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THE SANCTUARY CARAVAN OF RESCUERS

Hurricane Katrina has truly changes the lives of many.  This morning talking to Rita of the Humane Society of West Louisiana I was appalled at what they are dealing with down there.  With Rita's help we hope to have animals brought here to the Sanctuary.  She told me of a story of a man that drove to her door with a truck.  He asked her to come out to the truck and see what he had.  In the truck along with his family were four dogs - one of which was an 11 week old puppy.  He said he had made it out of New Orleans and was driving down the road and saw these crates with dogs in them.  He could not bring the crates but did bring the dogs.  Rita had these four dogs vetted - all were in perfect health and spayed.  The people that owned these dogs must have loved them but knew they could not longer had them.  I could list a hundred or more stories like this.

As we get dogs in we will list them on this page.  I made Rita aware that we will take birds and farm animals as well.  If anyone can help her with cats please contact her at mzzritapuppylady@aol.com.  If you would like to send her donations of  food, or other animal products please contact her.  She would rather not get money.  But she would be willing to tell you of ways you can help.

If you would like to donate to the Sanctuary to help with the animals we get here please go so at our DONATIONS page please specify for use of Hurricane Katrina on the donation.  We will also be gathering things to send to Rita and her volunteers as more animals come in so that they can take care of and vet many.  A lot of these animals will be sick due to drinking the waste waters of New Orleans and surrounding areas and Rita is determined to vet them and try and place them.  Lets all do out best to help her.

Many of our family is still missing there so this is personal for us.  We love the city of New Orleans and helping Rita and the animals there is a priority to us.  We thank the many friends and co-workers who are working with us to try and locate our family and have offered us help with the animals as well.

Any news or animals we get will be listed on this page so please check back often.

9/8/05

We are thankful to the rescue groups who have agreed to take dogs or donate items or money for this venture.  Its just a pleasure to have people committed to animals.    We have two drop off points in Fort Lauderdale one is with Dawn from Save the Pets.  Please contact her at Dawn@savethepets.com. and Cathryn from Gulfstream Guardian Angels Rottweiler Rescue is also accepting donations for this venture.  You can contact her at bondmeout@aol.com.  Loretta will also help with anyone who cannot reach a drop off point.  Please contact her at loretta800@aol.com.   We need medical items.  We will also take items up for the people in the area.  A big need is water as we..  Remember these people and animals are surrounded by toxic water.

John will be taking his camera to get a photo diary of this trip and pictures will be posted.

As to the Sanctuary family missing in New Orleans we are happy to say we have found many.  Although spread over 7 states we know that soon everyone will be together and thank everyone for their wonderful thoughts and prayers.

9/11/05

The response has been great - the Sanctuary wishes to thank the following Rescue Groups for their partnership and dedication in this venture - contact names are beside the group name - One rescue working alone can help a few - many rescues working together in harmony can make a big dent in saving them all...Each group has a special place in my heart for the work they do - all groups work as hard as they can to do what they can.

Palena Dorsey Sanctuary Animal Refuge - pdorsey@sanctuaryanimalrefuge.org

Dr. Beth Wheeler - Sanctuary Animal Refuge - drbeth2000@aol.com

Cathryn Crespo - Gulfstream Rottweiler Rescue - bondmeout@aol.com www.ggarr.com

Dawn Heisler - Save the Pets - dawn@savethepets.com www.savethepets.com

Loretta    St. Martin de Porres' Help for Handicapped & Homeless Hounds, Inc.  -   loretta800@aol.com

George Crawford - Sanctuary Animal Refuge - aurgeo7@netzero.com

Jane Sheeder - Noah's Wish, Humane Society Broward, Miami and Grand Bahamas &Fairy Tails, Inc.  AnimalShelterVOL@aol.com

Abby Blum - A New Beginning Pet Rescue - www.anewbeginning.petfinder.org - ablum1@cfl.rr.com

9/15/05

The donations have been amazing - we will have more than enough for the many trucks and trailers headed up that way.  Captain Ron has been kind enough to direct our route and ensure us the best possible ways in and the safest ways in.  He has kept us up to date daily with new emergency and also letting us know about the many erroneous emails that are going around and misinformation.  We all met last night and had a dinner meeting.  Everyone is excited to go despite being told what they may see.  I am so proud of this group going.    I plan to take some pics Monday morning as they leave and will post Monday night.  John will be sending me pics each day and they will also be posted.  We are ready and surely thank all of the many donors.  We will still be accepting donation as these animals will be sick when they come back here.  The rescues that will be helping to foster these animals will have costs of medical and medicines and feed with them.  We must foster for 90 days before they can be adopted.  And we will all try and find their owners and try to reunite as many as we can.  Watch our site to see how many we do reunite and which will be placed up for adoption.  Again our many thanks.

