Showing 16 posts from September 2008
I found an interesting blog about life on one of the bayou's in Louisiana by "Bayou Woman". She has a page on her blog (with several photos she took) about the impacts of Hurricane Ike on the animals that I recommend reading.
I received the following email today from the owner of The Doghouse (and I copied my original post on The Doghouse below it):
"Thanks for your help and your compassion. I do take credit cards and I take
checks. The checks are actually easier for me to keep track of. They can be
made out to the Doghouse and sent to 10515 FM 1764, Santa Fe, TX 77510.
I am keeping track of all donations and which dogs they helped and when we
get back to normal I'll send pictures and details to everyone.
I had thought things would slow down when evacuees were able to return to
their homes or home sites but I'm finding that a lot more dogs need a place
to stay while their owners rebuild. But things are not as frantic as they
were.
We got our fences repaired yesterday and the weather finally cooled down a
bit so the dogs spent a lot of time outside. The ones that were really
homesick seemed so much better after a day of play.
After I did my 9 pm tuck in and bedtime treats all 40 dogs were silent - the
first time since Ike. I know some will be with us for a month or two and
after the response I've received I know all will be well.
Thanks again,
Alice "
"HELP THE DOGHOUSE STAY OPEN FOR ANIMALS DISPLACED BY IKE
People desperately need a place for their pets while they look for new homes
and jobs. It's hard for them to find the money to care for the family dog
when the storm didn't leave them a change of clothes, a roof over their head
or a vehicle. I am doing all that I can but need to make at least enough to
keep my doors open, the dog bowls full and pay my staff.
I'd be happy to send photos and stories of the dogs in need. Thanks
for any help, directions or hints you can give me.
If you can help, or know any person or business able to support some dogs
while their people get their lives back order, CONTACT:
Alice Russell
arussell48@verizon.net, Doghouse1764@verizon.net
409-925-K900; cell (doesn't work inside the Doghouse): 409-939-6750"
"Thanks for your help and your compassion. I do take credit cards and I take
checks. The checks are actually easier for me to keep track of. They can be
made out to the Doghouse and sent to 10515 FM 1764, Santa Fe, TX 77510.
I am keeping track of all donations and which dogs they helped and when we
get back to normal I'll send pictures and details to everyone.
I had thought things would slow down when evacuees were able to return to
their homes or home sites but I'm finding that a lot more dogs need a place
to stay while their owners rebuild. But things are not as frantic as they
were.
We got our fences repaired yesterday and the weather finally cooled down a
bit so the dogs spent a lot of time outside. The ones that were really
homesick seemed so much better after a day of play.
After I did my 9 pm tuck in and bedtime treats all 40 dogs were silent - the
first time since Ike. I know some will be with us for a month or two and
after the response I've received I know all will be well.
Thanks again,
Alice "
"HELP THE DOGHOUSE STAY OPEN FOR ANIMALS DISPLACED BY IKE
People desperately need a place for their pets while they look for new homes
and jobs. It's hard for them to find the money to care for the family dog
when the storm didn't leave them a change of clothes, a roof over their head
or a vehicle. I am doing all that I can but need to make at least enough to
keep my doors open, the dog bowls full and pay my staff.
I'd be happy to send photos and stories of the dogs in need. Thanks
for any help, directions or hints you can give me.
If you can help, or know any person or business able to support some dogs
while their people get their lives back order, CONTACT:
Alice Russell
arussell48@verizon.net, Doghouse1764@verizon.net
409-925-K900; cell (doesn't work inside the Doghouse): 409-939-6750"
Galveston Horse Rescue Effort Wraps Up
by: Erin Ryder, TheHorse.com News Editor
September 26 2008, Article # 12766
A week and a half after Hurricane Ike slammed into Galveston, Texas, horse rescue groups working the scene are scaling back their involvement as horse owners return to reclaim their animals and start the long rebuilding process.
Jerry Finch, president of Habitat for Horses, an equine protection organization based in Galveston County, played a key role in effort to triage injured horses and support those left behind when their owners had to flee.
Finch's crew included about 30 volunteers, all with incident command system training, who worked along with local residents and law enforcement to care for the animals. Their work included supporting around 90 horses corralled and maintained on the island, as well as removing 27 injured and ill animals to a staging area on the mainland, where they received veterinary attention and supportive care.
.....
