Based on thousands of phone calls and emails we've received over the last weeks, The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) has compiled this list of Frequently Asked Questions about our disaster response on the Gulf Coast and our ongoing pet reunification efforts. Before you call or email us, please see if your question is listed below. Fewer phone calls and emails from individuals will give us more time to focus on urgent needs of field work and reunification. If you do email us, please know that it may take us several days to several weeks to respond, depending on the topic.
Reuniting with My Pet
Animal Rescue and Sheltering
HSUS Presence in the Field
Volunteering
Adoption/Foster Requests
Donating to The HSUS
In-Kind Donations (Pet food, crates, supplies, etc.)
Animals in the Media
Miscellaneous
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Reuniting with My Pet
How Do I Locate a Pet and Arrange for Reunion?
For step-by-step instructions for searching for your pet, click here. The information on the Petfinder.com database is being constantly updated, so please continue to check on a regular basis at Petfinder.com. With the help of The HSUS, The ASPCA and Petfinder, the individual shelters continue to add pet records and more detail to existing records. Animals are also being logged and checked onto Pet Harbor, so also check Petharbor.com on a regular basis. Pet owners without Internet access should call 1-800-HUMANE-1 before November 23, and HSUS staff will work with you one-on-one to help track and locate your animals.
What if I Find My Animal in a Shelter Across the Country? How Will I Get My Pet?
Contact the shelter directly to verify identification. Once that is established, the shelter will work with you to transport the animal to your current location.
Who Will Pay for Transportation of an Animal?
The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) want to do everything possible to help reunite animal victims of Hurricane Katrina with their human families. To that end, we are dedicating monies to a joint program that will reimburse local animal shelters for the costs of transporting pets back to their owners. Organizations across the country have provided these animals with extraordinary care and shelter from the ravages of the storm; the next step is to help those pets find their way home.
The HSUS and the ASPCA will reimburse approved shelters the actual cost of transporting animals to their owners, up to a maximum of $400 upon submission of original receipts and completion of the attached form. The maximum amount is based on the highest cost to ship an animal by air within the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Prices to ship animals are fairly standardized among major airlines and are generally as follows:
• $80 for pets traveling as carry-on in cabin with passenger
• $100-$170 for checked small- to medium-sized kennels
• $200-$300 for checked large and extra-large kennels
• $360-$400 for checked cargo-sized containers
Prices may vary, and in exceptional cases, The HSUS and the ASPCA will pay additional amounts to be determined on a case-by-case basis.
If you believe you have special circumstances that warrant an exception, please provide that information to Jennifer Gunn (JGunn@hsus.org) at the HSUS or Jacque Schultz (jacques@aspca.org) at the ASPCA by email. We urge shelters in those situations to seek prior approval of those additional costs, but prior approval is not required.
To receive reimbursement from the HSUS/ASPCA Pet Reunification Fund, please submit original receipts and the attached form no later than March 1, 2006 to either:
HSUS
ATTN: Jennifer Gunn
700 Professional Drive
Gaithersburg, MD 20879
ASPCA
ATTN: Jacque Schultz
110 Fifth Avenue; 2nd Floor
New York, NY 10011
Please do not submit the same request for reimbursement to both agencies.
Is There a Deadline for Getting My Pet From a Shelter?
More than 200 animal shelters in the United States and assorted rescue groups agreed to take Katrina survivors into their care while rescue operations were ongoing.
Under a previous agreement, shelters were expected to hold animals until October 15. That date was established early in the disaster response before there was a clear understanding of the magnitude and complexity of the rescue, relief, and reunion operation. Now, shelters, fosters and other groups are asked to hold the animals not less than 30 days from the date the animal's photo is posted on Petfinder.com. After 30 days, shelters, fosters, and rescue groups may elect to hold the animal longer with hopes of reuniting the pet with his or her family, or may move forward with making that animal available for adoption. The HSUS and other national animal protection organizations are appealing to shelters to extend the hold period until December 15 when possible.
