NEW ORLEANS - Today, two rescuers from The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) on detail in New Orleans rescued a large dog from a rooftop and they described the dog as "the most emaciated animal either person had ever seen in their animal handling experience."
The veterinarian who then attended to the dog said she was shocked that the animal was still alive, noting that he was 60 percent underweight, was covered with fleas, and was baking on a rooftop with no food or water for two weeks. A National Guard tank carried the animal rescuers to the house where the dog had been trapped on a roof, presumably since the hurricane struck.
"These National Guard troops helped save this poor animal from impending death," states Jane Garrison, of Charleston, S.C., who has already rescued several hundred animals with partners Drew Moore, of Portland, Ore. and Bruce Ernest of Waterloo, Iowa. "I have never seen a dog in worse condition in my two decades of doing animal rescue and care. The will to live exhibited by some animals, struggling on even while enduring extraordinary suffering and deprivation, is so strong. The vet said this dog should have weighed 90 pounds, but he only weighed 40 pounds."
Wayne Pacelle, HSUS president and CEO, called on leaders of the federal government to actively assist with the rescue and relief efforts. "Time is running out, and we desperately need the full force of the National Guard and others to help us."
"We were fortunate that the National Guardsmen we approached heeded our plea to take us through the water on a tank and get us to this home so we could get on the roof and pull this dog down," said Garrison. "But we should not have to rely on the compassionate instincts of individual Guardsmen."
After the rescue, Garrison and Moore took the animal to a veterinarian at a nearby triage center. Once stabilized, he will be transported to the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center, which is temporarily serving as the staging area for the organizations concentrating on animal rescues and care.
The HSUS, the Louisiana SPCA, and other animal welfare groups continue to go house to house in New Orleans to rescue animals and have saved thousands. But many thousands more remain in the city, and many are still alive, although in severely deteriorated conditions.
On Monday, rescuers captured 770 animals and brought them to Lamar-Dixon. But rescue operations had to be scaled back yesterday because of the large number of animals at the Lamar Dixon site, and teams did strategic feeding and watering of animals throughout the city to extend their lives. Rescue operations continued today.
The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization representing more than 9 million members and constituents. The non-profit organization is a mainstream voice for animals, with active programs in companion animals and equine protection, disaster preparedness and response, wildlife and habitat protection, animals in research and farm animal welfare. The HSUS protects all animals through education, investigation, litigation, legislation, advocacy, and field work. The group is based in Washington and has numerous field representatives across the country. Online at www.hsus.org.