"It looks very similar to what Plaquemines Parish and St. Bernard looked like, with a huge tidal surge that went over the island," Marquette described. "There were a lot of horses that were still over there—(the owners) didn't expect the storm to turn that hard. There were horses running loose, cows all over the place.
"The biggest problem, like with Katrina, is they didn't have any fresh water," Marquette said. "All the standing water had salt in it because the surge was so high. All the grass was covered with salt, so they didn't have anything to eat or drink. We saw a lot of the normal type of injuries you see—barbed wire cuts across the chest, pasterns getting wrapped up in wire, puncture wounds.” Hoof problems were also rampant.
.......
Some Hurricane Ike stories don't have happy endings of horses and owners reuniting. While Finch describes the horses' owners as "very thankful and very happy" with the care their animals have received, not all will be permanently reunited with their horses, generally because of the storm’s devastation to their properties. About 15 horses will enter the Habitat organization, to be placed in foster homes and ultimately adopted.
"These people have nothing left," Finch said. "They have no room for the horses, so we're having to take them in and find adoptive homes for them. It's a real shame. I would love to be able to maintain these horses until they rebuild, but it's going to be January before they can rebuild.
"All things considered, (15 horses to take) is not bad … Everything's destroyed. They love these horses, but they have no place to put them and no money to deal with it," Finch said.
And then there's the matter of the home ranch. The main Habitat for Horses facility in Galveston County, which is home to about 60 horses, was almost completely destroyed. No horses were injured, but the barns and other structures sustained severe damage. While Finch and the Habitat crew are wrapping up efforts on the coast, the long work is just beginning.
"Now we have to get back to the ranch and start rebuilding," Finch said. "The building of stalls and all that again is going to be a major undertaking. It's going to take a lot of money and a lot of time."
The group has put out a call on its Web site for volunteers with construction experience, as well as building materials and other needs."
Read the full article at http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=12766
by: Erin Ryder, TheHorse.com News Editor
September 26 2008, Article # 12766
A week and a half after Hurricane Ike slammed into Galveston, Texas, horse rescue groups working the scene are scaling back their involvement as horse owners return to reclaim their animals and start the long rebuilding process.
Jerry Finch, president of Habitat for Horses, an equine protection organization based in Galveston County, played a key role in effort to triage injured horses and support those left behind when their owners had to flee.
Finch's crew included about 30 volunteers, all with incident command system training, who worked along with local residents and law enforcement to care for the animals. Their work included supporting around 90 horses corralled and maintained on the island, as well as removing 27 injured and ill animals to a staging area on the mainland, where they received veterinary attention and supportive care.
.....
"It looks very similar to what Plaquemines Parish and St. Bernard looked like, with a huge tidal surge that went over the island," Marquette described. "There were a lot of horses that were still over there—(the owners) didn't expect the storm to turn that hard. There were horses running loose, cows all over the place.
"The biggest problem, like with Katrina, is they didn't have any fresh water," Marquette said. "All the standing water had salt in it because the surge was so high. All the grass was covered with salt, so they didn't have anything to eat or drink. We saw a lot of the normal type of injuries you see—barbed wire cuts across the chest, pasterns getting wrapped up in wire, puncture wounds.” Hoof problems were also rampant.
.......
Some Hurricane Ike stories don't have happy endings of horses and owners reuniting. While Finch describes the horses' owners as "very thankful and very happy" with the care their animals have received, not all will be permanently reunited with their horses, generally because of the storm’s devastation to their properties. About 15 horses will enter the Habitat organization, to be placed in foster homes and ultimately adopted.
"These people have nothing left," Finch said. "They have no room for the horses, so we're having to take them in and find adoptive homes for them. It's a real shame. I would love to be able to maintain these horses until they rebuild, but it's going to be January before they can rebuild.
"All things considered, (15 horses to take) is not bad … Everything's destroyed. They love these horses, but they have no place to put them and no money to deal with it," Finch said.
And then there's the matter of the home ranch. The main Habitat for Horses facility in Galveston County, which is home to about 60 horses, was almost completely destroyed. No horses were injured, but the barns and other structures sustained severe damage. While Finch and the Habitat crew are wrapping up efforts on the coast, the long work is just beginning.
"Now we have to get back to the ranch and start rebuilding," Finch said. "The building of stalls and all that again is going to be a major undertaking. It's going to take a lot of money and a lot of time."
