Acknowledgement: I am grateful to my students at Clark and
my friends who supported me and kept me in their thoughts while I did rescue
work in New Orleans. I was greatly comforted during those long,
difficult days by knowing that you cared.
For more information on my experience in New Orleans, see related
article here.
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December 14, 2005 Hi All, I am in town to do bedding laundry so I wanted to send you a quick update from a wireless area. My first two days I ended up as a vet tech in the makeshift surgery room. I worked with the cats that were afraid or feral. The rest of the time I have been helping to load the 50 or so "hard to handle" cats into the Cruise America RVs that are taking off to transport them to various locations literally all over the country since Sunday. So far seven different RV transports have left with around 125 cats going to places as diverse as a feral one that will live in an artist's studio to 12 that will live out the rest of their lives at a nunnery. Metta, Sharon |
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December 16 Hi All, I am in the field now setting up feeding stations in the Lower Ninth Ward and St. Barnard Parish that have just reopened during the day to residents. My team- mate, ironically also from Portland, and I set up 16 feeding stations in the area. The first one already had two cats grooming inside a torn-out house, after eating, by the time we circled back a couple of hours later. We will go back today and follow up at each station. The ninth ward has an Erie feeling about it. Completely quiet, no birds, squirrels, and no people (only a couple of houses had people coming back as yet). It looks like a biological war zone with houses blown out and everything covered with a grey coating of muck. The most touching moment was when I was pulling a piece of wood to set up a feeding station and realized I had picked up the drawer of someone’s jewelry box and, as I looked closer, I saw all her jewelry-some still in the box-just lying there in the yard. The other thing yesterday that really affected me was all the spray painted notes in certain colors on all the houses. All of them had the date that they were checked for various things. One sprayed message I will always remember said: 1 DOA. It is a poor district. Some of the animal-related messages said "cat or dog inside" and the date and FW for food and water. Some of those later found that animal had already died by the time someone had gotten there to rescue it. More pics. Metta. |
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December 24 I have been spending my time helping to set up the cat area at the new facility being set up to try and transfer as many homeless animals off the street over the next two months as possible. Celebration Station is designed to hold 300 animals and we plan to bring in 25 each day. They will be here five to seven days, vetted and then transferred to organizations around the country. So, if you know of shelters or individuals who might be willing to adopt a cat or dog displaced by Katrina, please spread the word. So many are sitting on their porches or wandering the streets still shell shocked, while others have begun developing packs in order to hunt. Local humane groups should contact Best Friends Animal Sanctuary who is coordinating the transfer process. Please spread the word. I have attached the press release (Below) on the first four cats to enter the new facility. I am bringing one of those back along with another that had her leg removed because of injuries. Hopefully they will find new homes in Portland. Celebration Station Press Release Four New Orleans felines had a reason to celebrate when they got a sneak peak of the soon-to-open animal rescue facility, Celebration Station in Louisiana. The state of the art facility is a collaborative effort between local and national animal welfare organizations and is made possible by generous donations by individuals and businesses around the country. The four felines have front row seats, or perhaps we should say; cages, from which they are watching the 18,000 square foot facility slowly, transform from an arcade into a safe haven for domestic animals left homeless, hungry and traumatized by hurricane Katrina. Volunteers from across the country are working over the winter holidays to ready the facility to accept 150 dogs and 150 cats which will then be offered for adoption after all efforts to reunite them with their families have been exhausted. A more detailed press release will announce the official opening of facility, but the first four felines are already looking for a new home. Celebration, pictured, was the first to enter the former arcade, followed by two young, solid black kitties named, Bam-Bam and Peanut, and a gold tabby named Morris. Celebration had been wandering an abandoned block in New Orleans Parish since the end of September and survived thanks to the kindness of a local resident who fed her. She is young and quite cuddly in spite of all she’s endured. She is scheduled to arrive at