal shelter facing flooding.
  • We are supplying boats and other equipment for critical water rescue missions.
  • We transported animals from a Mississippi shelter to make room for possible Isaac victims.


If you’re seeking a way to help, you can make a gift to the ASPCA here. The ASPCA relies on the support of compassionate people like you to conduct rescues like this one and to assist animals facing other crises.

Tags: 
Disaster Response
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Comments

Thu, 08/30/2012 - 18:58 — Elizabeth (Visitor)
Will the dogs actually be rescued or will be be hauled off to Houston or some other death camp to be killed? It is great publicity for your organization to solicite donations to add more lining to your deep pockets. Shame on you. While small rescues and shelters struggle to really help you kill.

Thu, 08/30/2012 - 19:50 — Beverly Jean Je... (Visitor)
I don't know who this respondent is, but the ASPCA is not focused on killing! It's entire mission is to help animals. It is a wonderful organization and is committed to improve the lives of animals.

Tue, 09/04/2012 - 19:07 — Margaret Tomko (Visitor)
I agree with the previous comment. I know for a fact that the ASPCA is a phony organization .Your only aim is to use animals to make your administrators or other employees gain monetarily from donations that you receive. I know of a person in upstate NY whose animals you flew to various places with the single intent of killing them. You need to be exposed for the KILLERS that you are. You go on tv with the saddest pictures and stories about animals and you turn around and kill them .SHAME ON YOU !!

Thu, 08/30/2012 - 19:50 — Beverly Jean Je... (Visitor)
I don't know who this respondent is, but the ASPCA is not focused on killing! It's entire mission is to help animals. It is a wonderful organization and is committed to improve the lives of animals.

Fri, 08/31/2012 - 01:34 — Pat (Visitor)
The respondent you refer to probably had first hand experience during Katrina. Of course your focus is on 'rescuing' animals; but do you all know what the ultimate outcome of 'all' the animals rescued? Were they 'all' reunited with their owners? Were they returned to their home territory so they could possibly be identified? Were the facilities they were sent to no-kill facitities? or were the 'intakes' handled like an ordinary 'stray pick-up'? These large organizations, of which some are possibly legitimately concerned for an animal's welfare, take advantage of these disasters to cry for funds which in the case of the HSUS, only help them internally to finance their lobbyist(s), fund the exec salaries, line the coffers with very, very little (if any) going to help the animals. The small local rescue groups are the ones needing funds, as they are the ones carrying the brunt of the work.

Fri, 08/31/2012 - 08:09 — Maggie (Visitor)
What have you done to help the victims of Issac? Both human and innocent animals. This organization saves LIVES. All you are doing is complaining and wrongfully bad mouthing an amazing organization. How about the amount of time that took you to comment on this, you write a check out to save anmials?

Fri, 08/31/2012 - 10:04 — Jo Anna (Visitor)
It's blatantly obvious that some of you didn't loose a family member, a pet, to hurricane Katrina, so please don't speak of something of which you have no experience of.

Fri, 08/31/2012 - 10:50 — Frustrated (Visitor)
ummmm, maybe follow evacuation orders and don't leave your pets at home. Hurricane 101.

Fri, 08/31/2012 - 12:44 — Tricia kaplan (Visitor)
Here here!

Fri, 08/31/2012 - 19:12 — Katia (Visitor)
Amen!

Sat, 09/01/2012 - 11:10 — breannarichelle (Visitor)
I couldn't agree more. One of the first things I would grab is my pet.

Sat, 09/01/2012 - 12:38 — Leonard DeJoy (Visitor)
What the last 3 posters may not know is that Hurricane Katrina is responsible for allowing evacuating families to now take their pets to a shelter. People in 2005 were forced to leave their animals. Several refused to obey to the "Mandatory Evacuation" of civilians and were arrested. This public outcry and the masses of people who refused to leave brought on policy changes within FEMA and helped large organizations such the ASPCA, HSUS and others the ability to go into disaster areas to aid in the removal of pets and their owners.