We have been in contact with groups up there and have been getting lists of needs - we look forward to filling their lists and saving animals. If you are a bred specific rescue group who can take in and foster some of the animals we bring back please contact pdorsey@sanctuaryanimalrefuge.org

9/17

    What a day this has been!  We were up early to meet for a breakfast meeting, then  everyone went to the warehouse provided by Maria and Louie Krug to unload what they had so they could pick up more.   Palena went over to Pompano Pet Lodge to meet John and to pick up more donations.  John and his crew have been responsible for collecting several thousand dollars worth of food and medical supplies as well as crates, beds, bowls, leashes, and animal needs.  They had actually taken it upon themselves to send out request letters and the response has been overwhelming.  John's staff are trying to decide which one gets to go on the next trip and John has pledged to help us with the animals when we return.

       Beth came up from Miami with a full load of food and  supplies from Pet's Best.  Her car was loaded and there is still much to get.  Mariella owns the store with her husband and she has been sending food up for months.  She and Jane also had a collection set up for those who wanted to donate money.  Even Jane's dogs, who do commercials, sent a check from their earnings.  Talk about getting everybody (and every dog) on the bandwagon!  Those checks will go into the fund for medical expenses when the animals return.  Mariela will also be collecting for some time to help with the medical costs. 

       Beth is our resident psychologist and Assistant Director at the Sanctuary and has offered her services to help any of those going up who may have an emotional moment.  She will also be here upon their return to talk to them about their trip.  We are very blessed to have all of this support in the community.  Beth will use her skills to help everyone emotionally, and Mariella and her wonderful staff at the store have gone above and beyond the call for the animals.


       Virginia and Jackie from Gulfstream Guardian Rottweiler Rescue brought a full truck of supplies including some much needs medical supplies. 

       Ali and Megan, both volunteers at the Sanctuary, spent the morning keeping me going in the right direction then went shopping for the children in the shelters buying books and puzzles and games for the children as they have nothing to do while sitting there.

       Sue from Pets in Distress worked on getting the trailer fixed and doing the accounting of the books and getting the funds together for the trip.  She is our acting treasurer on this trip.

       Keith, forever his quiet self spent the day keeping the women together (okay, for those who know Keith, we all know that's not true).  He has done much in helping us get the transportation together for this trip and although the quiet one leads al lot of strength.  He really helps keep the team going.

           A special thank you also to Laurie, at the Palace Nursing home who made a cash donation, towels, food AND her most precious donations was her wonderful daughter Katie to go on the trip with us.  Katie has been added to go up and join the group working in the camp.

    One group individuals we don't want to leave out who contributed. Dr. Beth had a note about the Caravan on the door of her office.  The cleaning crew saw the notice and left food and money when they emptied the trash cans.  TO me this was so beautiful to see people giving without being asked.
   
       There are so many to thank for all the donations and as the week goes on we will have a page of donors who all of us above are deeply grateful to.  Even the smallest gift will mean the world to these homeless animals.  A simple story of a woman I work with:  Teri went to her vet and asked for some supplies.   They had already given to the Hurricane relief but would give her some medical supplies.   Teri came into work and to my desk and said well I got a donation from my vet but it is not much.  I am sorry I did not do more.  I went with her to her car and there was a case of bandages - and a box full of medicines.  Now medicines come in smaller bottles - there must have been 30 bottles as well as skin staplers etc.  I looked at her and said Teri do you realize how much of a donation this is?  I started crying and she was shocked.  Thanks to her, many dogs will be treated.


       Tomorrow is another day of collecting supplies and donations and getting ready.  Pictures to begin the journey and information as they are sent to us each day.  Our volunteers will give us updates.  Wish these people well.  They are truly Angels and truly some of the most wonderful people I have met.
 

Again anyone wishing to foster an animal please contact pdorsey@sanctuaryanimalrefuge.org .  Keep in mind that all animals will be registered with the Hurricane Lost and Found in hopes of relocating with their families before they can be kept or adopted out.  One of my aunts who went through the hurricane - the superdome experience and finally got to Houston called us.  She was anxious to talk to me - and with all that she had been through her biggest concern was her Shi Tzu which she had to relinquish to the Houston Animal Control.  She wanted to make sure it was safe.  The dog is safe and is waiting for her with friends until she gets settled.

