coffeepotkeepers
09-28-2005, 02:19 AM
The following information came from the HSUS website http://www.hsus.org/hsus_field/hsus_disaster_center/recent_activities_and_information/wayne_pacelle_responds_to_rumors.html.
HSUS President & CEO Wayne Pacelle Responds to Rumors Circulating About Our Katrina Relief Efforts
The HSUS has been in the field in Louisiana and Mississippi since the day after Hurricane Katrina struck. For the past few weeks, a coalition of groups, led by The HSUS, has saved more than 7,000 animals (including more than 1,000 chickens from a destroyed poultry confinement facility). While that's a significant number, there are many animals we haven't reached yet?and, frankly, may never reach before it's too late. But our goal is to continue our rescue efforts until we exhaust our list of rescue requests.
Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The HSUS, was on site in Gonzales, Louisiana, for two weeks ending September 25, and during his time there, he was confronted with a number of rumors, many of which continue to circulate. He wanted to respond to some of the most common rumors, in hopes of setting the record straight.
We've heard that The HSUS has stopped animal rescues, or is planning to stop rescues on September 30. Is either true?
No. There was a brief pause in direct rescue efforts over the September 23-25 weekend because of Hurricane Rita's approach. We dropped down to emergency staff levels, secured more than six 18-wheel rigs for possible evacuation, and hunkered down at the Lamar-Dixon emergency facility in Gonzales, making sure the 700 animals there were safe. Direct rescue resumed as soon as the tropical storm winds and sheets of rain receded. We don't plan to stop animal rescues until every single one of the addresses?on every single list that's out there?has been visited.
Why isn't HSUS supporting rescuers in the field?
The HSUS is supporting rescuers in every way possible. We are providing equipment, lists of addresses, food, and other necessities for volunteers and animal control workers from all over the country.
One of the challenges, however, is that the owners of the Lamar-Dixon facility have restricted us from keeping more than 1,300 rescued animals on the property. So every day, we have to move hundreds of animals out to shelters before we can bring any more in. At the times when we have reached our capacity, we ask rescuers to bring in only the most critical animals who need immediate veterinary care; for the other animals, if they appear to be healthy, we give them food and water so we can go back for them later. What's more, if pet owners are about to return to New Orleans (as many are about to do), it's better for the animals if we do not subject them to the stress of capture and transport.
The Louisiana SPCA, which we are partnering with, is expected to secure a new facility soon in New Orleans. We are working with the Louisiana SPCA to get it properly equipped to accept rescued animals starting on Saturday, October 1.
If you are trying to move animals out of Lamar-Dixon, why can't rescuers take them?
Rescuers are taking some, but we are not set up for adoption screening and post-adoption visitations. That's why our first priority is to move animals to animal care facilities in Louisiana (so reunions can readily occur) or to move them to large humane societies in other states.
These humane societies are set up not only to care for animals, but also to screen individuals for fostering and adoption. Before any out-of-state shelter accepts animals from Lamar-Dixon, each must sign an agreement with us to return animals to their original owners if they are claimed. The HSUS has offered to pay for the transport of any animal reclaimed by an owner, regardless of where the animal and the person are.
If The HSUS has raised millions of dollars, why can't you do more to help?
Our actions are not limited by cost. We are prepared to spend money to help animals. But there are some things money can't buy. We are balancing the demands of the state, with the demands of the federal government, along with the property managers at the Lamar-Dixon facility. We were criticized the other day, for example, for not buying spotlights for rescuers?but there is a curfew in New Orleans, and people are not allowed into the city after 8 p.m., so there's hardly a need for spotlights. If we violate the rules, we risk our entire rescue, sheltering, and export options.
The HSUS is spending millions on the rescue effort, including expenditures on transportation, food, medicine, deployment of paid staff and volunteers, crates, temporary workers, computer equipment, and so much more. Take just a couple of small examples: We are paying for nine 18-wheel trucks, and each is $1,500-plus per day. We've upped our staffing from a Louisiana temp agency to help us with animal care on the ground. The additional 50 people per shift will cost $40,000-$50,000 per week. And we are committing millions more for capacity building and reconstruction efforts, so that the humane infrastructure along the Gulf Coast will be stronger than it ever was before Katrina pounded the area. We intend to help rebuild every shelter damaged by Katrina.
We've heard a report that there is mass euthanasia going on?