Tue, 09/04/2012 - 20:20 — carolyn (Visitor)
well anybody that tells u to leave ur pets at home while u escape danger is a nut head to begin with...pets are family and u should do everything known to man and above to do whatever it takes to take ur animals as well as ur self to saftey the first thing u grab is ur pets and wallet and leave everything else go...it isn't like these people have not been warned days in advance to GO! i would have grab my pet and a uhaul and moved gassed up and left with pets family money gas and water/food see ya! with that many days in advance...no animal should stay behind i dont care what manditory evacuation said to do so! no way in hell...!!!!!!!!!! and this is with all due respect to all...

Tue, 09/18/2012 - 17:24 — Kelsey (Visitor)
Seriously! The absolute first thing I would grab in a disaster would be my fur babies! sheesh, especially if it was WELL KNOWN that there was a hurricane around and that we needed to evacuate! Thank you so much to the ASPCA for helping!

Tue, 09/04/2012 - 00:25 — Monika Saupitty (Visitor)
I live in Oklahoma nd w/TORNADOS. I don't care what blows in here,my dog is always with me.

Thu, 09/06/2012 - 09:17 — Mary E Lorio (Visitor)
For the person that said to follow evautaion orders, apparenlty you did not see the article where a couple brought their dogs and cat with ONLY to be made to leave them behind!! UNLESS YO LIVE IN LOUISIANA~DO NOT JUDGE! YOU dont know what you would have done unless you experienced it. Yes, I do live in Louisiana. FYI: Many were made to turn their animals loose in katrina! How do I know, I personally worked to reunite pets, so you might want to get your facts straight

Sat, 09/08/2012 - 07:39 — Dee Gerbrecht (Visitor)
I also live in Louisiana and help local shelters. It is sad that people are turned away from human shelters because they have their pets. Hurricane shelters should be forced to have accommodations for the entire family, including pets. Local no kill shelters here are over crowded with animals during these times and do their very best to reunite these animals with their owners. One of the main problems these shelters have is over breeding. People say the cant afford to have the pet spayed or neutered, but they seem to have plenty of money for dinners and cocktails. It is not anymore expensive to have your pet fixed. Organizations can help with funding if a family is really strapped for funds. Do your research and the responsible thing. SPAY and NEUTER.

Fri, 09/07/2012 - 01:49 — shannon (Visitor)
You are sooo truly correct!!! If pet owners wouldnt leave their pets none of this traggic stories would happened. Thank you, sincerly shannon :)

Sun, 09/02/2012 - 00:06 — madshoppa@aol.com (Visitor)
Sorry unfortunately this person speaks the truth. I waatched a behind the scenes and never in my life would I think what I saw is possible.I always thought since donations were sent in when it came time b/c they needed room and like an item in a shelf removed it only the dogs are not items. I don't believe in this at all there is no reason a dog should be killed so what no one adopted it that is what the funds are supposed to be for. I just thought they would put them down gently would medication, try they put about 10 or so dogs ranges in ages in something that looks like a garbage dump there they all are looking at each other terrified shaking looking at the people they know and who have cared for them closed this lid and turn on the gas. I still have nightmares. I am animal lover and love to donate money when I can and time where ever they would need me IDK care just to be helping them and giving them hope,but who am I supposed to trust.? I find that disgusting no dog or animal just b/c they can't find a home should lose their life and most ceratainly not like that. Maybe crimmals, but not these precious animals who unfortunate have to rely on us. To be honest I like animals better then most people.

Sun, 09/02/2012 - 19:51 — PH (Visitor)
I saw that program called "One Nation Under Dog". I lost it when I saw all of those poor dogs, about six or more adult dogs of different breeds, then as many puppies of different breeds put in that gas chamber. You could hear them screaming out for help and slowly dying from the gas. It was a place in Georgia. Those men shown there were definitely inhumane to those poor creatures. picking them up by the hair on their necks and lower backs, the dogs and pups squalling as they did so. It made me sick, and I too still cannot shake that feeling to this day. I have several rescue dogs and they were howling out while I cried out. There's a special place in Hades for people like that.

Tue, 09/04/2012 - 07:27 — norma (Visitor)
that is horrible,how can they do this terrible thing to poor,defenseless creatures created by the almighty GOD,what ASPCA doing to prevent this??????

