Being the animal lovers we are, we support a nationwide organization that has no-kill animal shelters and sanctuaries. It's called Best Friends. I'm posting a few of the links that Best Friends has sent us since the hurricane. This is a great way to help displaced and lost animals from Katrina. They are sending in workers and need a huge amount of supplies, the list was very long.

To help with rescue efforts~
www.bestfriends.org there is a link on the homepage to donate to help the animals.

If you need assistance with an animal rescue in the hurricane area, please email hurricane@bestfriends.org and leave complete contact and animal information.

Following is an email sent out by Best Friends offering help in reuniting animals and their owners.

Dear Members and Friends,

Hurricane Katrina has dealt a devastating blow to the Gulf Coast and it will
take years for the region to recover. The toll on the human victims is almost
beyond imagining. A toll has also been taken on the animal companions in the
devastation as well.

Many people were forced to leave their homes during and in the aftermath of
the hurricane and couldn't bring their animal friends with them. We know and
understand the anguish these caregivers are going through and want to assist in the rescue of these helpless victims.

Best Friends is asking that you contact any friends or relatives that you have
who were required to evacuate the disaster areas. If they have companion
animals that were left behind, please have them contact the Best Friends
Hurricane center:

hurricane@bestfriends.org (435)644-3965 Ext. 4455

We are compiling a list of animals in need to distribute to people on the
ground rescuing stranded animals.

Please ask them to include:

Contact name

Contact phone numbers

Address where the animals are

Name(s) of animal(s)

Description of animal(s)

We hope that you can help us to ease the minds of those animal caregivers who have already lost so much. Please pass this message on to as many people as you can.

Thank you for caring about the animals and the people who love them.

Sincerely,
Kelly Koeller

Network Manager, Resources & Content
Best Friends Animal Society
5001 Angel Canyon Road
Kanab, Utah 84741
435-644-2001 ext 256
kelly@bestfriends.org
www.bestfriends.org

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Ozzie's Place

Email #2 from Best Friends

Dear Members and Friends,

Thank you so much for all the offers of help and support. Best Friends role in the hurricane relief effort is now becoming considerably more focused, and we?ll be updating you every day or two. Here?s today?s update:

BACKGROUND:

We are now working on site with the St Francis Animal Sanctuary in Tylertown ? about 100 miles north of New Orleans. We consider them a sister sanctuary. They have facilities for about 400 dogs and cats. And they are being inundated! 80 more from the Humane Society of Louisiana. And 100 more from Jefferson Parish (New Orleans) Animal Control.

They have food for less than 24 hours. And they have a well, but no power to pump water. But they do have the basic facilities to operate as a sanctuary for adoptable animals from New Orleans.

So we are working with them to build up their facilities and run a joint project as base camp for adoptable animals being evacuated from New Orleans.

Our Director of Ops, Paul Berry, is now in metro New Orleans, working with Bert Smith, Director of Animal Control for Jefferson Parish. Bert is charged with rounding up stray animals. And he in turn will be taking as many as we possibly can to the St Francis sanctuary for shelter, and then to be placed in foster or adoptive homes.

A team of four from here at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary set off in a convoy for Louisiana this morning (Thursday). They are carrying food, generators, fencing, and many other supplies.

Another team from Best Friends Atlanta arrived in Louisiana this afternoon to start ferrying animals from animal control to the St Francis sanctuary.

HELP NEEDED:

We are now in a position to accept any and all offers of help. And thank you so much for them.

We need volunteers and supplies to assist in the rescue and placement of all of the animal refugees.

If you can help, please e-mail hrf@bestfriends.org with specific information on how you would like to help, what expertise you may be able to supply and how best way to contact you. We are compiling a list and will be contacting people as the program develops. Please see the list below:

Volunteer help:

- People with emergency/disaster experience to work at the disaster site.

- Long term foster homes (approximately 3 months)

- Carpenters and other construction trades people to work at the temporary and permanent shelter sites.

- Veterinarians and veterinary technicians

- Truckers

- People with trucks and vans to do animal and supply transport.

- People to collect and hold supplies until they ship

- People to volunteer at the Sanctuary for at least one week to cover for deployed personnel.

