Join a LIVE Q&A with Dr. Brian Ghere, vet and a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, who after suffering damage to his home and New Orleans veterinary hospital in Hurricane Katrina, has been actively involved in the animal rescue and relief effort. Ask him about his firsthand experiences on the front lines Friday, Sept. 16, at 10 p.m. ET after the Animal Planet special, Animal Planet Heroes: Hurricane Rescues at 9 p.m. ET.
Our thoughts are with everyone and the animals in the Gulf states that have been affected. Please keep your question and/or comments brief so that Dr. Ghere may have ample time to address as many as possible.
To post your question, please click "reply".
Thanks.
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What is the probability that a dog will be reunited with it's owner? At this point, would a microchip or identification tag help at all? If the dog isn't able to be reunited with its owner what will happen to it? And what if the dog is badly injured, is it given the surgery it needs to live?
Also, do you know how toxic the water actually is? I ask because at my school, they showed Dr. Phil's account and visit to New Orleans. They were putting alot of emphasis on the toxcicity of the water, but when they focused the camera on the water, I saw a school of about 7 small fish swimming around.
I heard on Court Tv on Sept. 15th, that there was a report from New Orleans, that there were aprox. 100 animals that were about to be shot if they did not get help. They gave out a phone #713-504-1224, which I tried calling, but could not get thru. Are these reports true, or is this some kind of scam that someone has come up with to get money? I have heard of the great job that the S.P.C.A. of Texas, and LA. are doing along with the Humane Society of the US. just to name a few to help the animals that were left behind. Any information on this would be appreciated. As an animal lover these kind of reports are very upsetting. Thank you.
I've heard they need more people to help in the rescue efforts of abandoned animals. How does someone get training or become involved in this? In the event of a future need, it would be helpful to have trained volunteers available. I'm in MA and feel frustrated that all I can do is send money.
Have you received any local/state/federal government assistance in your, or other animal welfare groups's, rescue efforts? If you have received some assistance, Do you need more? What suggestions do you have for attempting to obtain from government sources needed assistance in rescuing these stranded animals that are running out of time? Thank you for your dedication to the animals
They showed 2 abandoned dogs in the convention center in New Orleans last Friday night September 9 and it would seem that those dogs would be easy to rescue. How can I find out if they were?
1. I want to go volunteer in one of the shelters, but the postings on the internet are so contradictory that I'm worried about driving down and being turned away. Is there a central command center that posts the needs of the various locations? 2. What can we do to change the policy of forcing evacuees to leave their pets behind? 3. Will animals be sent to foster (not adoptive) homes in any states outside the immediate area? If so, where is the best place to register as a foster home?
One of the larger humane organizations, on its web site, made a big deal out of the fact that people were coming into New Orleans without any affiliation with their organization or any other well-known animal rescue group. The implication was "we are the only ones who know what we are doing and we get to say who can help and who can't." Meanwhile all of the organizations are complaining that they don't have enough resources to rescue all of the animals in need. This seems to be nothing more than arrogance and bullying. Are there real logistical reasons that, say, a group of people with a boat can't just come from a neighboring town or state and help? Why do the "name brand" groups seem to think they can push around those people who are trying to do the right thing? Also, why have none of the groups bothered to follow up on the story of the animals, including Snowball the dog, that were left in the Superdome stairwell?
Dear Dr. Ghere, My name is Amy Joyce. I am a member and moderator for a group on line called 911ParrotAlert. Along with many volunteers in Baton Rouge the owner of the group Donna Powell has rescued many birds that were left behind by their owners. Did you or anyone with you rescue any birds down there? Did you turn them over to shelters? Who have you been working with where the birds are concerned? The reason I ask this is because 911ParrotAlert has gotten an overwhleming response from the avian community for offers of supplis, and foster and we would like help out other rescues in the area or people who have birds down there that have been displaced by Katrina. All of the birds that 911ParrotAlert has rescued are in Baton Rouge at this time and we are looking for their owners. we are not placing any of them in foster care unless the owners ask us too or the owners can not be located. Good luck with your work and if you need our help with the birds please contact me. Amy sunriseaviaries@mchsi.com
There has been a lot of concern around the planning for such a disaster as Katrina, and how it can be improved.
The pet care agencies are doing their best to get coordinated, but in many cases, seem to have some of the same problems as the response for the human residents of the areas affected.
Do you see any value in developing proper municipal, state perhaps even federally coordinated animal rescue plans for the next time around, to improve response time.
Even now, rescuers are encountering starving animals desperate for food and water, which I think is really completely unacceptable.
Hello Dr. Ghere, I have a couple of questions which I will try to keep as brief as possible.
1. I've heard that officers were shooting AND running over animals with their vehicles. Is this true, and if so, how is it even allowed?
2. I am distressed that evacuees cannot take their animals with them to shelters. How do you personally feel about people having to leave behind their animals?
Hi, I have a question about the animals of Hurricane Katrina. What happens to the animals that are not reunited with their owners. Are the animals going to be up for sale. Becuase if yes, $$$ how much. I would like to adopt a dog . Thank you, and that's all.
Dr. Ghere, Bless you for all the difficult work you are doing. I've seen a lot of videos depicting rescues of dogs, but as a cat and dog lover, I would like to know if cats are being rescued, as well.
Are you and those in the rescue community familiar with the story of the little boy who had his small dog, Snowball, forcibly taken from him by a police officer as he boarded an evacuation bus? As the story was reported, the little boy called out Snowball's name repeatedly and then cried until he threw up. There is a movement afoot to reunite the dog with his family and a website that has collected money for this effort. Specifically, the website is: http://www.katrinafoundpets.com and a reward is offered for finding Snowball. Many photos and leads can be found on this website and its related message forum. The little boy and his family probably think they will never see Snowball again, and they probably don't have the resources to try to find their pet. Would you be willing to air this story tonight and encourage people with the necessary resources to spearhead a concerted effort to find the family, and then help them find the dog. Snowball may be in the shelter system, unidentified. His little boy would know him when he saw him. Thank you for helping the animals.