This is the rumor mill at work. There is no mass euthanasia occurring by the federal veterinarians on site. The only animals euthanized are severe medical cases and extremely aggressive animals. All animals with even a chance of being reclaimed, fostered, or adopted are given a shot at a new life.
If Lamar-Dixon ceases operations, where will you move the animals?
The property managers at Lamar-Dixon want us out of there for their own private reasons, and they have waged a campaign of harassment to drive us out. What's more, we operate under the incident command structure of the Louisiana State Veterinarian's Office, and we meet with the state team every day. They have asked us to cease intake of animals by September 30. We are beseeching them to let us continue for a longer period, and we are cautiously optimistic that we'll persuade them to extend our rescue operations at Lamar-Dixon.
But we are also working with the Louisiana SPCA to open a new site in New Orleans that can take rescued animals. This operation will be under the Louisiana SPCA's control, but we'll work hand-in-hand with the people there to get it fully equipped and operational.
Why have you moved animals from Lamar-Dixon to a prison?
We are seeking creative solutions to keep space available at our facilities for the import of rescued animals. We had a meeting with the wardens of two major prisons in Louisiana, and they said they wanted to help. They have space and a ready supply of labor. Our veterinarians, vet techs, and volunteers are teaching inmates and prison personnel the basics in animal care, and it's a win-win for people and for the animals. When the crisis finally subsides, we will go back to these institutions and see whether it is possible to develop some long-term programs where they can be of use to the work of animal care in the Gulf.
I want to volunteer. Should I self-deploy to Gonzales?
We are encouraging volunteers to help at both the Gonzales facility and at our Hattiesburg, Mississippi operation, which is a facility we've established to deal with the animal care and rescue operations in that devastated state. We do need volunteers, and urge people to self-deploy if they can come for even just a couple of days. Conditions are primitive, and volunteers need to bring a sleeping bag and some provisions. They also have to understand that we're in crisis mode there, and that it's not going to look like a local veterinarian's office. It's a quasi-military operation, and it's stressful. And it's hard work.
We hear people are stealing animals at Lamar-Dixon. What is security like?
There are many rumors on the Internet about animals being stolen. We are constantly on guard for this, especially because we have rescued more than 300 pit bulls, and these animals are sought after by criminal dogfighters. We have erected a new perimeter fence and hired a private security firm. The security firm is present on site 24 hours a day, every day of the week. It's safe for both animals and people.
HSUS President & CEO Wayne Pacelle Responds to Rumors Circulating About Our Katrina Relief Efforts
The HSUS has been in the field in Louisiana and Mississippi since the day after Hurricane Katrina struck. For the past few weeks, a coalition of groups, led by The HSUS, has saved more than 7,000 animals (including more than 1,000 chickens from a destroyed poultry confinement facility). While that's a significant number, there are many animals we haven't reached yet?and, frankly, may never reach before it's too late. But our goal is to continue our rescue efforts until we exhaust our list of rescue requests.
Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The HSUS, was on site in Gonzales, Louisiana, for two weeks ending September 25, and during his time there, he was confronted with a number of rumors, many of which continue to circulate. He wanted to respond to some of the most common rumors, in hopes of setting the record straight.
We've heard that The HSUS has stopped animal rescues, or is planning to stop rescues on September 30. Is either true?
No. There was a brief pause in direct rescue efforts over the September 23-25 weekend because of Hurricane Rita's approach. We dropped down to emergency staff levels, secured more than six 18-wheel rigs for possible evacuation, and hunkered down at the Lamar-Dixon emergency facility in Gonzales, making sure the 700 animals there were safe. Direct rescue resumed as soon as the tropical storm winds and sheets of rain receded. We don't plan to stop animal rescues until every single one of the addresses?on every single list that's out there?has been visited.
Why isn't HSUS supporting rescuers in the field?
The HSUS is supporting rescuers in every way possible. We are providing equipment, lists of addresses, food, and other necessities for volunteers and animal control workers from all over the country.
One of the challenges, however, is that the owners of the Lamar-Dixon facility have restricted us from keeping more than 1,300 rescued animals on the property. So every day, we have to move hundreds of animals out to shelters before we can bring any more in. At the times when we have reached our capacity, we ask rescuers to bring in only the most critical animals who need immediate veterinary care; for the other animals, if they appear to be healthy, we give them food and water so we can go back for them later. What's more, if pet owners are about to return to New Orleans (as many are about to do), it's better for the animals if we do not subject them to the stress of capture and transport.