SUPPLY LIST

People needs:

Toilet paper

Paper towels

Vegetarian People food that won?t spoil or need refrigeration

Portable toilets and sanitizer

Insect repellent

Sun showers

Sunscreen

First aid kits for relief workers

Hand sanitizer

Pet needs:

Pet Food

Animal Bedding

Crates (all sizes)

Collars/leads

Veterinary Supplies

Puppy and Kitten Formula

Canopy tents for the animals

Large cat tower/cage (for kittens)

Portable water bowls for animals

Microchip Scanners

General needs:

RVs, SUV?s & Trucks (4x4), ATV?s (loaned or donated)

Tarp

Two way radios

Generators

Rope

Duct tape

Cable ties

Fencing, both temporary and permanent

Heavy work gloves and welding gloves

Carpentry supplies

Gas cans

Gas for vehicles

Flashlights

Batteries (AA, AAA, C & D)

Water

Water tanks

Clorox bleach

Warehouse facilities near Tylertown, MS

Garbage cans

Garbage bags

Tents

Camping Gear

Towels

Blankets

Collapsible wire cages (extra large size)

Extension cords (heavy duty outdoor approved - 100 foot long)

Grooming clippers (electric)

Zip Lock bags (extra large size)

Important note: Please contact us at the number above before you buy large quantities of any of these items.

This list is not exhaustive and if you think that you can offer goods or services that can help, please contact hrf@bestfriends.org. We will contact you soon.

No matter where you live or what you are able to physically do, you can help the survivors by donating to the hurricane relief effort. Any monies raised will go to help those animals and animal rescue organizations affected by the disaster. Please donate on the website at www.bestfriends.org or by calling 435-644-2001 ext. 104.

Again, thank you so very much for all offers of help. We?ll keep you updated on developments.

Best Friends Animal Society
5001 Angel Canyon Road
Kanab, UT 84741
aileenw@bestfriends.org
www.bestfriends.org
(435)644-3965 ext. 4165

A better world through kindness to animals.

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Ozzie's Place

Susie, I was set to donate to PetsMart, but I'll send to Bestfriends instead. I cannot imagine leaving my sweetheart on a rooftop alone and scared while I was being rescued. I hope I am never faced with that decision. I pray that these animals can be reunited with their families. I know it would mean so much to both the families and the pets. Thanks for the links.

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Thanks, Susie. On my way to make a contribution.

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Maxi & Maggie, I'm happy that you've chosen Best Friends. It's a great organization helping all types of animals.

I received this email update this morning from Best Friends on the rescue effort...

Dear Members & Friends,

It's a week now since we began what has become Best Friends biggest rescue effort ever. Thank you so much for all your help and support.
There are several updates daily on the Best Friends website at
http://www.bestfriends.org. News about the work Best Friends, along with news we're hearing from other organizations, plus resources and help lines, and a section where you can post your own stories or news you come across.

Our main focus continues to be working with Jefferson Parish Animal Control to bring animals to safe havens outside of New Orleans. Our team includes staff from here at the sanctuary, from Best Friends Atlanta, and from people and groups volunteering with us -- truly wonderful people all of them, including veterinarians and other rescue groups.

LATEST UPDATES:

Today, we're hearing that local government is allowing people back into parts
of New Orleans for up to 12 hours - including to collect their pets.
Many people are choosing, instead, to turn pets over to shelters because they themselves are homeless. We are receiving as many as possible and are
expanding our facilities accordingly.

Also, the National Guard is now involved in search-and-rescue and search-and-recovery around the city, and they are rescuing animals, too, which is good news. And other humane groups will be taking many of the animals collected by the Guard.

MEDIA ATTENTION:

We're heartened that more and more of the media are highlighting the plight of animals. CNN, NBC, ABC, and Fox are now in regular contact with us. USA Today has been publicizing rescue efforts regularly, and many local radio and TV stations are broadcasting news.

REQUESTS:

Continuing needs are posted on the Best Friends website, so please check there daily.

Your donations, large or small, are much appreciated. The easiest and best way to send them is through the website at www.bestfriends.org.

Today's special requests include warehouse space in Jackson, Mississippi; dog bowls, buckets, etc.; and solar or propane-heated showers to bathe animals (and people!). Other needs - for volunteers, supplies, equipment, etc. - are also posted on the website.

SPECIAL THANKS for 2 generators, 7 trucks, tons of food, other warehouse
space, fuel, and other equipment. Details are on the website.

Thanks again from all of us,

Michael Mountain
http://www.bestfriends.org

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__________________
Ozzie's Place

Read this article at Best Friends to find out more on what's happening in St. Bernard parrish with animals.

Please choose a trustworthy organization and help the animals.

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Ozzie's Place

So often in disasters the animals are left to fend for themselves. I'm so glad that www.bestfriends.org uses paypal and I can help out. I am an avid supporter of a local non-kill shelter.

Here's hoping that there are no more disasters.....

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