After watching the heartbreaking scenes on television of the thousands of animals left behind in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Ohio University graduate student Emily Marcus decided to drive south to volunteer for the animal relief effort.
The Lamar-Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales, La., which Marcus described as a fairground multiplied by ten
had five barn-like covered areas filled with stalls. Approximately 300 volunteers cared for 1,500 animals, including dogs, cats, horses, birds, fish, ferrets and snakes. Various groups were represented including the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the National Guard, the Humane Society of the United States, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Other volunteers, like Marcus, worked without ties to a specific organization.
Workers rescued animals by answering requests from owners, by breaking and entering, or by finding animals on the streets. Companies, such as PETCO, PetSmart and Wal-Mart, donated crates to house the animals.
For four days, Marcus worked 15-hour days and slept in a small tent. She worked in the barn where the animals were unloaded from the trucks. Petfinder.com, an online database of homeless animals, took photos and information of each animal. Each animal also had a basic medical exam.
Marcus said one of the hardest parts about the animal relief center was how many owners were disappointed when they could not find their pet.
Owners will care less if they have food water or a place to sleep at night - all they want to do is find their dogs Marcus said. For some of them it is medically necessary
like seeing-eye dogs
dogs that can detect epilepsy.
Dan Paden, spokesman for PETA, said that more than 300 animals were rescued in New Orleans alone.
Like children
animals are defenseless beings
Paden said. We owe it to them to find them a safe place to live
he said.
On Sept. 15, PETA submitted testimony to Congress encouraging federal officials to help with animal rescues in the future.
The state of Louisiana decided to allow animals to stay at the Expo until Oct. 15. If not claimed by this date, the animals can be adopted.
Marcus brought back a reminder of her trip to Gonzales in the form of a dog of her own - a mutt named Brill You do so much for so many animals
but what makes it rewarding
I think
is to do a lot for one or two of them
