Update October 11, 2005


Hurricane Relief Update October 11, 2005

We had an exciting start to this past week. One of the dogs caught in New Orleans was a female that appeared to perhaps have puppies. After searching and monitoring her behavior and condition, we decided she was probably in false pregnancy or had lost the puppies. She did not seem to be producing milk. The fact that we were well passed curfew hastened our decision to take a chance and bring her with us. After stopping to trap a cat, I never have been good with curfews, we exited New Orleans and drove back to Jackson, MS, in the wee hours of the morning.

Everyone was fed, watered and walked and went to sleep. Later when I went out to walk the dogs I discovered the female was full of milk but of course no puppies to nurse. Lisa Martin, an IDA team member, volunteered to take the mama dog back to New Orleans to look for the puppies. Lisa and her husband, Mike, headed south in hopes that mama dog would lead them to her babies. Lisa wasn’t going to let something like a curfew keep her from her mission so she convinced some National Guardsmen on security duty to escort them into the restricted area. Well thank goodness they agreed and even helped with the lighting and searching. Mama dog went straight back to her puppies and Mike willingly, with no concern for his own safety, climbed under a house that had just a couple of weeks earlier had been covered in toxic flood water. He was able to reach the puppies and they were handed out hand to hand by a human chain to a waiting mama dog who lovingly licked and inspected each one as they were laid by her side in her crate. What a wonderful ending to the saga. We all needed a miracle!

Back in Waveland, MS, a steady flow of dogs and cats were coming in to the Waveland Animal Shelter. Once again Sherry Norquist and the staff and volunteers at the Cleveland/Bolivar County Animal Shelter have taken in and cared for another van-load of homeless animals. All is going well except for a case of kennel cough and Duke, a Sharpei mix from New Orleans that keeps getting out of the exercise pen. I think he has figured out he gets more attention when they have to walk him. He now has everyone at the shelter eating out of his paw! A German Shepherd from Waveland has adopted a rescued horse and oversees the changing of his bandages. Sherry said she never leaves the horse’s side. 

Three fantastic volunteers departed Mississippi today. I am very sorry to see them leave because they have worked round the clock to help make the lives of these helpless animals better. Carin Dombroski and Fiona Halbritter of K9 New Life Rescue of Virginia, and Janelle Davidson of Oregon are three we are proud to call part of Team IDA. Another volunteer, Sherry Dugan of Oregon, arrived today and is on her way to Waveland. We are so thankful for these wonderful people willing to give of their time and money to help us help the animals.

Tomorrow, after a quick trip to Waveland, I plan to return to New Orleans. Maria Alvarez has been compiling a list of animals needing to be trapped/caught. Just when we think we are making progress, we realize the staggering number of animals still needing our help. We will continue to do what we can.

Debbie Young