Animal shelters have also been encouraged to commit staff and volunteers to navigate the Petfinder site regularly for lost reports from owners that may match animals in their possession.
Can I Get My Pet Back After October 15?
Making your search as soon as possible, and calling 1-800-HUMANE-1 before November 23 for help, will increase your chances of reuniting with your pet. For step-by-step instructions for searching for your pet, click here. The information on the Petfinder.com database is also being constantly updated, so please continue to check on a regular basis at Petfinder.com.
Our goal is to help unite every missing pet with his or her family, but because the shelters are not compelled to keep Katrina's animals after October 15, there is the chance that you may not be able to be reunited with your pet after that date. Shelters, fosters, and other groups are asked to hold the animals not less than 30 days from the date the animal's photo is posted on Petfinder.com. After 30 days, shelters, fosters, and rescue groups may elect to hold the animal longer with hopes of reuniting the pet with his or her family, or may move forward with making that animal available for adoption. The HSUS and other national animal protection organizations are appealing to shelters to extend the hold period until December 15 when possible.
What If a Shelter Won't Return My Pet?
If shelters are refusing to return a pet because of the cost for transportation, The ASPCA and The HSUS have committed to paying shelters for transport costs related to reunification. Organizations across the country have provided these animals with extraordinary care and shelter from the ravages of the storm; the next step is to help those pets find their way home. For reimbursement guidelines and information, click here.
Our goal is to help unite every missing pet with his or her family, but because the shelters are not compelled to keep Katrina's animals after October 15, there is a possibility that you may not be able to be reunited with your pet after that date. However, shelters, fosters, and other rescue groups have been asked to hold the animals not less than 30 days from the date the animal's photo is posted on Petfinder.com. After 30 days, shelters, fosters, and rescue groups may elect to hold the animal longer with hopes of reuniting the pet with his or her family, or may move forward with making that animal available for adoption. The HSUS and other national animal protection organizations are also appealing to shelters to extend the hold period until December 15 when possible.
For help reuniting with your pet, call 1-800-HUMANE-1 before November 23.
Am I Eligible for Free or Discounted Veterinary Care?
The HSUS/AAHA Katrina Pet Wellness Program provides financial assistance for basic veterinary wellness checkups of pets displaced by the storm. Managed through the AAHA Helping Pets Fund, the program offers reimbursement to veterinary practices of up to $125 per pet for basic treatments such as exams and vaccinations.
Animal Rescue and Sheltering
Is Lamar-Dixon Closing?
After more than one month in Louisiana and Mississippi, and nearly 8,000 animals rescued as part of an unprecedented effort by several national and local organizations, and more than 1,000 volunteers, The HSUS has transitioned many of its animal relief operations in Louisiana. The Lamar-Dixon temporary shelter in Gonzales stopped housing animals after October 15, but we will continue assisting owners with reunification with their animals and support the Louisiana SPCA in its rescue efforts.
Efforts to rescue, shelter, and reunite the animals abandoned in New Orleans and surrounding parishes after Hurricane Katrina continued after September 30, which was the date established by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry for the transition management of the rescue effort back to the local agencies
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. We have to modify our approach as the Louisiana SPCA launches its new operations, but we're going to back its rescue efforts and offer our wholehearted assistance.
With some residents now returning back home, the Louisiana SPCA operation is expected to focus on feeding animals in anticipation that their owners may return to the city. If the animals are safe and healthy, they stand a chance of being reclaimed as the city is repopulated, sparing the animals the stress of capture and transportation. Animals in danger or in need of immediate medical treatment will continue to be accepted and treated at the temporary animal shelter at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales while it remains open.
What Will Happen to Animals in New Orleans That Still Need Rescuing?
