Animal Rescue Alerts 02-12-2006
From Katrina Help Info
Animal Rescue Resources > Alerts > 02-12-2006
| Table of contents |
Sunday February 12, 2006
Looking for family of blind cat with companion dog
Date: Sat, 11 Feb 2006 17:31:25 -0500
From: "Katie Walter" <katie.walter @comcast .net>
Please cross post - New Orleans, LA. - We are in search of a
family missing an unusually bonded cat and dog.
Forum: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gulfcoast_rescue_n_transport/
From: VSchnidrig @aol .com (@aol.com) To: blinddogs @yahoogroups .com Date: Sat, 11 Feb 2006 02:43:36 EST Please cross post
About: http://network.bestfriends.org/Communities/About.aspx?g=e0fff6b53f5f41bdac7d0d13572bd724
- Best Friends Hurricane Relief
- The Tail of 2 Bobbies
- February 3, 2006 : 12:00 AM
We are in search of a family missing an unusually bonded cat and dog.
In all of the thousands of heartbreaking reports of lost pets filed right after Hurricane Katrina, was one about a cat and dog who would be traveling together. They both had bobbed tails.
Now the detective work has already begun by the Stealth Volunteers to find that e-mail with the familys contact information because two bobtails, one a cat and one a dog were brought to Celebration Station.
A few days ago, a construction worker showed up with a dog and a cat. He didn't have a phone number where we can contact him again. Too bad, he may be the hero responsible for reuniting this Incredible Journey couple with their family.
For right now, since they have not heard anyone call them by their name for so many months, we have given them temporary ones. The girl dog is Bobbi, and the boy cat is Bobby or Bob for short.
The construction worker told us the dog and cat showed up and started hanging out with his dog. Because they were both very thin, the worker began feeding them.
The man said he tried to pick up the cat a couple of times, but the dog would growl. He said he also found out that if he tried to separate them, the dog would bark her head off.
After about a week, he was told he could not keep the cat and dog with him. He was not about to abandon them on the street, so he brought them to us.
The cat has blue eyes but it took us awhile to figure out why they were different looking - the cat is blind.
No doubt the feeding stations set up by AnimalRescueNewOrleans.com volunteers were the thing that kept these two from dying. But it is hard to fathom how this unimposing, sweet-natured dog protected her cat, keeping him out of danger from packs of dogs, all of the debris that is still covering so much of New Orleans, and unkind people.
Which ever angel was sent to guide their steps did a very good job.
There was no way we could even consider separating them. Its been a bit of a challenge because Celebration Station is not set up for odd couples.
So for the first few days they have been staying in a very large crate, and the cat has a smaller crate inside that. That way the dog knows her kitty is safe, and can sleep by him. The plan is for them to move into an RV with people.
We have an extended hold on these two because we are making every effort to find their family.
But what we are hoping for is that their stay with us will be very short. It is obvious these brave travelers were loved pets and our sincere hope is we find their family.
And no matter what, the Best Friends solemn vow to "Bobbi" and "Bobby" is that we will not ever allow them to be split up. If their family is not found after an extensive search, they will onlly be adopted out as a pair.
- Story by Barbara Williamson
- Photos by Barb Davis
Note: All animals rescued in New Orleans are first taken to the Louisiana SPCA for triage, where photos are taken and uploaded and vaccinations given before heading to the Best Friends rescue center at Celebration Station where animals are held for 5 days before being placed for adoption.