The group has put out a call on its Web site for volunteers with construction experience, as well as building materials and other needs."
Read the full article at http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=12766
I am posting this in the Hurricane Ike Animal Rescue blog because this happened in Houston, which reports indicate is still trying to recover from Hurricane Ike--so I think there is a good possibility that these dogs were hurricane victims.
"Ike relief worker killed while saving three dogs on freeway
12:33 PM CDT on Sunday, September 28, 2008
Michelle Ponto / KHOU.com
HOUSTON – An Ike Relief worker was killed Saturday night while attempting to rescue three dogs. The stranded animals were huddled together in the middle of East Freeway at Baca Street, in the inside emergency lane.
According to witnesses, the 58-year-old victim had reached the dogs, but did not see the motorcyclist driving in the inside lane. The motorcycle hit him, killing him at the scene.
“The victim was one of the construction workers who had come into town to help with the Hurricane cleanup,” said Sergeant Morgan of the Houston Police Department. “He was on break when the accident happened.”
The victim was from the Florida Keys. According to his co-workers, he was a good man who had offered to come to Houston to help people rebuild as he had been through hurricanes himself.
The motorcyclist was transported to Ben Taub Hospital with minor injuries.
One of the three dogs was also hit, but survived. All three dogs were picked up by the City and taken to the SPCA."
As the saying goes, "there but the grace of God go I." I have rescued animals from highways and I'm sure some of you reading this have also. This is all the more reason to fund all the animal rescues and shelters, including the small ones on this blog, to help keep pets out of danger and reduce the need for good samaritans. like the man in this case, to risk their lives trying to do rescues.
There is a video on the news website that, towards the end, shows the 3 big dogs and in what a terribly precarious position they were in. It also shows the Houston police officers getting the dogs off the freeway with at least one going into a police car. See the video
"Ike relief worker killed while saving three dogs on freeway
12:33 PM CDT on Sunday, September 28, 2008
Michelle Ponto / KHOU.com
HOUSTON – An Ike Relief worker was killed Saturday night while attempting to rescue three dogs. The stranded animals were huddled together in the middle of East Freeway at Baca Street, in the inside emergency lane.
According to witnesses, the 58-year-old victim had reached the dogs, but did not see the motorcyclist driving in the inside lane. The motorcycle hit him, killing him at the scene.
“The victim was one of the construction workers who had come into town to help with the Hurricane cleanup,” said Sergeant Morgan of the Houston Police Department. “He was on break when the accident happened.”
The victim was from the Florida Keys. According to his co-workers, he was a good man who had offered to come to Houston to help people rebuild as he had been through hurricanes himself.
The motorcyclist was transported to Ben Taub Hospital with minor injuries.
One of the three dogs was also hit, but survived. All three dogs were picked up by the City and taken to the SPCA."
As the saying goes, "there but the grace of God go I." I have rescued animals from highways and I'm sure some of you reading this have also. This is all the more reason to fund all the animal rescues and shelters, including the small ones on this blog, to help keep pets out of danger and reduce the need for good samaritans. like the man in this case, to risk their lives trying to do rescues.
There is a video on the news website that, towards the end, shows the 3 big dogs and in what a terribly precarious position they were in. It also shows the Houston police officers getting the dogs off the freeway with at least one going into a police car. See the video
In response to the plea for help by The Doghouse (original post copied below)
I called the owner of The Doghouse , Alice Russell, and had a long conversation about the folks who board at her kennel as well as the general destruction in the area. Alice was out front that she is not a non-profit. She is a business (albeit open only 3 weeks when Hurricane Ike hit). She is asking for contributions for those clients of hers who are boarding their pets with her. For some, if they couldn't board them with her they would likely have to take them to a shelter where those currently homed-pets would be added to the increasing numbers that are homeless.
The people who are boarding their pets with Alice clearly care for them. However, many people in the area lost all their belongings--their homes, their cars, furniture, clothes--and some are just not able to pay for boarding at this time. Given the level of devastation in the area, it will take some time for many of them to get back on their feet with a place where they can safely keep their pets.
