Help and Donations Needed for Best Friends

Just received this info from one of my animal rescue group lists.

Dear Members and Friends,
Thank you so much for all the offers of help and support. Best Friends role in the hurricane relief effort is now becoming considerably more focused, and we’ll be updating you every day or two. Here’s today’s update:


BACKGROUND:
We are now working on site with the St Francis Animal Sanctuary in Tylertown – about 100 miles north of New Orleans. We consider them a sister sanctuary. They have facilities for about 400 dogs and cats. And they are being inundated! 80 more from the Humane Society of Louisiana. And 100 more from Jefferson Parish (New Orleans) Animal Control.

They have food for less than 24 hours. And they have a well, but no power to pump water. But they do have the basic facilities to operate as a sanctuary for adoptable animals from New Orleans.

So we are working with them to build up their facilities and run a joint project as base camp for adoptable animals being evacuated from New Orleans.

Our Director of Ops, Paul Berry, is now in metro New Orleans, working with Bert Smith, Director of Animal Control for Jefferson Parish. Bert is charged with rounding up stray animals. And he in turn will be taking as many as we possibly can to the St Francis sanctuary for shelter, and then to be placed in foster or adoptive homes.

A team of four from here at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary set off in a convoy for Louisiana this morning (Thursday). They are carrying food, generators, fencing, and many other supplies.

Another team from Best Friends Atlanta arrived in Louisiana this afternoon to start ferrying animals from animal control to the St Francis sanctuary.

HELP NEEDED:

We are now in a position to accept any and all offers of help. And thank you so much for them.

We need volunteers and supplies to assist in the rescue and placement of all of the animal refugees.

If you can help, please e-mail hrf@bestfriends.org with specific information on how you would like to help, what expertise you may be able to supply and how best way to contact you. We are compiling a list and will be contacting people as the program develops. Please see the list below:

Volunteer help:

- People with emergency/disaster experience to work at the disaster site.

- Long term foster homes (approximately 3 months)

- Carpenters and other construction trades people to work at the temporary and permanent shelter sites.

- Veterinarians and veterinary technicians

- Truckers

- People with trucks and vans to do animal and supply transport.

- People to collect and hold supplies until they ship

- People to volunteer at the Sanctuary for at least one week to cover for deployed personnel.



Supplies needed:

People needs:
Toilet paper
Paper towels

Vegetarian People food that won’t spoil or need refrigeration
Portable toilets and sanitizer
Insect repellent
Sun showers
Sunscreen
First aid kits for relief workers
Hand sanitizer
Pet needs
Pet Food
Animal Bedding
Crates (all sizes)
Collars/leads

Veterinary Supplies
Puppy and Kitten Formula
Canopy tents for the animals
Large cat tower/cage (for kittens)
Portable water bowls for animals
Microchip Scanners

General needs

RVs, SUV’s & Trucks (4x4), ATV’s (loaned or donated)
Tarp
Two way radios
Generators
Rope
Duct tape
Cable ties
Fencing, both temporary and permanent
Heavy work gloves and welding gloves
Carpentry supplies
Gas cans
Gas for vehicles
Flashlights
Batteries (AA, AAA, C & D)
Water
Water tanks
Clorox bleach
Warehouse facilities near Tylertown, MS
Garbage cans
Garbage bags
Tents
Camping Gear
Towels
Blankets
Collapsible wire cages (extra large size)
Extension cords (heavy duty outdoor approved - 100 foot long)
Grooming clippers (electric)
Zip Lock bags (extra large size)

Important note: Please contact us at the number above before you buy large quantities of any of these items.

This list is not exhaustive and if you think that you can offer goods or services that can help, please contact hrf@bestfriends.org. We will contact you soon.

No matter where you live or what you are able to physically do, you can help the survivors by donating to the hurricane relief effort. Any monies raised will go to help those animals and animal rescue organizations affected by the disaster. Please donate on the website at www.bestfriends.org or by calling 435-644-2001 ext. 104.

Again, thank you so very much for all offers of help. We’ll keep you updated on developments.


Best Friends Animal Society
5001 Angel Canyon Road
Kanab, UT 84741
aileenw@bestfriends.org
www.bestfriends.org
(435)644-3965 ext. 4165