the airport in New York City sometime next week to be met by her new adoptive family. Bam-bam and Peanut are also female and less than a year old, but were less fortunate. While Peanut and Bam-bam are healthy and will arrive at the Portland International Airport with one of our volunteers on Wednesday, December 28th, Bam-Bam is FIV Positive and needs a special care home. Both are shy and need families who can continue to help them recover from the trauma they experienced. Morris, the fourth front line feline, is a sweetie pie older male who was found living under the debris near the commercial facility. Potential adopters for Bam-Bam, Peanut or Morris can contact Best Friends. My first actual filed (field) rescue was last week. The military came by the old (ARNO) rescue facility to tell us about a dog living under a fallen tree and pile of debris. Two of us managed to get him out and to the vet clinic. Unfortunately, she was in the later stages of heart worm disease. She had a great night later at my sleeping station, sitting on the porch watching people and the stars, safe and warm. I held her as she had a peaceful death the next morning. Today I am off to feed in one section of the city and then to the French Quarter to play. Happy Christmas Eve, Sharon |
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December 26 Christmas Eve was a good day. It was an interesting mix of culture. On one hand, I met a man whistling and washing a shiny new white car-a stark contrast to the grey, rusted cars everywhere. He had just gotten his insurance check and had running water at his business again and his new car. I spent Christmas evening on Bourbon Street where the music was playing and people were forgetting, for a moment, the devastation just around the corners. Even there, the service was somewhat limited by the lack of staff and products. My real Christmas gift was a cat named Eve. I needed a good ending after a couple of days of frustration. And Eve gave that. Volunteers had found her living at a house when they were feeding at stations. She followed them around, rubbing on their legs and purring. They had to leave her behind. I came back to the spot and heard the meow, the sweetest sound I have heard since arriving and one that I so often strain to hear in the houses and streets, and rarely hear. She hopped up out of an abandoned car in the driveway and came to eat two cans of foods. I scooped her up and she road first class back to Celebration Station. She is likely someone’s cherished and pampered pet and Eve turned out to be a male, and neutered. It was a great Christmas gift. |
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December 27 The days after Christmas I worked in the ninth ward. Cats seem to be the only thing that survived there. No one is going to come back. The few animals that survived-they wait inside doorsteps and the holes of destroyed homes waiting for something; only they know what they are thinking. The day after Christmas was a good day. One cat really affected me, a grey Tortie who sat in the door stoop looking out each time we passed. She just sat there waiting. I could get about two feet from her and she would then dart back inside what I guess was once her home. I set the trap a few hours later on the side of her house. She is safe now and I named her Noel for the day after Christmas. She and five others from the ninth ward are no longer waiting-it was a very good day. They are safe and the reunification team is hoping to find their families |
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December 31 Hi All, We got home on Wednesday
evening after being delayed. I have been sick with the Katrina Crud. I got back
with four kitties and want to bring back at least four more, but I could only
fly four on my flight. I brought Noel from the ninth ward and three black cats
who had been there the longest. Waiting for them to be unloaded from cargo was
the first time I really lost it and burst into tears in the airport bathroom.
The tears were for all the people I met and for all the animals that I could not
reach. Was the time worth it over winter break? As they were unloaded and safe,
I knew the answer is: you bet ya-my time was worth it. When I look into the eyes
of these four cats, now warm and safe, who before were hopelessly wandering the
deserted streets and gutted houses, the trip, time and skill has made a
difference. And that difference is being collectively multiplied everyday by
other volunteers and local heroes of the ninth ward, St. Barnard, and other
parishes. A very happy meow year to all. Metta, Sharon |
Dedication of this Journal
These thoughts and photos are dedicated to the
brave and dynamic people I met in the streets and porches of New Orleans. I
thank them for sharing their stories and time with me. It is truly amazing how
connected we, as humans, can become when bonded together for a common purpose
through tragedy. I will always remember the moments we shared and the faces of
those animals who I tried, but couldn't reach are forever imprinted in my mind
and heart. Please know you were loved.
