AFRP Hurricane Katrina Efforts

AFRP’s Hurricane Katrina Efforts

We are back from a very rewarding though difficult trip to Mississippi and Louisiana. As many of you know, a team of four AFRP volunteers (Betsy Brown, Barbara DeGroodt, Sue Dewar, and myself) drove out to Tylertown, Mississippi on September 29 to assist Best Friends Animal Society with their efforts to help animals left homeless by Hurricane Katrina.
When we arrived at the sanctuary, we were faced with a situation of organized chaos: lots and lots of dogs and cats (even some ducks, iguanas and snakes) and volunteers and staff heading in all directions. We set up our camp and then quickly found our niche. We were put in charge of caring for the “Back 40,” a group of over 50 large, wonderful, dogs. In addition to caring for many dogs at the Best Friends Relief Center, some of us cared for cats, helped intake animals, helped sort massive quantities of donated supplies, and went on two rescue missions to New Orleans to rescue 13 cats that were living in a home that was destroyed by the hurricane and flooding.

Best Friends Relief Main Staging Area

AFRP crew taking care of dogs

Rubble outside the house we rescued the cats from

Loading up the cats from the home that had been flooded

It was a week of hard and emotional work. We got to know so many amazing animals that had been through so much and were true survivors. Every day rescue teams were still being sent into New Orleans to try to rescue animals. Animals were also being transferred from other facilities that could no longer care for the numbers. So each night that we were there, a whole set of new animals would arrive and become integrated into the mix.

Fortunately, animals were not only coming in daily, but also leaving daily. Groups both large and small from all over the country were packing up their vehicles, buses, and trailers with as many animals as they could take to foster back home. All were hoping that these animals would be reunited with their owners, but if not they were committed to finding them good homes.

Another way animals were leaving was because they were being reunited with their owners. These were truly beautiful and happy moments (bells were rung and everyone nearby gathered around to witness the reunions).

In addition to the many animals that touched our lives, we met amazing volunteers from all over the country. The outpour of help was beautiful. Volunteers flew or drove out individually and in groups knowing they just had to do something to help. We’ve been happy to get updates from our new friends in the short time we’ve been back.

As you can imagine, our week helping out at the Best Friends Relief Center flew by. It was filled with tears, new friendships (both with animals and humans!), and hope for these rescued animals. Though it was very hard to leave so many animals behind, we were happy to be able to bring back eight dogs and eight cats in the two vehicles we drove out in (you can view everyone we brought back at the end of this page).

AFRP volunteers helping unload a supply truck

Taking a break at our camp with dog we named Hummer

Barb helping out with intake

Monica caring for cats at a hotel on our way home

We didn’t know exactly what this experience was going to be like but the animals did beautifully. We were quite a sight at the rest stops walking eight dogs at once. Most of these 16 are now in foster homes, with just a couple still at the vet being treated for heart worms.

Of the 16 we brought back, eight cats and Sandy, a Shih-tzu/Cocker mix, are available for adoption. They were tearfully surrendered by owners who had lost their homes and did not anticipate being able to care for them anytime in the near future. We are committed to finding them loving homes as we do for all the animals we rescue.

The remaining seven dogs we are keeping for 90 days before we put them up for adoption, in the hopes that they will be reunited with their owners. Though we were saddened by not being able to bring back more animals, we were happy to be able to make a difference in the lives of these 16 individuals.

I know I’ll never forget my experience in Mississippi and Louisiana and I feel fortunate to have been in a position to help out. I also know that we couldn’t have helped out in the way we did without support back home including the support we received financially and emotionally, the new foster homes that opened up their homes to these Katrina animals, and last but not least the friends and family that cared for our households and affairs while we were gone...a BIG thank you to all!

We've arrived in California!

We certainly have our hands full with homeless animals in Monterey County. But we were happy to be able to help out with this national problem that affected so many thousands of people and their animals. I am sure all of us would help all over again but of course we hope it isn’t necessary. We hope that a big lesson was learned from the Katrina disaster so that in the future, people will be allowed to take their animals with them when evacuating.

Sincerely,

Monica Rua
President, AFRP

Here are the 8 dogs we brought back from the Mississippi. Barbara DeGroodt from From the Heart Animal Behavior and Training has agreed to provide free basic training and behavior consultations to all these pooches so they get started on the right paw in California. Thanks Barbara! (click here to read her account of our experience)

Sienna

Sienna was named after the AFRP van we drove to Mississippi. She is very underweight and needs some attention. It was very apparent that she was not thriving in the kennel environment, so we took her up to our camp each night and gave her an extra meal. We're holding her for 90 days in the hopes of a reunion.
Sandy

Sandy was named after a friend we made in Mississippi. She's a sweet small dog that gets along well with children. Her owners knew they couldn't care for her anymore given their situtation after the hurricane and sadly gave her up. We have already found a home for her.

Oliver

Oliver is a happy go lucky Otterhound mix. During the day at the sanctuary he had to be moved into the shade because of his blue eyes. Now he's in a foster home in Pacific Grove hanging out with some dog friends. We're holding him for 90 days in the hopes of a reunion. Jefferson

NEEDS A FOSTER HOME
Jefferson was named after the county in which he was found. He is a very lovely, loving tan pit bull. He has the softest eyes. There were lots of pit bulls that were being rescued from New Orleans. We were happy to at least be able to take this sweet one. Let us know if you want to foster her.

