Update December 14, 2005
IDA's Project Hope Animal Relief Team Remains on the Job
Animals Transported North to Make Room for New Rescues, Truckload of Food Delivered to Gulfport, Miss. Shelter
The tractor-trailer full of food donated by the Colorado Humane Society and transported cross-country by IDA supporter Christina Davis arrived at the Harrison County Fairgrounds in Lyman, Miss. early this week. Animal relief workers were ecstatic to receive the much-needed load of food, especially since many of the distribution points - including FEMA centers and smaller drop sites - are shutting down. This means that guardians whose homes were destroyed in the storm are no longer able to receive life-sustaining supplies for their animal companions from these places. In addition, triage centers and staging areas for animal rescue are closing throughout the region, even though many animals are still being recovered in the area, including increasing numbers of puppies and kittens.
IDA contractor Eric Phelps and employee Connie Durkee spent a couple of days helping Ellen Moore make some repairs on her property in Picayune, Miss., where she runs a rescue center for abused animals. With fourteen donkeys, fifteen horses, and a number of rescued dogs, cats, goats, geese, and other animals, she faced real trouble when falling trees and flying debris destroyed the fence surrounding her sanctuary. Eric and Connie came bearing gifts of dog and cat food and helped put up a temporary fence that will last until Ellen can raise funds for permanent repairs.
Meanwhile, IDA's Lisa Martin has been spending her time on the road making food deliveries. Along the way, she helps relocate animals from overcrowded shelters and staging areas in the disaster zone to humane organizations and rescue groups in other states.