The Louisiana SPCA, which we are partnering with, is expected to secure a new facility soon in New Orleans. We are working with the Louisiana SPCA to get it properly equipped to accept rescued animals starting on Saturday, October 1.
If you are trying to move animals out of Lamar-Dixon, why can't rescuers take them?
Rescuers are taking some, but we are not set up for adoption screening and post-adoption visitations. That's why our first priority is to move animals to animal care facilities in Louisiana (so reunions can readily occur) or to move them to large humane societies in other states.
These humane societies are set up not only to care for animals, but also to screen individuals for fostering and adoption. Before any out-of-state shelter accepts animals from Lamar-Dixon, each must sign an agreement with us to return animals to their original owners if they are claimed. The HSUS has offered to pay for the transport of any animal reclaimed by an owner, regardless of where the animal and the person are.
If The HSUS has raised millions of dollars, why can't you do more to help?
Our actions are not limited by cost. We are prepared to spend money to help animals. But there are some things money can't buy. We are balancing the demands of the state, with the demands of the federal government, along with the property managers at the Lamar-Dixon facility. We were criticized the other day, for example, for not buying spotlights for rescuers?but there is a curfew in New Orleans, and people are not allowed into the city after 8 p.m., so there's hardly a need for spotlights. If we violate the rules, we risk our entire rescue, sheltering, and export options.
The HSUS is spending millions on the rescue effort, including expenditures on transportation, food, medicine, deployment of paid staff and volunteers, crates, temporary workers, computer equipment, and so much more. Take just a couple of small examples: We are paying for nine 18-wheel trucks, and each is $1,500-plus per day. We've upped our staffing from a Louisiana temp agency to help us with animal care on the ground. The additional 50 people per shift will cost $40,000-$50,000 per week. And we are committing millions more for capacity building and reconstruction efforts, so that the humane infrastructure along the Gulf Coast will be stronger than it ever was before Katrina pounded the area. We intend to help rebuild every shelter damaged by Katrina.
We've heard a report that there is mass euthanasia going on?
This is the rumor mill at work. There is no mass euthanasia occurring by the federal veterinarians on site. The only animals euthanized are severe medical cases and extremely aggressive animals. All animals with even a chance of being reclaimed, fostered, or adopted are given a shot at a new life.
If Lamar-Dixon ceases operations, where will you move the animals?
The property managers at Lamar-Dixon want us out of there for their own private reasons, and they have waged a campaign of harassment to drive us out. What's more, we operate under the incident command structure of the Louisiana State Veterinarian's Office, and we meet with the state team every day. They have asked us to cease intake of animals by September 30. We are beseeching them to let us continue for a longer period, and we are cautiously optimistic that we'll persuade them to extend our rescue operations at Lamar-Dixon.
But we are also working with the Louisiana SPCA to open a new site in New Orleans that can take rescued animals. This operation will be under the Louisiana SPCA's control, but we'll work hand-in-hand with the people there to get it fully equipped and operational.
Why have you moved animals from Lamar-Dixon to a prison?
We are seeking creative solutions to keep space available at our facilities for the import of rescued animals. We had a meeting with the wardens of two major prisons in Louisiana, and they said they wanted to help. They have space and a ready supply of labor. Our veterinarians, vet techs, and volunteers are teaching inmates and prison personnel the basics in animal care, and it's a win-win for people and for the animals. When the crisis finally subsides, we will go back to these institutions and see whether it is possible to develop some long-term programs where they can be of use to the work of animal care in the Gulf.
I want to volunteer. Should I self-deploy to Gonzales?
We are encouraging volunteers to help at both the Gonzales facility and at our Hattiesburg, Mississippi operation, which is a facility we've established to deal with the animal care and rescue operations in that devastated state. We do need volunteers, and urge people to self-deploy if they can come for even just a couple of days. Conditions are primitive, and volunteers need to bring a sleeping bag and some provisions. They also have to understand that we're in crisis mode there, and that it's not going to look like a local veterinarian's office. It's a quasi-military operation, and it's stressful. And it's hard work.
We hear people are stealing animals at Lamar-Dixon. What is security like?
There are many rumors on the Internet about animals being stolen. We are constantly on guard for this, especially because we have rescued more than 300 pit bulls, and these animals are sought after by criminal dogfighters. We have erected a new perimeter fence and hired a private security firm. The security firm is present on site 24 hours a day, every day of the week. It's safe for both animals and people.