Fri, 09/07/2012 - 02:11 — shannon (Visitor)
Oh dear God !!! I had no idea that, that kind of cruelty even excisted :((( May our Dear Lord forgive them,for what those horrible people have done!! I'm a big animal lover n also i donate money to aspca,am i doing the right thing by donating? Be Blessed. I also dont trust people only my mom, husband kids n my heavenly Father :). Sincerly Shannon

Fri, 09/07/2012 - 13:45 — Tammy K Lawrence (Visitor)
I'm a little confused by all the comments but I agree animals should not lose their lives just because they dont find a home. ESPECIALLY NOT BY GAS CHAMBER!!! THAT IS HORRIBLE!! The person who said they put them in a garbage dump looking place..and the animals were shaking and looking at each other and the people who had been taking care of them.. then they turned on the gas.. WOW that is just HORRIBLE!! Just thinking about that gives me nightmares. That is so cruel.. :o( How do I know which organizations to trust and donate to? I want to do more than donate though.. I want to volunteer and I also want to start my own rescue for dogs.. to work with them, get them healthy and then find them their forever homes.. I have a thing listed on the chip in site.. I am IN THIS ONLY FOR THE ANIMALS SAKES.. I LOVE THEM ALL SO MUCH AND IT BREAKS MY HEART TO SEE ANIMALS BEING MISTREATED AND EUTHANIZED.. :o( I want to spend the rest of my life saving and rescuing dogs and other animals and finding them their forever homes. Please go to my site and donate if you can or all suggestions and advice are welcome.. I just want to help the animals.. http://mkk.chipin.com/start-a-non-profit-dog-rescue

Tue, 09/18/2012 - 17:29 — Kelsey (Visitor)
Oh. My god. Did that really happen!?!? Who did that? WHO killed those poor animals by gassing them in a garbage dumpster? Is this true? How can people be this way!?? It makes me sick. Thank you for the info, but now, I believe I will have nightmares too! Poor, precious, fur babies! Makes me sick!! I will just have to love mine a little more and keep seeing what I can do to help! I just want to know who is responsible for doing that!?!? -Kelsey

Fri, 08/31/2012 - 10:14 — Mike McGowan (Visitor)
To all those complaining about the ASPCA's fund collecting/distribution and more importantly what happens to the animals? HOW MANY DID YOU HELP??? DID YOU PERSONALLY TAKE

Fri, 08/31/2012 - 10:48 — Copomd (Visitor)
Amen!

Sun, 09/02/2012 - 17:36 — allen (Visitor)
they have donated. That is a way to discredit a comment and frankly is extremely simple and tranparent

Fri, 08/31/2012 - 11:07 — Carol Costello (Visitor)
I can only speak from my experience. I am the proud owner of a hurricane Katrina rescue dog. He was picked up by an animal sanctuary in Michigan from New Orleans. My understanding is that rescue groups from all over the country went there to take some of the dogs and try to help. I volunteered at the sanctuary at the time and saw how hard they worked to try to reunite the animals with their owners-Petfinder.com etc. My dog was one of the few left out of many dogs they helped hookup with their owners or get adopted. I gave him a try at my house with 2 cats and we couldn't be happier. He is the one of the best dogs I have ever had.

Fri, 08/31/2012 - 11:41 — DoggieFosterMom (Visitor)
Carol, thank you for your comment. From someone that actually knows what she is talking about. I would hope that ASPCA and USHS are on the up n up and do what they can to save the animals and rehome them. I volunteer with a small rural rescue group, and we get strays in weekly. Even in a small 100 mile radius, it is sometimes hard to reunite animals with there familes. But we are NO kill, and we foster them until we can find them good homes. I can't afford to donate to these large organizations, but wish I could volunteer when they have a crisis and need extra people.

Fri, 08/31/2012 - 23:04 — Tracy Sanderson (Visitor)
Thank you for taking him in and helping. Nice to see people help the animals in need.

Fri, 08/31/2012 - 11:52 — Judy (Visitor)
I would like to know if what you say is true of the HSUS. If it is and you have proof I would like to read it. I send a monthly contribution to HSUS and if it's not going for the animals than I am withdrawing my funds.