Efforts to rescue, shelter, and reunite the animals abandoned in New Orleans and surrounding parishes after Hurricane Katrina continue. The Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry earlier mandated that all rescues based out of the Lamar-Dixon temporary shelter in Gonzales end on Friday, September 30, but the state said that LA SPCA and other credentialed groups could continue to run rescues and bring the animals to LA SPCA's temporary facility in Algiers or to an approved veterinary facility.
Can I Still Request that My Pet Be Rescued?
If you have emailed us or called us with a request to rescue your pet(s), please know that your request has been received, even if we have not responded to you directly. If you haven’t already filed a rescue request for your animal(s), please contact the Louisiana SPCA (LA/SPCA) at 1-800-745-9151.
| Contact Us |
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• 1-800-HUMANE-1—The HSUS Call Center—for donations and general inquiries or offers of help that are disaster related.
• To find your pet, visit our pet tips for reuniting page, then go to Petfinder.com, Petharbor.com, and call us at 1-800-HUMANE-1 before November 23 for one-on-one assistance.
• disaster@hsus.org - For general inquiries or offers of help that are disaster related. To email us, please begin a new email with your issue clearly stated in the subject line. Please do not simply hit "Reply" when responding to HSUS electronic communications—we need to be able to clearly see your issue in the subject line of your email.
• For all rescue requests, found or lost animals, deceased animals, please contact Petfinder.com |
Where Have Rescued Animals in Louisiana Gone?
Rescued animals from New Orleans were first taken to a triage center outside the city to be assessed by a veterinarian. Then, animals were transported to the temporary emergency shelter at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales, Louisiana. There, the animals were bathed, fed, and watered.
Please note, that due to the large number of animals that arrived at the temporary shelter in Gonzales, many who were not reunited with their owners on-site have been transported for safe-keeping to animal shelters in other states. The animal shelters taking in pets displaced by Hurricane Katrina will be holding those animals to give owners a chance to claim them. Information on pets moved to other shelters will be posted on Petfinder.com. The Lamar-Dixon facility is now closed.
How Can I Look For My Pet in Person?
Due to the large numbers of animals who arrived at the temporary shelter, many have been transported for safe-keeping to animal shelters in other states. The animal shelters taking in pets displaced by Hurricane Katrina will be holding those animals to give owners a chance to claim them. Information on pets moved to other shelters will be posted on Petfinder.com. The most effective way to find your pet is to look on Petfinder.com, on Petharbor.com, and to call 1-800-HUMANE-1 before November 23.
Before transport, each animal was photographed, microchipped, and documented. Petfinder.com is posting pictures of and information on all animals brought into the temporary shelters. To locate and recover your pet, please see the Reuniting With My Pet section above.
Where Did Rescued Animals in Mississippi Go?
Rescued animals in Mississippi were taken to the Forrest County Multi-Purpose Center in Hattiesburg, where they were checked by a veterinarian, bathed, fed, and watered. The successful shelter operations have closed, and all rescued animals were either reunited with their owners or have been transported for safe-keeping to animal shelters in other states. The animal shelters taking in pets displaced by Hurricane Katrina will be holding those animals to give owners a chance to claim them. Information on pets moved to other shelters will be posted on Petfinder.com or on Petharbor.com. To locate and recover your pet, please see the Reuniting With My Pet section above.
How Do I Report that My Animal Has Been Rescued?
If you reported an animal needing rescue, but have since been reunited with your animal, please call us to cancel your request at 1-800-HUMANE-1 before November 23 or send an email to pets@petfinder.com. This will enable the rescue request to be canceled in the field.
How Do I Report that I Have Found an Animal?
If you have found an animal, please enter the information in to the Petfinder.com database. Click on "I Have Found a Pet in the Disaster Region." You can also look through the lost pets to see if one matches the animal you have found. Please be prepared to give a detailed description of the animal (breed, sex, markings, etc.), where you found him/her, any collar and tag information, etc.
How Do I Report that My Pet has Died?