The Doghouse is several miles from the coast on the mainland and fortunately sits on an elevated piece of land so they didn't flood though Alice has a tree that fell into her house (she added that this was the tree that provided pecans for the rescued squirrel she keeps). Alice, who clearly is an animal lover, said she is going to discount the kennel fees by half--just enough for her to pay her staff, pet food and other expenses--to reduce the burden on those who are boarding their pets with her through these trying times. Alice will also send photos and updates on the pets she is boarding (be sure to include your email address so she doesn't have to send via snail mail).
So, though you can't take a contribution here off your income taxes, you can help keep more pets out of the already busting-at-the-seams shelters. It seems to me that preventing more owner turn-ins is better than having to shelter these pets and try to find new homes for them so please consider sending a donation-$10 or $20 would go a long way. Since The Doghouse was only open such a short time, Alice doesn't know if she can take credit cards over the phone and she doesn't have a paypal account. So contributions to keep these pets in the kennel need to be by checks sent to:
The Doghouse
10515 FM1764
Santa Fe, Texas 77510
Original post:
"ANIMALS DISPLACED BY IKE FIND REFUGE AT THE DOGHOUSE:
EDITED FOR LENGTH
9/20/08, From Alice Russell, arussell48@verizon.net -- I opened The Doghouse
boarding kennel in Galveston County last month and was just getting things
rolling when Ike devastated the county. I have been at the Doghouse 12-14
hours a day since. People who evacuated will not be able to start the
rebuilding process for several weeks. Last I heard Galveston will not have
sewer for two months (full of sand).
Many people have dogs and/or cats but their temporary homes do not allow
pets. So, I am deluged with evacuee pets who are traumatized and sick from
the salt flood water and owners who cannot pay to board...
I had two on staff, Nikki lost her home and is not sure what her family will
do in the interim (I have her 3 dogs). Shawna’s home suffered damage and
both of her dogs are at the Doghouse. Sherri my groomer still does not have
power... Her dogs are at the Doghouse, too...
One of my favorite boarders is Bogie, an old, confused, ugly and aggressive
pit bull. I was not able to clean his kennel in spite of treats and sweet
talking -- plus he needed medical attention for wounds he got during the
storm. I called his people and explained our dilemma. Sherri found a vet who
agreed to squeeze him in. His people said they would take him, afraid they
would have to have him put down. They called from the vet's a few hours
later and I agreed to take Bogie back if I could befriend him. When they
came back, Bogie seemed to remember me or at least the treats. With the
owner there I petted him, treated him and took him outside to play. By the
time the owners left Bogie was my shadow. Now when I walk by his kennel he
begs for all that special attention.
Bogie’s people brought pictures of their former home -- the water was nearly
to the ceiling during the storm. His owners spent 9 hours atop a couch
steadying a table floating between them for their pets. Bogie, in the other
room sloshed and beaten by debris, survived treading water for 9 hours...
The rest of my motley crew includes a couple sweet mastiffs, several smiling
lab and lab mixes, a labradoodle who shares her kennel with a big sweet
rottie, two dobbies, 14 and 15 year old lab mixes...and lots of just plain
dogs waiting for their families. The cats -- Blackie, Oreo and Boo Boo --
turned our backroom into the Doghouse Cattery and seem very content to keep
the seats of our breakroom furniture warm for us while they wait to go home.
HELP THE DOGHOUSE STAY OPEN FOR ANIMALS DISPLACED BY IKE
People desperately need a place for their pets while they look for new homes
and jobs. It's hard for them to find the money to care for the family dog
when the storm didn't leave them a change of clothes, a roof over their head
or a vehicle. I am doing all that I can but need to make at least enough to
keep my doors open, the dog bowls full and pay my staff.
I'd be happy to send photos and stories of the dogs in need. Thanks
for any help, directions or hints you can give me.
If you can help, or know any person or business able to support some dogs
while their people get their lives back order, CONTACT:
Alice Russell
arussell48@verizon.net, Doghouse1764@verizon.net
409-925-K900; cell (doesn't work inside the Doghouse): 409-939-6750"
I called the owner of The Doghouse , Alice Russell, and had a long conversation about the folks who board at her kennel as well as the general destruction in the area. Alice was out front that she is not a non-profit. She is a business (albeit open only 3 weeks when Hurricane Ike hit). She is asking for contributions for those clients of hers who are boarding their pets with her. For some, if they couldn't board them with her they would likely have to take them to a shelter where those currently homed-pets would be added to the increasing numbers that are homeless.