Sat, 09/01/2012 - 20:47 — Laura Blackstock (Visitor)
The ASPCA does help animals please dont withdraw your monthly donation the animals need this to keep them from being hungry and mistreated. These are evil people saying evil things and they will be cursed for it as God loves animals too because he made them and he blesses people that looks after them.

Mon, 09/03/2012 - 22:17 — Donna (Visitor)
I have been having some thoughts about HSUS lately. I seeme to get a trmendous amount of solicitations from them and it seems they could spend that money on the animas and just do a twice a year mail out. If what the person said about the HSUS using all their money not for the animals is true I, too, would be very interested

Fri, 08/31/2012 - 14:16 — Mollie (Visitor)
I actually think this person brings up legitimate concerns. We shouldn't attack someone for being concerned about animals. It's a sign of the times that people attack eachother left and right (pun intended). We need to rise above that and make concern for animals something we all share.

Fri, 08/31/2012 - 14:18 — Meg Boshell (Visitor)
What rock have y'all crawled out from under? Hurricanes are hard on everyone, Katrina was a category 5 storm. Because of folks at the ASPCA and their hard work in New Orleans after Katrina, we have one of the sweetest dogs in our family. Monte was cared for by the staff for over 2 years when he was transferred from MS to TX. Monte is now 14 years old. All rescue groups need help with funding.

Fri, 08/31/2012 - 14:41 — Been there (Visitor)
I was there and I witnessed several so called organizations using the katrina rescue as advertising and a way to make money. I know the HSUS is not there for rescue they are there to get more money. ASPCA is one resuce I trust. Another is Best Friends, they were helping. Gonzalez was the place that I went to also that I wasn't too sure what would happen. BEST Rescue? Local rescues need the help and the money donate to them.

Tue, 09/04/2012 - 13:42 — EE (Visitor)
Best Friends is a great group of people who all came together to start an adoption program. It has grown into a very caring and adoption only organization. EE

Mon, 09/03/2012 - 14:02 — Ruby Hong (Visitor)
You can complain and blame this organization but what have you done to help these animals and what proof do you have that would lead people to believe what ridiculous idea you have? These people actually save animals and they actually devote themselves to helping helpless animals. What have you been doing for the past hour? Going off in a rant about how ASPCA is bad? Unbelievable.

Thu, 08/30/2012 - 20:00 — melody (Visitor)
No, shame on YOU. These people are waist high in flood waters trying to save what animals they can. What have you done? Are you just saying this to justify the fact that you don't want to help. Many of the ASPCA members are volunteers. All of these animals will need to be fed, watered and shelters. When victims are ivacuated to shelters beloved pets are not allowed. Left behind to fend for themselves. I love my dogs just as much as I love my children. The are my children now that my kids have all gone to make families of their own. Thank GOD for ASPCA and other organizations like them have dedicate their lives to saving animals from not only disasters but from abuse and neglect as well.Many of these animals are alone and afraid therefore many of the people trying to rescue them get bitten. If you would do a little research on what ASPCA is before making petty comments such as you just did, you would not seem so ignorant to the thousands that have read your post. I would like to thank all of the volunteers out there making a difference.

Thu, 08/30/2012 - 20:34 — Mayumi Vaughn (Visitor)
well said!

Fri, 08/31/2012 - 01:42 — Pat (Visitor)
Your statement 'When victims are ivacuated to shelters beloved pets are not allowed'is not entirely correct. This was true with Katrina, but if you've kept up with current policy, rescuers are not allowed to take the human and not their pet(s), and shelters are accepting pets.

Sun, 09/02/2012 - 02:19 — Patricia Medina (Visitor)
Unfortunately, even though the law was passed saying rescuers (National Guard, Wildlife/Fisheries, etc.) had to take people's pets along with them, they are STILL REFUSING in some cases. I am still on the Louisiana rescue lists and have seen many reports of this in LaPlace. It's still happening.

Thu, 09/06/2012 - 10:56 — Mary E Lorio (Visitor)
It appears that many rescuers are not familiar with the PET EVACUATION AND TRANSPORTATION BILL PASSED IN 2006 BY CONGRESS. As seen in this hurricane, many were not allowed to take their animals. Then you also run into the problem that most of the animals were "farm animals" (ie:cows). How do you propose to evacuate a 1000 head of cattle??