If you have found a deceased pet or if your own pet for whom you requested a rescue has died you may email disaster@hsus.org with "Deceased Animal" in the subject line. Please provide your name, address where the pets were left, their names and descriptions, and your contact numbers. We will cancel the rescue request in the field.
If you do not have Internet access, please call 1-800-HUMANE-1 before November 23 and a member of our call center will enter the deceased animal information for you.
Are Animals Being Euthanized?
There are erroneous rumors spreading on the Internet that animals in Louisiana are being euthanized en masse. This is absolutely false. Why would anybody expend so much effort to rescue these animals only to turn around and euthanize them? The decision to euthanize is taken by the veterinarians who are treating the animals at the facility.
The Veterinary Medical Assistance Teams (VMAT) groups have euthanized animals in grave medical condition, badly injured, or highly aggressive and thus unsuitable for re-homing—a very small percentage of animals of the total number that have been processed at Lamar-Dixon.
Misinformation about access to the Gonzales facility and the care the animals are receiving has been posted on certain websites. If you want to help animals get the desperate attention they need, please do not forward such rumors to The HSUS. Receiving and responding to rumors squanders the time and the resources of those who are focused solely on saving animals’ lives.
Have Unclaimed Horses Been Euthanized at the Lamar-Dixon Shelter?
No. Of the more than 350 horses and other hooved animals who were taken into Lamar-Dixon as a result of Hurricane Katrina, only 64 remained at the facility as of October 13. Most of those had known owners who have already been contacted by the staff and volunteers running the equine operations at Lamar-Dixon, mostly people from the Louisiana Equine Council or from the veterinary school at Louisiana State University. Those horses are awaiting shipment back to their homes or to foster care where they will stay until their owners can find new housing for them. "If all goes well, I won't have any adoptions," said Bonnie Clark, president of the Louisiana Equine Council. "Our goal is 100% (return rate), and that would be really, really nice, especially since that was the whole reason we were here."
HSUS Presence in the Field
What Are We Doing?
As New Orleans residents come back into the city, The HSUS and other national groups are taking steps to turn their rescue and sheltering operations over to Louisiana SPCA (LA SPCA), the group that has been contracted for more than 50 years to provide animal control for New Orleans.
The Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry earlier mandated that all rescues based out of the Lamar-Dixon temporary shelter in Gonzales end on Friday, September 30, but the state said that LA SPCA and other credentialed groups could continue to run rescues and bring the animals to the LA SPCA's temporary operation in Algiers or to approved veterinary facilities.
The withdrawal of staff and volunteers deployed to Louisiana and Mississippi from national animal groups marks the beginning of the end to an unprecedented event: The rescuing, sheltering and transporting of nearly 8,000 animals from the areas affected by Hurricane Katrina. Some believe it may have been the largest animal rescue operation in U.S. history.
The HSUS will continue to help stabilize LA SPCA's new operations so that the group can carry on its mission in New Orleans.
The HSUS will continue working in the second phase of the disaster response—reuniting pet owners with their pets. For questions about pet reunions, see the Reuniting My Pet section, read our tip sheet, and then log onto Petfinder.com and Petharbor.com.
For updates about our work, continue to visit www.hsus.org.
How Many HSUS Responders Have Been in the Field?
The HSUS had hundreds of responders on the ground in Mississippi and Louisiana handling animal rescues and providing daily veterinary and animal care, transportation, and administrative needs.
How Many Animals Have We Rescued?
More than 8,000 animals have been rescued in Louisiana and Mississippi. Please see our disaster coverage on www.hsus.org for updates on our work in the field.
Has the News Media Covered Your Efforts in the Field?
The rescue and care efforts of The HSUS have been featured in numerous television, newspaper, radio, and Internet reports. For a partial list of media appearances, click here.
What Should I Do About Rumors?
