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KAT 5: Hurricane Isaac Update 9/11/2012
In the aftermath of August 29, 2012's Hurricane Isaac which devastated southern Louisiana exactly 7 years after Katrina, KAT 5 has spent the past 12 days doing what we do best....animal search and rescue/disaster response. Our time has been spent in one of the areas most affected by the recent storm where we found animals trapped, running free with serious and superficial injuries, serious dehydration and deathly lethargic. It pains me to know the suffering and fear that these precious creatures endured. Our days began before the sun rose, awaiting the drive to our rescue area to ensure that we operating under the best conditions. Early morning works well with animals because the sun isn't out yet, the air is still cool and the area is quiet. We are able to locate the areas in which animals are spending their time in plain view....once the sun comes out and the area becomes more populated with law enforcement, National Guard and clean up crews, the animals tend to hide. This makes our job almost impossible but not so difficult that we don't put in 150%. We spend our days hot, hungry, dehydrated all in order to save this precious life. It's not just a job, this is our passion. Since Aug 31, 2012, we have rescued and assisted in rescuing over 50 animals which include not just cats and dogs but also horses and cattle, even a Boa Constrictor. Most of the animals we've rescued needed emergency vet care for dehydration, infected wounds and other injuries. Their vet visit can range from 24 hrs to a number of days depending on condition. Today, September 11, 2012, our job is not complete. We have food and water stations set up in areas where there were animals known to live prior to Isaac as well as locations we have visually spotted animals or footprints. It's imperative that we continue to stay on the ground until this mission is complete. I hope that you make the choice to support KAT 5 and our team who has spent time away from work, their own families in order to ensure the safety of these precious animals. We want you on our team! We want to share these incredible stories of rescue and reuniting with you! Thank you, KAT 5 Animal Rescue
To donate using PayPal:
By check: KAT 5 Animal Rescue Hurricane Isaac: KAT 5 Animal RescueWe need your help to rescue animals displaced by Hurricane Isaac.  
KAT 5 Animal Rescue, a 501c3, disaster response animal rescue, needs donations to rescue after Hurricane Isaac in the Gulf. KAT 5 Animal Rescue began after Hurricane Katrina rescuing animals. We returned to the Gulf to rescue animals after Hurricane Gustav and Hurricane Ike (pictured above). We need your help to rescue animals in the wake of Hurricane Isaac. There is major flooding in St. Tammany Parish, Laplace Parish and Plaquemines Parish. We have local volunteers on the ground rescuing by boat but they urgently need more help so we need donations to deploy out of state volunteers. If you have a flat-bottomed boat that we could use, please contact us. Thank you! KAT 5 Animal Rescue Getting "Wrinkles" Ironed Out.It was April 21st when Wrinkles, a 4 year old Shar Pei mix, went missing in Mansfield, Ohio. After his original owner decided she did not want him anymore, Wrinkles was rehomed. While being led into the new home, he backed out of his collar and took off. More than 8 weeks later, Wrinkles was still being spotted occasionally trying to find food around some dumpsters in an apartment complex. It always seems remarkable and inspiring when any of these lost pets survive for so long on their own. But Wrinkles is truly extraordinary. Wrinkles is blind. It wasn’t until June 24th that veterinarian and KAT 5 volunteer Don Corsmeier received a forwarded email of a desperate plea for help from Wrinkles’ guardian angel, Vickie Graves. It was Vickie, not Wrinkles’ original owner or his new adopter, who had been out each night for weeks, trying to catch him. She talked to everyone in the area asking for news of this poor dog. When sightings became sparse, she would still go out, in the hopes of at least seeing him again to know that he was still out there, still alive. 
After Vickie received a loaner live trap and instructions on the best methods to catch a lost dog, she set out to create and put up some lost dog posters to generate sightings. A few calls came in almost immediately from people who had seen Wrinkles in the area in the previous week or two. One person reported seeing someone kick the dog when he came up to beg for food behind a local business. A few days later, a call came in that Wrinkles was seen again at the apartment complex dumpsters, just around midnight. The next night Don and Vickie set traps in the area. Though Wrinkles came around again, even approaching one of the traps at one point, some commotion from people nearby ultimately scared him off for the night. Wrinkles’ emaciated and weakened condition was an insistent reminder of the urgency of the situation. The following night, July 1st, Don and Vickie were ready once again with traps set. Luckily, Wrinkles was right on schedule for his midnight rounds, searching desperately for any morsel he could sniff out on the ground near the dumpsters. At first, the would-be rescuers’ hearts sank as they watched Wrinkles walk into one of the traps and back out without setting it off. But eventually, Wrinkles found his way into a second trap and was finally safe. After surviving on his own for more than 10 weeks in deteriorating physical condition, this amazing dog is on the road to recovery! However, after being through so much, we would love to give this boy every chance we can. We are asking for some help to cover Wrinkles’ vet care during his recovery and for him to see an eye specialist, in the hopes that his vision might be partially restored with surgery. We want Wrinkles to be able to see the love in his new family's eyes.
Being on the run for 10 weeks takes a lot out of you! Wrinkles zonked out while new pal Otis watches over. |