9/19/05

With Rita knocking at the door the girls stayed behind while John for his homes battened down in south Miami.  Keith got his truck ready and soon it was time to go.    It was fun loading up the trucks and truly hot.  It seemed that things just multiplied in the warehouse and at times our eyes filled with tears as we realized just how much our community stood behind what we were doing.  Marilyn called her son who got us another Cargo Van from Enterprise Rental and we were again loading.  What a site  three SUV's with trailers - a truck with trailer - a huge Humane Society van and a RAV with a trailer and then the Enterprise cargo van all stuffed like sardines with supplies and medicines for animals and displaced people.  We also made sure to fill a truck with toys, coloring books, games, puzzles for the children at the shelters.  Below is our ladies - from left to right - Mindy - Marilyn - Karla - Sue and Virginia.  Becky is also with us but was in Miami at the time.

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Soon is was time to head out.  Marilyn, Sue and Keith took their vehicles and left to see how things were.  John had finished taking care of his places but they decided to stay the night and leave first thing in morning.  Through the day this has been a very smart move as the head team have been able to tell the others about gas and so forth.

Before leaving Palena and Sue went to thank one of the groups that worked so hard to make this trip a success.  They heard up to Pompano Beach to visit the Pompano Pet Lodge.  John and his crew sent out letters to all of their clients telling them about this venture.  The amount of donations they got filled more than three of the trucks.  Everyday Mindy and Karla ran over their to load up their vehicles and unload at the Warehouse that Maria and Louie Krug have donated to the Sanctuary since the Sanctuary first began.  John, the owner of the Lodge (which by the way is a beautiful place please visit www.pompnaopetlodge.com) also made a large donation to help with vet care upon the animals return and will continue to help with the medicines for these babies during the time they have to be fostered.  His whole staff truly helped make this trip a success and two are looking forward to going up on future trips us.  There are no words to thank them enough for their hard work - yet I know when they look into the eyes of the animals we bring back they will know all of their hard work has truly paid off in the lives of the animals we bring back.

Below are the employees that made this happen

There are many we have to thank and we soon will have all names on the site.  But we do want to make s special thanks to Mariella and her staff at Pets Best.  Although camera shy this team also had collections ongoing and collected so many neat things for all of the animals.  Mariella has helped the Sanctuary for some time thanks to Dr. Beth Wheeling who also had to make all of the trips to and from Mariella's to load and unload supplies.   They too have committed to continue collecting for then the animals make it back safely.

The trip up had a few problems.  Keith had two flat tired and a broken belt - but like the trooper he is - it was all taken in stride.

Half way there they met up with a great group of people who sent them on their way with fruits and vegies to take up with them

After driving to Hattiesburg to find out they were OK they began the journey to New Orleans to run into this group of National Guard - they were told

they would not be able to get into New Orleans thanks to Hurricane Rita and followed the guard into Gulfport where they met up with Project Halo

Below Virginia from Pets in Distress fell in love with a little Doxie.  I think all that went surely saw a new meaning in life

Sue carries an injured in to be examined

Below  Marilyn helps with many of the animals there

Below washing the grime off the animals was a tough task but everyone did it with a smile

Below Thibideaux one of three families found a home the night he came back.  Joe saw him - fell in love and has taken him in

On the way back a night at a hotel was called for.  Keith and Sue and Marilyn talked to hotel manager into letting them bring all of the cats and dogs into their room.  The cats enjoyed a night of play with Sue and Marilyn while Keith kept all of the dogs.

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Back at the Sanctuary Sue shows off the Dalmatian.  This little boy is in emergency at Hollywood Animal Hospital who are donating for his care.  He has leptospirosis and pneumonia and they are trying desperately to save his life.  Many of these animals have come back ill.  If you would like to donate to their care please click here - making sure to type medical fund on your donation.

Below two of the little ones brought back.

The litter of pups below have a horrid skin condition that is infected.  Their almost lost their tails from this and are being treated.  If you would like to donate to their care please click here.

The pitt babies below are way underweight and also are infected and have upper respiratory infections.  If you would like to donate to their care please click here.

Mama Pitt below is a real sweetie and has since found a home she is also being treated for Kennel cough.

Sad so many babies without mothers or like Mama Pitt below so many mommies who lost their babies.

Away from the staging center and on the way home one cat spending the night in a hotel finds comfort in a bag.

Another kitten finds more fun playing with a toy in bed

Never ending jobs - even the drive home proved to be a makeshift nursery

Keith and his little friend.  This little dog made its way into Keith's heart - he slept with him their final night there making a mess

and all Keith could say was oh well so what - we made him feel good.

Below back at the Sanctuary Joe hugs his little Thibideaux who in turn has been by his side since arriving.

This little boxer girl (white) got out of her crate and ran around getting into everything.  Chasing water from a hose and then chasing the tractor tires.

DeBo below a wonderful dog.  The owner has been located The woman was in tears and although she said she will not be able to get him n the 30 day allotted time but has  been promised her that no matter when DeBo will get back to her - that is the best happy ending we can think of.

This little guy jumped into Keith's truck and said take me home - and he did