WA State: Six Katrina Pit Bulls Need Expert Intervention
Date: Sat, 11 Feb 2006 01:26:44 -0600 From: "Laura Holochwost" <laurakett @yahoo .com> Subject: URGENT: Know Any Pit Bull Experts Looking for A Few New Dogs? Forum: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hurricanepets/
PERMISSION TO CROSSPOST
Posting on behalf of Susan Foster-Zdon. Please respond to her at mailto:sfz@u-dot-washington-dot-edu (@u.washington.edu)
I am NOT a representative of Pasado's, but I wanted to ask some of you experts about an issue they are facing. Please bear with me if I get any of the facts wrong, but here is my understanding of the situation:
Pasado's has 6 dogs currently housed at a kennel, but the kennel MUST have them out next weekend. The dogs will be PTS if housing options are not available. They do not know what to do with these dogs. They cannot shelter them on the Pasado's land because there are too many rescued farm animals around (one of the pits already caused an unfortunate injury). The dogs have been evaluated by 2 or 3 dog behaviorists, who have all said to euthanize them. Pasado's is still hoping that someone could do extensive work with them that they could potentially be rehabilitated. Cesar Milan told them yesterday that he is too full and cannot take any more dogs at this point.
These 6 dogs are currently animal aggressive and unpredictable, but not human aggressive. "Lovie", in particular, is very sweet with humans, but will attack any animal she sees and locks her jaws on them.
Pasado's is open to suggestions, if someone can convince a kennel or shelter to take any of these pits.....even for just a month while we look hard for the owners, if the shelter is not willing to do it long-term.... as long as the kennel/shelter is equipped to handle the pits safely and humanely. They need to have enough trained staff to work with the dogs and the proper equipment to house them, since these pits will apparently chew through ordinary kennels.
Since it is unlikely that we will find the previous owners - searches so far have been unsuccessful - I think they would also be open to adopting the pitts out to people who are willing AND ABLE to handle these pitts, including the moral/legal responsibility of owning a potentially dangerous dog....and again, work with them extensively to hopefully rehabilitate them. Obviously, the dogs can't be around children, vulnerable adults, or animals (unless they are able to be rehabbed).
These dogs have been through A LOT, including EDNAH.
Please don't flood Pasado's with calls or emails, unless you are a very experienced pit handler who is willing to take some of the dogs. I have to say as well, that Pasado's has done a lot of work to try to save these dogs and find a safe situation for them and I am going to be personally offended if anyone harangues them about this.
If any of you have ideas, you can email me at mailto:sfz@u-dot-washington-dot-edu (@u.washington.edu).
Thank you,
Susan
Date: Sat, 11 Feb 2006 05:19:52 -0500 From: Linda Gorsuch <desertjewel1 @earthlink .net> Subject: Know Any Pit Bull Experts Looking for A Few New Dogs? Forum: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hurricanepets/
Laura,
I hate to be the conveyer of bad news, but I get the unfortunate feeling that if these dogs have received a negative assessment from behaviorists you are going to be hard pressed to get any rescue group to take them due to potential legal liability. If an organization takes responsibility for any animal, not to mention a pit bull, that has documented aggressiveness issues and the animal then injures someone that organization stands the real risk of being sued or even criminally prosecuted. I agree that many animals can be rehabilitated, especially those who have not been neutered already and have been allowed to live in a pack environment, but you will be hard pressed to get anyone to take on the legal responsibility when there has already been an incident and experts have said to put them to sleep.
I would suggest that you or Pasado contact http://adopt-a-pit-bull.1-800-save-a-pet.com/ and see if they can suggest anything. I will be at work on a 12 hour shift today (in a blizzard too, fun!!!) so I am not available to track info down, unfortunately.
Linda
Date: Sat, 11 Feb 2006 13:26:28 -0000 From: "mkmagu" <mkmagu @yahoo .com> Subject: Know Any Pit Bull Experts Looking for A Few New Dogs? Forum: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hurricanepets/
Legit Pit rescuers are always over full of dogs they can't keep up with dogs coming into shelters. It doesn't matter where they are it's a problem all over the country. I would be leary of any Pit rescuer that could take all 6 they could very well be pit fighters posing as rescuers, this does happen. The only Pit rescue that I would reccomend for these dogs is Spindletop in TX. http://www.spindletoppitbullrefuge.org/
Lea is an expert on the Pit Bull and I know has been taking in and helping out Katrina dogs. I suggest contacting Lea on these dogs, for her input.
Mary Maguire
Other Animal Rescue Pages
- Animal Rescue Resources
Animal Rescue Resources > Alerts > 02-12-2006