In a situation as enormous and fast paced as this disaster, information is being distributed rapidly and—on occasion—recklessly. Rumors are flying. It is impossible for us to respond to what other animal welfare groups are saying or doing, or to the misinformation and hearsay that individuals are spreading through other web sites and chat rooms.
We are updating information as quickly as we can, so please help us in our disaster efforts by referring to www.hsus.org for accurate information and to find out what you can do to help. Frequently visiting www.hsus.org—instead of emailing us unless absolutely necessary—will allow our staff to devote themselves to the most pressing needs.
Volunteering
How Can I Volunteer for The HSUS Disaster Animal Response Team (DART)?
Many people were motivated by Hurricane Katrina to join The HSUS National Disaster Animal Response Team (DART). Thousands of people contacted us to volunteer, and we collected online applications from people with a variety of skills. We want to stay in contact with those who volunteered as well as with those who wished to volunteer, but may have lacked the training or experience, or even the time, to do so. After each disaster, we talk about preparing for the next one, while silently hoping there will never be another one. Sadly, this wish never comes true—and so we gear up and train for the next time.
With that in mind, why not get some training and be ready for whatever may happen? Every year, hurricanes, tornadoes, hazardous-materials incidents, floods, earthquakes, and other disasters threaten the animals who are so important to our lives. Click here to learn more about volunteering.
Can I Volunteer at LA SPCA's New Shelter in Algiers?
While the LA SPCA certainly appreciates the offers and the hard work of all the volunteers at Lamar-Dixon, they are working with Society for Animal Welfare Administrators (SAWA) to augment their staff.
Would It Help to Volunteer at My Local Animal Shelter?
Yes. Local shelters and animal welfare organizations across the country have contributed staff, volunteers, space, and supplies to help animals affected by Hurricane Katrina. You can be a part of the solution by volunteering at one of these worthwhile shelters and many of these shelters need volunteers year-round. To learn about volunteer opportunities with your local animal protection organizations, we suggest you check the Yellow Pages under the headings "animal shelter," "humane society," and "animal control," or just call Information. You will need to contact each group directly to learn about current volunteer needs and opportunities. For more information on volunteering, click here. For more information on finding your local shelter, click here.
Adoption/Foster Requests
How May I Foster or Adopt Animals Affected by Hurricane Katrina?
Thank you for your generous offer to foster or adopt animals affected by Hurricane Katrina. Please visit Petfinder.com to register as a potential foster or permanent home.
How Can I Adopt Snowball (or Other Animals Seen in the News)?
We know these animals’ plights are heart-wrenching and we appreciate how so many people are drawn to a particular animal’s story. Please do not contact us to inquire about fostering or adopting "Snowball," "the Afghan Hound," "the Little Black Puppy," "Samantha," or other animals featured in the media or on the HSUS web site. The emails and phone calls we receive on this subject interfere with identifying important rescue requests. It is just not possible for us to match specific animals profiled in the media to your requests.
My Shelter or Placement Group is Able to Take in Animals from the Affected Region for Foster or Adoption. Whom Do I Contact About This?
The ASPCA is coordinating shelter-to-shelter offers of assistance. If your shelter or placement group can hold, foster, or adopt out animals from shelters in the affection region, please complete the ASPCA's "Organization Registration" form and be sure to complete Question #14.
Would Adopting an Animal from My Local Animal Shelter Help?
Yes. Please don’t forget the animals already in your local animal shelter. They need homes desperately, too, and by adopting them you may create additional space for shelters to take in and hold animals affected by Hurricane Katrina.
Donating to The HSUS
We are indebted to all of the caring individuals and companies who have given so generously. Donations to our Disaster Relief Fund have been used to fund our massive rescue and response effort, and will be used to help rebuild animal shelters and the animal protection capacity of the region over the coming months and, perhaps, years. We’ve spent funds on disaster equipment and supply needs (animal, human, and operating), communication systems, boats, RVs, trailers, cages, and much more. We’ve made emergency grants to shelters and purchased needed veterinary and other supplies. We deployed our Rural Area Veterinary Services unit to treat animals in the temporary shelters and we also set up a veterinary care program with the American Animal Hospital Association to provide basic wellness care for the animals of people displaced by the disaster. In addition, we’ve provided transportation to and from the disaster sites, extra phone services to deal with the increased phone volume of disaster victims and others, and many other services. Thanks to your generous contributions, we’ve rescued thousands of animals and are working to reunite as many of them with their caregivers as possible.
