Author |
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Juju2bigdog
Member
10-27-2000
| Thursday, October 06, 2005 - 10:31 pm
Glad you are safe, Cindylou.
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Cindylou
Member
07-11-2002
| Saturday, October 08, 2005 - 7:18 am
Thanks Reiki and Juju, it's so good to be back. Your sister was right, Reiki, about the damage. Its impossible to imagine it without seeing it in person. I hope everything's okay with Sis and BIL (I graduated from Bridge City). We'll all get through this, it will just take time.
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Moondance
Member
07-30-2000
| Friday, October 14, 2005 - 5:26 pm
Dear Members & Friends, Once again, a rapidly changing situation in and around New Orleans this week. OVERVIEW: Earlier this week, the official state rescue center at Gonzalez closed down as the owners of the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center took back their facility. On Monday, volunteer rescuers moved the last animals out of there - about 80 pit bulls. Fifty of them were flown to California, the rest came to the Best Friends relief center at Tylertown. Before then, the Gonzalez operation had also been headquarters to about 85 teams of volunteer rescuers, many of whom have now disbanded. But about 10 teams are still on the ground in New Orleans, and working their way through lists of homes to visit where people left their animals. Most of the animals they rescue each day are now coming to the Best Friends relief center. Regarding the three parishes of greater New Orleans - Jefferson, Orleans, and St. Bernard: JEFFERSON PARISH: Best Friends continues our relationship with Jefferson Parish animal control, taking animals from their shelter needing special care. (Special cheers to animal care director Bert Smith and his staff for their tireless courage and perseverance - and for feeding our volunteers!) ORLEANS PARISH: Animal care for Orleans Parish is managed by the Louisiana SPCA, which is being supported by the Humane Society of the U.S. The LASPCA was expecting to have a new shelter opening in Algiers by now. We're told that they will have room there for 400 dogs and 150 cats, but that the facility is not yet open. Also that the LASPCA is not currently supporting private animal rescue volunteers around the city - which is why Best Friends is continuing that. St. BERNARD PARISH: Their new temporary shelter is being supported by the ASPCA. Animal control officer Cecile Trog says that her contract with parish authorities continues through mid-November, but is uncertain after that. Whatever happens then, the ASPCA is committed to helping as necessary. THE BEST FRIENDS RELIEF CENTER: We're currently taking animals each day from the rescue teams in New Orleans (as described above). And Best Friends plans to keep our center open at Tylertown as long as necessary for rescued animals needing critical care from any of the New Orleans parishes. (Animals needing long-term special care are being brought to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Utah.) TRANSPORT AND FOSTER: We're working with local groups still rescuing animals and who need help getting them out to foster homes. Two new air-conditioned transport trucks are on their way to the Best Friends relief center in Tylertown. (We just heard that the trucks are going to be paid for by two very kind donors who have previously been involved in paying for airlift operations. Another blessing!) OTHER SUPPORT: We continue to support local rescue groups around south-east Louisiana with supplies, equipment, finances, etc. to help them continue their work. OTHER GOOD NEWS: Lots of reunions. Any moment now, the folks at Tylertown will be having a celebration as the 100th on-site reunion takes place. Off-site reunions are gathering steam, too. And the first two dogs we brought to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Utah for special care have just been identified by their families. VOLUNTEERS AND OTHER OFFERS: Hundreds of members of Best Friends have volunteered their help, and we continue to work our way through your offers. Volunteers rotate through the relief center at Tylertown, and thanks to you, we're always ready to send in replacements. More, as always on the website at www.bestfriends.org. And many thanks, as always, for your help. Michael Mountain Best Friends Animal Society
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Twiggyish
Member
08-14-2000
| Tuesday, October 18, 2005 - 8:02 pm
Here we go again... this time we don't know where it's going..looks like Florida. We are all keeping a cautious eye out on this one.
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Buttercup
Member
09-10-2000
| Wednesday, October 19, 2005 - 11:16 am
This is the biggest and most intense Atlantic hurricane on record. 175 mph with a 500 miles diameter one way and 300 the other way. Pretty scary. Tourists in the Florida Keys have already been told to evacuate. I went to Costco this morning before it was open to non-business customers, which is usually a fairly quiet time--it was a zoo! I guess people are pretty worried, and we're not even on the west coast 
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Twiggyish
Member
08-14-2000
| Wednesday, October 19, 2005 - 4:44 pm
At this point they don't know exactly where it's going. It could skirt under the state and go east. We're boarding up tonight. My nephew is coming over to help my husband. Unfortunately, my husband has to work if we get the hurricane. (Due to the nature of his job) We're also taking in my sister-in-law and nephew, as they don't have any place to go. Our house has a new roof and is pretty secure now. I hope others check in as they make preparations.