Fri, 08/31/2012 - 06:11 — lisa (Visitor)
AMEN!!!!!

Fri, 08/31/2012 - 07:01 — Merthyr Stevens (Visitor)
I support the ASPCA, the HSUS and HSI from the United Kingdom, where I live. I have seen and applauded the wonderful work they do during disasters, as well as their amazing and untiring rescue work with cruelty and abuse cases. The only animals that are "killed" are the poor souls too far gone to be saved and are sadly but mercifully put to sleep. I agree that the small rescue organisations and shelters are in dire need of financial assistance, and supporting them is paramount - that is relevant anywhere in the world; but so do the large organisations as they travel far and wide with all sorts of equipment and animal transport vehicles, all of which need maintaining and funding. I help where I can, both internationally and here in the UK. What is urgently needed in the US however, is the abolition of "kill" shelters altogether. In the UK all LEGITIMATE shelters and sanctuaries are No Kill. I too would like to take this opportunity to thank all the ASPCA staff and many, many volunteers for their dedication and commitment to saving the lives of all the animals who have no-one else to rely on. Bless them all.

Fri, 08/31/2012 - 09:02 — Glyn (Visitor)
Hi Merthyr, I thought a quick clarification is needed on your comment. In the UK there are many legitimate shelters that are open admission facilities which mean that due to space and welfare issues animals unfortunately have to be put down. All the RSPCA shelters and most of the smaller shelters with Government contracts are forced to make harsh decisions every day. A truly no-kill shelter is best called a sanctuary and unfortunately in my experience unless money is no object (Which it rarely is) then the welfare of the animals decreases as the population rises beyond a certain point. I also agree that often it is the small independent rescue organisations that do the lions share of the work whilst receiving little recognition.

Fri, 08/31/2012 - 14:44 — Been there (Visitor)
Save your money and donate to Best Friends or ASPCA.

Sat, 09/01/2012 - 13:07 — va4045663 (Visitor)
"Save your money" and "Katrina Death Camp HSUS" I cringe just writing this headline. Having volunteered for the HSUS full-time, I was fortunate to meet and talk to their President and VPs enough to know they are not an organization that just uses Katrina (etc.) for HR. They actually do A LOT of good for animals, and their size IS WHY. Yes, local shelters and animal organizations need our help too. But the big groups like HSUS and ASPCA can lobby for the animals, and we NEED that in this corporate-run world. Have any of you kept up with the Supreme Court's decisions lately? It is a too-true statement that a President can be remembered best by the Supreme Court Justices he (she?) picks...they are life-long key members of our government and can make our lives and our pets' lives miserable. "W" nominated two of our current Justices who are slowly guiding this great country towards a conservatism in our laws where people and animals have less rights than corporations. It's the BIG groups like HSUS and ASPCA that can afford to lobby for those who have no voice. We need them!! I'll just mention a few laws that HSUS supported, wrote, or pushed through: CA Prop 2 in 2009, banning battery-cages for hens/chickens and requiring better oversight of the eggs Americans eat, Horse Slaughter Prevention bill after the miserable budget rider in 2005-2006 allowed Americans to slaughter horses (unfortunately this too has been overturned--contact your representative , anti-puppy mill legislation, anti-foie gras legislation, anti-breed discrimination legislation, legislation to prevent continued mislabeling of fur on consumer products, legislation to improve travel conditions for animals by requiring oversight (Barnum & Bailey lost several large animals due to improper ventilation & insufficient water; others lost marine mammals by inhumanely transporting them overland)...this list goes on and on. HSUS like everyone else took on a lot of work and expense helping victims in Katrina, and like everyone else was entitled to benefit by advertising their good work. They are worth our support--the animals need them!

Fri, 08/31/2012 - 07:52 — Niki Keen (Visitor)
I couldn't have said it any better myself! People who don't see all the good they do are ignorant and should do homework before posting anything

Fri, 08/31/2012 - 10:18 — Mike McGowan (Visitor)
You convayed that message well!! Touche

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