How May I Donate by Telephone?
Please call us at (301) 258 8276 to make a donation by credit card.
How May I Donate Online?
You may donate online here. Our web site is secure.
How May I Donate by Mail?
If you would like to make a donation by mail, please make your check payable to HSUS Disaster Relief Fund and send to:
The Humane Society of the United States
Department DRFHBM
2100 L Street, NW
Washington, DC 20037
In-Kind Donations (Pet food, crates, supplies, etc.)
May I Donate Crates, Food, Other Supplies, or a Large In-Kind Donation?
Thank you for the thousands of in-kind offers and donations already made.
If you have registered an offer of several cages, animal toys, etc., and have not received a response, please contact your local Humane Society or animal shelter and offer your donation to them to use locally.
Please do not send supplies or donations of other goods without checking and receiving authorization from a recognized animal welfare organization in the field. It is becoming difficult and it is not an efficient use of disaster personnel time, to unload and store unneeded and/or unsolicited supplies.
If you are with an animal shelter that would like to donate supplies to shelters in the affected region, please complete the ASPCA's "Organization Registration" form and be sure to complete Question #15. The ASPCA is coordinating shelter-to-shelter offers of assistance.
If you are thinking about collecting supplies or donations of other goods for the field, please email FSIntern@hsus.org for guidance about what is or will be needed over the coming months.
Animals in the Media
How Can I Find Out What Happened to Snowball (and Other Animals)?
Snowball, the Afghan hound in Mississippi, the black lab puppy featured on CNN—these media reports and others generate thousands of emails and calls to The HSUS asking for information about whether the animals have been rescued, whether people can adopt these particular animals, and to generally express outrage that these animals are being documented without being rescued by the news crews. Please know that when we were alerted to the fact that news crews were documenting animals without rescuing them, we put out an all-points bulletin to media worldwide asking them to rescue these animals if they could and bring them to one of our temporary sheltering facilities to be cared for.
We are also aware of the reports of authorities shooting dogs in certain areas of Louisiana. We are investigating these matters as time allows.
We ask that you refrain from emailing or calling The HSUS about these animals. We know their plight is emotionally disturbing to everyone, but the thousands of duplicate queries hinder our ability to sort through the important rescue and reunion requests for specific animals and offers of help from volunteers across the country. We must focus on rescuing animals who are trapped at known addresses and on reunions of animals and their guardians based on available data.
Miscellaneous
Where Can I Buy the "BeKind" CauseCollars and Bracelets?
You may have seen our "BeKind" CauseCollar(TM) in the news. The CauseCollar is a unique new way for pets to champion their own cause. The collars are for dogs only and can be ordered here. Until September 30th, all proceeds from the collars will be directed to our Disaster Relief Fund.
The "BeKind" bracelets are offered through The Friends of Amigo Foundation. They can be purchased at www.arfhamptons.org.
May I Hold a Fundraiser for The HSUS?
If individuals or groups would like to hold a local fundraiser for The HSUS to assist the animal victims of Hurricane Katrina, we thank you very much for your generous support. Due to our involvement in responding to Katrina, The HSUS cannot send representatives, posters, or other literature to assist you in holding the fundraiser; however, you are welcome to use any of the information on our website, www.hsus.org. You may send funds raised to The Humane Society of the United States, Department DRFHBM, 2100 L Street, NW, Washington, DC 20037. Please make your check payable to The HSUS Disaster Relief Fund. Thank you!
