Update September 29, 2005

Katrina Update – September 29th


This has been a week of two steps forward and one step back. We have been working our way to Waveland to set back up following Hurricane Rita. After arriving in Waveland on Wednesday morning, we discovered FEMA is taking over our previous location and all animal operations are moving to the old Waveland animal shelter. Now on to plan C I think. The Waveland ACO has offered us space in the back of their temporary facility to place our tables, photos, computer, etc. There may even be room for an air mattress or two at night. Unfortunately there seems to be no room to relocate our large tent so we are turning it back in.

There is not enough room for much of our additional cages and crates so the truck is at the Project Hope Sanctuary storing the equipment until later needed.

Speaking of the sanctuary, the wonderful volunteers from Stray Rescue of St Louis arrived bright and early this morning to take 16 dogs and 22 cats back with them for foster and eventual adoption. Randy Grim and his volunteers are such a blessing to us right now. We do not have room to house these animals much less the time to adopt them out. They are like the cavalry coming over the horizon every Thursday morning to take more back. THANK YOU!!!


We are planning on going to Metairie, LA on Friday to help a woman that has been feeding animals on several city blocks. Maria Alvarez says that most of them were strays before Katrina but are now mixed in with pets that were turned loose to fend for themselves. HSUS facility in Gonzales is possibly shutting down/moving soon so our understanding is they are no longer accepting animals. We will bring out as many animals as possible in a couple of trips. Sherry Norquist at the Tupelo Shelter has graciously offered to house many of these until further disposition can be determined.

I just received a call from Cindy Shaw with Citizens for Animal Protection in Houston, TX. She was returning to Jackson and stopped in Beaumont, TX to check on a dog for an elderly lady but unfortunately has found countless animals roaming loose with no water and food. She said all the fences have been blown down so many animals are misplaced and hungry. She will let us know if we need to make a delivery of food to the area. 

The needs are so great it is overwhelming but important to stay focused on our immediate mission; complete the set-up in Waveland and get animals in Metairie.

Yesterday as we were unloading food at the Harrison County (MS) Fairgrounds, we were informed by the director, Mike McMillian, that food and hay is needed as much today as it was the day after Katrina. This pick-up point is serving a three-county area and no one is turned away. He said that cattle farmers are beginning to worry about the winter. It seems the high winds stripped and scorched the grass and there may not be enough time for it recover and get a good cutting before winter sets in. Some round bales are available in the central part of MS will soon start heading south but this will only be a drop in the bucket. OUR SUPPORT FOR THESE ANIMALS WILL BECOME EVEN MORE CRITICAL AS WINTER SETS IN!

Please keep your support and prayers coming in. Precious creatures like Titus here continue to need our help. 

Debbie Young




Read Project Hope’s Doll Stanley’s first hand account of Hurricane Katrina and the animal relief efforts