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Prisonerno6
Member
08-31-2002
| Thursday, October 20, 2005 - 8:12 am
It's interesting to read how people are talking about how the Keys are supposed to evacuate because of Wilma (that's what I keep hearing on the news) yet so little about how it is already affecting Mexico. I'm supposed to go to Cancun in three weeks, and it has been very frustrating trying to get news of what to expect there. When Katrina was heading for New Orleans, that was all over the news, but when a storm as big or bigger heads for another country, oh well... (Seriously, about all I can find are tracker maps and satellite photos with the eye of the storm headed right for our hotel...)
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Texannie
Member
07-16-2001
| Thursday, October 20, 2005 - 12:33 pm
does this help? http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/front/3404863
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Prisonerno6
Member
08-31-2002
| Thursday, October 20, 2005 - 1:25 pm
Yes....and no. :-( (I was joking about our garden view room turning into an ocean view if the intervening building was swept into the ocean. I think it may be an ocean view room, just from underneath the ocean....) Where does one flee in Cuba? It's one thing to be in the Florida Keys and head for mainland Florida or on the Yucatan coast and heard inland, but where do you go when your country is an island?
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Twiggyish
Member
08-14-2000
| Thursday, October 20, 2005 - 1:32 pm
We're suppose to go on a cruise the end of November. But right now, I'm not remotely worried about anything vacation related. That's trivial compared to the lives at stake to anyone (including my home and family) in the wake or possible path of this thing.
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Twiggyish
Member
08-14-2000
| Friday, October 21, 2005 - 12:07 pm
We're all just waiting and watching I guess.
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Juju2bigdog
Member
10-27-2000
| Friday, October 21, 2005 - 10:56 pm
Good luck, Twiggs. Thinking of you.
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Cindylou
Member
07-11-2002
| Saturday, October 22, 2005 - 6:21 am
Twiggy, God Bless you and everyone affected by this storm. My thoughts and prayers are with you during this trying time. We had Rita here one month ago today, and it will be months before things are normal again. Take care of yourself, and PLEASE leave if you are advised to, it's not worth staying behind.
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Fruitbat
Member
08-07-2000
| Saturday, October 22, 2005 - 8:29 am
Hey, Twig. Things are looking pretty good for us in Florida. It appears it will be a catagory 2 for the west coast and a 1 for us on the east. I would not be surprised to hear it go down from that. Your new roof will serve you well!
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Goddessatlaw
Member
07-19-2002
| Saturday, October 22, 2005 - 11:49 am
The 153-year-old lighthouse at St. George toppled last night. It had been damaged in Hurricane Opal ten years ago and sustained further damage in Hurricane Dennis recently. Just in September it had been named the most endangered lighthouse in Florida (ya think? It was on a 10% lean and beachfront erosian put it into the surf instead of 150 yards back). Sounds like it just totally disintegrated last night, but wouldn't have withstood Wilma anyway. Lighthouse Crumbles Lighthouse at St. George Website
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Twiggyish
Member
08-14-2000
| Saturday, October 22, 2005 - 1:49 pm
Thanks guys! We're doing fine here. Just stocking up and getting ready. They haven't issued an evacuation in our area, so we're staying. Yup, our new roof sure looks mighty fine right now..LOL
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Ddr
Member
08-19-2001
| Monday, October 24, 2005 - 5:54 am
Saying a lil prayer for all our posters in Wilma's path...
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Weeniewhiner
Member
07-22-2005
| Monday, October 24, 2005 - 7:04 am
Hey Prisoner, I just heard on MSNBC that Mexican President Fox says that Cancun resorts will be up and running sometime in December.
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Twiggyish
Member
08-14-2000
| Monday, October 24, 2005 - 11:06 am
Hey guys, we're fine. We were in the northern part of the wind path. The electric flickered for a minute and that's about it. The wind gusted up there for a while but we missed the worst of it. I'm HOPING those on the east coast of Florida are alright, as the storm swept across the state into their area pretty hard.
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Mak1
Member
08-12-2002
| Monday, October 24, 2005 - 12:47 pm
That's good news, TwigMom! I'm glad you were spared this time. May all FL residents fare as well.
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Juju2bigdog
Member
10-27-2000
| Monday, October 24, 2005 - 10:51 pm
Yay Twiggs!!!
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Prisonerno6
Member
08-31-2002
| Tuesday, October 25, 2005 - 11:50 am
quote:Hey Prisoner, I just heard on MSNBC that Mexican President Fox says that Cancun resorts will be up and running sometime in December.