The people who are boarding their pets with Alice clearly care for them. However, many people in the area lost all their belongings--their homes, their cars, furniture, clothes--and some are just not able to pay for boarding at this time. Given the level of devastation in the area, it will take some time for many of them to get back on their feet with a place where they can safely keep their pets.
The Doghouse is several miles from the coast on the mainland and fortunately sits on an elevated piece of land so they didn't flood though Alice has a tree that fell into her house (she added that this was the tree that provided pecans for the rescued squirrel she keeps). Alice, who clearly is an animal lover, said she is going to discount the kennel fees by half--just enough for her to pay her staff, pet food and other expenses--to reduce the burden on those who are boarding their pets with her through these trying times. Alice will also send photos and updates on the pets she is boarding (be sure to include your email address so she doesn't have to send via snail mail).
So, though you can't take a contribution here off your income taxes, you can help keep more pets out of the already busting-at-the-seams shelters. It seems to me that preventing more owner turn-ins is better than having to shelter these pets and try to find new homes for them so please consider sending a donation-$10 or $20 would go a long way. Since The Doghouse was only open such a short time, Alice doesn't know if she can take credit cards over the phone and she doesn't have a paypal account. So contributions to keep these pets in the kennel need to be by checks sent to:
The Doghouse
10515 FM1764
Santa Fe, Texas 77510
Original post:
"ANIMALS DISPLACED BY IKE FIND REFUGE AT THE DOGHOUSE:
EDITED FOR LENGTH
9/20/08, From Alice Russell, arussell48@verizon.net -- I opened The Doghouse
boarding kennel in Galveston County last month and was just getting things
rolling when Ike devastated the county. I have been at the Doghouse 12-14
hours a day since. People who evacuated will not be able to start the
rebuilding process for several weeks. Last I heard Galveston will not have
sewer for two months (full of sand).
Many people have dogs and/or cats but their temporary homes do not allow
pets. So, I am deluged with evacuee pets who are traumatized and sick from
the salt flood water and owners who cannot pay to board...
I had two on staff, Nikki lost her home and is not sure what her family will
do in the interim (I have her 3 dogs). Shawna’s home suffered damage and
both of her dogs are at the Doghouse. Sherri my groomer still does not have
power... Her dogs are at the Doghouse, too...
One of my favorite boarders is Bogie, an old, confused, ugly and aggressive
pit bull. I was not able to clean his kennel in spite of treats and sweet
talking -- plus he needed medical attention for wounds he got during the
storm. I called his people and explained our dilemma. Sherri found a vet who
agreed to squeeze him in. His people said they would take him, afraid they
would have to have him put down. They called from the vet's a few hours
later and I agreed to take Bogie back if I could befriend him. When they
came back, Bogie seemed to remember me or at least the treats. With the
owner there I petted him, treated him and took him outside to play. By the
time the owners left Bogie was my shadow. Now when I walk by his kennel he
begs for all that special attention.
Bogie’s people brought pictures of their former home -- the water was nearly
to the ceiling during the storm. His owners spent 9 hours atop a couch
steadying a table floating between them for their pets. Bogie, in the other
room sloshed and beaten by debris, survived treading water for 9 hours...
The rest of my motley crew includes a couple sweet mastiffs, several smiling
lab and lab mixes, a labradoodle who shares her kennel with a big sweet
rottie, two dobbies, 14 and 15 year old lab mixes...and lots of just plain
dogs waiting for their families. The cats -- Blackie, Oreo and Boo Boo --
turned our backroom into the Doghouse Cattery and seem very content to keep
the seats of our breakroom furniture warm for us while they wait to go home.
HELP THE DOGHOUSE STAY OPEN FOR ANIMALS DISPLACED BY IKE
People desperately need a place for their pets while they look for new homes
and jobs. It's hard for them to find the money to care for the family dog
when the storm didn't leave them a change of clothes, a roof over their head
or a vehicle. I am doing all that I can but need to make at least enough to
keep my doors open, the dog bowls full and pay my staff.
I'd be happy to send photos and stories of the dogs in need. Thanks
for any help, directions or hints you can give me.
If you can help, or know any person or business able to support some dogs
while their people get their lives back order, CONTACT:
Alice Russell
arussell48@verizon.net, Doghouse1764@verizon.net
409-925-K900; cell (doesn't work inside the Doghouse): 409-939-6750"
