UPDATE  9/22/2008

As we've been reporting, our animals and staff members successfully rode out the storm at our Tylertown facility. We did have some minor damage, but no injuries, though one of our portable buildings was destroyed. We did receive word from our volunteer Acadia chapter coordinator, Janet Lyons, that property damage to her animal housing areas was more significant. Kennels and perimeter fencing were destroyed and the roof of her dog housing area was torn off by hurricane force winds; in addition to her other animals, Janet is presently caring for 1 nursing mom, her litter of 3 puppies, 6 additional puppies and 13 cats, who were rescued from a local shelter; officials there would have been unable to evacuate them before Gustav.

We continue to field calls from our contacts and review reports from around the region. We are concerned that we have been receiving an increasing number of reports about animals and shelters in need, throughout the disaster zone, and many areas are still without power. As repairs are underway at our site, our mission will be to offer urgently needed help to the animals of Louisiana, wherever it is most needed. Please check in to our site for updates on needs for supplies and volunteers in our region. Of course CONTRIBUTIONS are urgently needed to help us respond to this disaster.

To those of you who have already helped us during our initial response to Gustav, we deeply appreciate your support! Here is an update on our current situation and needs:

VOLUNTEERS
We are reviewing requests for volunteers from around the region on an ongoing basis and will post opportunities on our site. For those of you wanting to come and assist, you can be assured that there will be a need for help, particularly from the very initial reports about areas west of New Orleans, where Gustav came ashore. Assistance with our own shelter animals is also needed as our small staff is in emergency response mode. We anticipate a great need for help distributing supplies, assistance, and other support to agencies and groups in our area, using our Tylertown site as a base.

Our immediate needs are in Tylertown, MS:
   1. Construction Projects - Individual and Small Group Projects
   2. Animal Transport - Vans, Drivers and Crew
   3. Supply Transport - Vans/SUV, Drivers and Crew
   4. Hands-on Animal Care

Our Tylertown facility is in a rural location with minimal housing. We welcome self-sufficient campers to stay on-site or accommodations are available in nearby towns.

We are also coordinating with other animal groups who need volunteers at their locations around Louisiana.

Please email Info@HumaneLA.org or call Jenn at 601-876-2781 for more information.

If you are interested in volunteering, please review our Current Volunteer Needs and complete the Volunteer Profile Form at the bottom of our Volunteer page and someone will contact you.

PET ADOPTIONS/HANDS-ON ASSISTANCE
We almost certainly will need the support of rescue groups and sanctuaries wanting to assist by taking animals from our area into your program. Also, individuals wanting to help by adopting or fostering an animal may fill out an application on our web site at www.HumaneLA.org. Most of the rescue groups from southern Louisiana have adoption sites at www.Petfinder.com. Anyone adopting from these groups will surely be assisting, by providing them with more space to assist animals impacted by Gustav. If you are looking for a specific type of animal, please indicate that on your adoption application.

SUPPLIES AND CONTRIBUTIONS
HSL will be collecting and distributing supplies for groups and individuals in the areas impacted by Hurricane Gustav; we will publicize specific needs on our WISH LIST site as we receive them, but at present, we are welcoming the donation of supplies and equipment listed on our web site.

Monetary gifts are particularly needed, as contributions can be used to address specific emergency needs as they arise, such as: veterinary expenses, animal transport costs, direct aid to rescue organizations, volunteer program costs, equipment, shelter operating costs and more. DONATIONS can be made by clicking here or by calling 1-888-6-HUMANE. If you would prefer to send a check, please note that none of our staff will be able to pick up mail sent in New Orleans for at least a week. To send donations to our New Orleans address, please send to: Humane Society of Louisiana, PO Box 740321, New Orleans, LA 70174. If you would prefer to send a donation that will get to us right away, please send any check directly to our former Board member, Linda Dell at her Akron, OH address. Please send to:

Humane Society of Louisiana
c/o Linda Dell
45 S. Balch Street
Akron, OH 44302

Ms. Dell has agreed to immediately deposit any contributions into our bank account, so that we will be able to easily access the funds.

Please note that during hurricane Katrina, animal relief agencies sadly reported that SO much of the animal food, which was generously donated for local relief, was lost. A lack of storage space too often resulted in it being damaged by the elements or rodents. While donations of food will certainly be needed, the best way to help feed our animals is to make a monetary contribution, so that supplies may be purchased as needed. Unlike during Hurricane Katrina, our Tylertown facility only briefly lost electricity, and we expect that nearby stores will be back in operation soon. We plan to purchase supplies as we need them, thereby eliminating waste and extending our resources as far as possible.

In the event that you are only able to donate food---canned food and cat litter would be the best choices, as they can better sustain poor conditions where they may be stored. Gift cards for Petsmart, Walmart and Petco are also a great choice for helping us feed local animals in need, as they can be used to donate specific supplies.

Supplies can be sent to: Humane Society of Louisiana/Gustav Relief Effort, 115 Obed Magee Road, Tylertown Mississippi, 39667.

If you need to discuss volunteering the donation of supplies and/or equipment with us please contact Jennifer Rowan at 1-601-876-2781 or by contacting us a Info@HumaneLA.org. If you cannot get back in touch with us quickly enough at the shelter, please contact us at 1-888-6-HUMANE.

PLEASE BE PATIENT IF WE CANNOT RESPOND TO YOU AS QUICKLY AS WE MIGHT LIKE!

To those of you who have already helped us during our initial response to Gustav, we deeply appreciate your support!