I saw that. I was supposed to go November 12. I'm going to push to reschedule to a different time rather than same time different location. I'd rather go some place I've planned for, than go some place different now when I'm not prepared for it.
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Moondance
Member
07-30-2000
| Tuesday, October 25, 2005 - 6:09 pm
Great news MsTwiggy! Just an update Dear Members & Friends, Work continues at full pace at the Best Friends relief center outside of New Orleans, bringing in the daily rescues, placing animals in foster homes, and bringing families together with their lost pets. AT THE RESCUE CENTER: We're expecting to keep the rescue center at Tylertown open through the end of this year, since other major rescue organizations are now less active in the region. So, with fall arriving in the South, sun shades are coming off the dog compounds, and people and animal accommodations are being prepared for cooler weather. After the steamy heat of summer, that's a relief. But this week, we had a sudden cold snap, and it was blankets to the rescue in the evenings! Temperatures are supposed to be back up in a few days. VOLUNTEERS: We've sent a separate e-mail to all of you who have offered to volunteer at the rescue center and have not yet had an opportunity. Now's the time! The animals will be needing additional help there, and we're also working with other rescue groups who also need all the help they can get. So let us know if you're able to come on down. (You can e-mail sherry.command@bestfriends.org.) We need up to 50 volunteers there on any given day. It's best if you can plan to be there at least a week. We also have (and need) three volunteer veterinarians plus vet techs at any given time. Some of Best Friends' volunteer vets are being coordinated to provide assistance to the nearby Humane Society of Louisiana and also to Jefferson Parish animal control in town, with whom we work closely. Two recent volunteers whose story is on the website this week are Mike and Nick Candelori, veterans of the Trenton, N.J., Fire Department. "To me, it's been a life-changing experience," said Mike. "So many people here from all over the country. Everybody here is working together and amounting to something amazing." (See their interview at http://www.bestfriends.org) GREAT STORIES: Other great stories on the website this week include: * an update on The Survivor; * the kittens who rode shotgun (on instructions from our friends at the Westbank shelter in Jefferson Parish)! * and Wheezy the Chihuahua, who's telling his foster person: "Keep me with you. I have parents, help me find my parents." STATS: We've had more than 2,000 animals through the rescue center. Currently have about 450 on any given day. Reunions at the center so far: 112, plus more from our foster homes and groups around the country. SUPPLIES: Our warehouse in Jackson, Mississippi, has become something of a "shopping center" for the grassroots animal welfare groups. They call in and are invited to go get what they need. Donations of supplies are still coming in, and are much appreciated. OTHER RESCUE GROUPS: We continue to pick up animals every day from the rescue teams working with David Meyer and Jane Garrison. David and Jane organized the rescue teams at the big Gonzalez center run by the Humane Society of the U.S. until that closed down at the end of September. But David and Jane have been continuing, albeit with a reduced volunteer force, to complete their mission of visiting every home in the New Orleans area where people have reported that they left animals when they evacuated. There are still miraculous cases of animals surviving inside these homes. There are also many reports of animals surviving outdoors and hiding under houses. Many of these houses are due to be demolished, and so the work continues urgently to rescue these dogs and cats. There may be 1,200 of these pets. It takes some experience to catch them, and volunteers for this work need extra training, which Jane is offering, in use of traps. We're working with Jane to take these animals and transport them out to foster care. Other rescue groups still active include MuttShack and the Winn-Dixie team. (Winn-Dixie was damaged by high winds a few nights ago, but is back up and running.) Best Friends is providing pet food to the rescue groups who are still dropping off food and water in the New Orleans neighborhoods for abandoned pets or door-to-door rescues. RUMOR MILL: There were stories circulating of an epidemic of parvo at the Best Friends rescue center. These are wildly exaggerated. We have in fact had three cases of puppies coming in with parvo. All new arrivals are checked, and standard protocols are in place. Details are on the Best Friends website If you come across unconfirmed stories about this or anything else, please let us know. We'll post full and accurate details on the website. BOSTON CONFERENCE: As you know, we canceled the No More Homeless Pets conference in Boston, which would have been last weekend. It simply would not have been possible to continue the rescue efforts while bringing so many staff and volunteers to Boston. Thank you all for your understanding of this, and for the many e-mails applauding the decision. Lots more on the Best Friends website at http://www.bestfriends.org. Thank you, as always, for all your help and support. Michael Mountain Best Friends Animal Society
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Herckleperckle
Member
11-20-2003
| Wednesday, October 26, 2005 - 3:55 pm
Yay, Twigs! Whew!!
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Urgrace
Member
08-19-2000
| Thursday, October 27, 2005 - 7:38 am
Happy to hear you all did okay Twiggs! Hoping to hear from Bronxie too.
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