Bean

Bean was named after a meal we ate the night we decided he would get to re-locate to California. We had a traditional red beans and rice dinner that night and the name bean seemed to fit him very well. He is a little pistol and we quickly fell in love with his spunk and character. We're holding him for 90 days in the hopes of a reunion. Jack

Jack was named after a friend we met in Tylertown, Mississippi. Our friend worked with a beagle rescue organization in Florida. He is a very kind little dog, who played with any other dogs he could find. He seems very eager to learn and please. We're holding him for 90 days in the hopes of a reunion. Tina

Tina was named after a very sweet volunteer that we met at Tylertown. We decided to take this sweet girl because she was very shy at the sanctuary and was intimidated by the barking dogs and the environment. She's underweight but is blossoming in her foster home. We're holding her for 90 days in the hopes of a reunion. Jolly

Jolly was named after a city in Texas. As we drove into Mississippi, we passed a sign for Jolly, TX. We all thought we should have a dog named Jolly. He is a very happy little dog, so he became Jolly. We saw him with several dogs and seemed to get along with just about everyone. We're holding him for 90 days in the hopes of a reunion.

THESE CATS ARE ALL AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION:

Here are the cats that we rescued out of a home that was uninhabitable due to the hurricane and flooding. The owners tearfully surrendered these cats to Best Friends and then to AFRP to go up for adoption because they were homeless and did not anticipate being able to care for them anytime in the near future. It was a very sad situation but we were happy to be able to help and assure them that we'd find them great homes.

These beautiful cats are all about 2 to 3 years old and are used to living with other cats. As you can tell from some of the pictures, some are shy and need a patient home. They've been through a lot. Others have put their trauma behind and are ready to see what life is all about in California. Let us know if you are interested in meeting any of these precious kitties.

Bunt
Gremlin
Iris
Isis

Jack
Jasper
Melody
Patches

If there is anything else you would like to know about Animal Friends Rescue Project, please email us at info@animalfriendsrescue.org or call us at (831) 333-0722. Also, let us know if you are interested in joining our mailing list.

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Here are the 8 dogs we brought back from the Mississippi. Barbara DeGroodt from From the Heart Animal Behavior and Training has agreed to provide free basic training and behavior consultations to all these pooches so they get started on the right paw in California. Thanks Barbara! (click here to read her account of our experience)

Sienna Sienna was named after the AFRP van we drove to Mississippi. She is very underweight and needs some attention. It was very apparent that she was not thriving in the kennel environment, so we took her up to our camp each night and gave her an extra meal. We're holding her for 90 days in the hopes of a reunion.	Sandy Sandy was named after a friend we made in Mississippi. She's a sweet small dog that gets along well with children. Her owners knew they couldn't care for her anymore given their situtation after the hurricane and sadly gave her up. We have already found a home for her.	Oliver Oliver is a happy go lucky Otterhound mix. During the day at the sanctuary he had to be moved into the shade because of his blue eyes. Now he's in a foster home in Pacific Grove hanging out with some dog friends. We're holding him for 90 days in the hopes of a reunion.	Jefferson NEEDS A FOSTER HOME Jefferson was named after the county in which he was found. He is a very lovely, loving tan pit bull. He has the softest eyes. There were lots of pit bulls that were being rescued from New Orleans. We were happy to at least be able to take this sweet one. Let us know if you want to foster her.

Bean Bean was named after a meal we ate the night we decided he would get to re-locate to California. We had a traditional red beans and rice dinner that night and the name bean seemed to fit him very well. He is a little pistol and we quickly fell in love with his spunk and character. We're holding him for 90 days in the hopes of a reunion.	Jack Jack was named after a friend we met in Tylertown, Mississippi. Our friend worked with a beagle rescue organization in Florida. He is a very kind little dog, who played with any other dogs he could find. He seems very eager to learn and please. We're holding him for 90 days in the hopes of a reunion.	Tina Tina was named after a very sweet volunteer that we met at Tylertown. We decided to take this sweet girl because she was very shy at the sanctuary and was intimidated by the barking dogs and the environment. She's underweight but is blossoming in her foster home. We're holding her for 90 days in the hopes of a reunion.	Jolly Jolly was named after a city in Texas. As we drove into Mississippi, we passed a sign for Jolly, TX. We all thought we should have a dog named Jolly. He is a very happy little dog, so he became Jolly. We saw him with several dogs and seemed to get along with just about everyone. We're holding him for 90 days in the hopes of a reunion.

THESE CATS ARE ALL AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION: Here are the cats that we rescued out of a home that was uninhabitable due to the hurricane and flooding. The owners tearfully surrendered these cats to Best Friends and then to AFRP to go up for adoption because they were homeless and did not anticipate being able to care for them anytime in the near future. It was a very sad situation but we were happy to be able to help and assure them that we'd find them great homes. These beautiful cats are all about 2 to 3 years old and are used to living with other cats. As you can tell from some of the pictures, some are shy and need a patient home. They've been through a lot. Others have put their trauma behind and are ready to see what life is all about in California. Let us know if you are interested in meeting any of these precious kitties.

Bunt	Gremlin	Iris	Isis

Jack	Jasper	Melody	Patches