Veterinarians Rescue and Reunite Animals and Owners
by: Press Release
September 2005 Article # 6113

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For the past week, wall-to-wall television coverage of the Gulf
Coast disaster has shown countless stories of people who have lost everything
yet are willing to trade what little they may have left to save their pets.

"Veterinarians know how unique the human-animal bond is, especially
during a crisis," said Dr. Cindy Lovern, assistant director, scientific
activities, American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). "Veterinary Medical
Assistance Teams are working around the clock with the Louisiana and Mississippi
state veterinarian offices to reunite people and their pets and assess the needs
of livestock and wildlife."

Associated Press reports of a little boy becoming physically ill
after being separated from his dog Snowball and a woman offering to trade her
diamonds so her pets could be rescued may yet have a happy outcome. Snowball has
been rescued and soon will be reunited with his young friend. And after three
attempts to rescue the dogs belonging to the woman with the diamonds, the waters
have subsided to a point where another attempt will be made.

Animals are being evacuated from veterinary hospitals, homes and
other locations where they have been stranded. Though the situation is unstable
in some areas and some rescue missions have been delayed due to safety concerns,
animal rescue is a priority.

New Orleans mules, a familiar site in the French Quarter have been
rescued. Without carts and tourists to pull, however, it looks like they are out
of a job too.

There are eight animal shelters located at strategic locations
across Louisiana. Two types of hurricane refugee animals are housed at these
facilities: those with known owners, many in nearby shelters themselves, and
those with unknown owners. These animals are being photographed and their images
are being posted at www.vetmed.lsu.edu.

The three largest pet shelters in Louisiana are at the Parker
Coliseum on the campus of Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, the Lamar
Dixon Equestrian Center in Gonzales and the Blackmon Coliseum in Lafayette.

For direct information on Louisiana rescue efforts, contact: Terry
H. Conger, DVM, PhD, 225\935-2174 (office); 225\772-1343 (cell).

Since 1994, Veterinary Medical Assistance Teams (VMATs) have been
deployed to both natural and manmade disasters such as Hurricane Floyd and the
September 11th tragedy to assist in the delivery of medical help to injured
animals and to provide public health advice. A significant amount of funding for
the VMATs comes from the American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF).
Individuals wishing to support VMAT teams in their disaster relief efforts may
make an online donation on AVMF's secure Web site, www.avmf.org, or send a
contribution to: The American Veterinary Medical Foundation, 1931 N., Meacham
Road, Suite 100, Schaumburg, IL 60173.




"To know a Thoroughbred is to be lifted up to a place of unparalleled passion,
exhilaration and transcendence. Look into the eyes of a Thoroughbred and feel
his supreme power and spirit, and you'll be lifted up to a special place of
beauty, passion, possibility and freedom." - Unknown


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