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Pets & Animals in Distress Mississippi Mission
Hurricane Katrina Relief Effort Sept 3rd to Sept 16th
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Pets & Animals in Distress, President Brenda Beck, loading
Hurricane Katrina animal
Relief supplies to be delivered to Katrina disaster areas on the
Gulf coast
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Pets &
Animals in Distress President, Brenda Beck and volunteers
worked to organize and coordinate the Hurricane Katrina relief
food drive to get dog and cat food, medical and pet supplies
including a 24’ Ryder truck donated for the 15 hour drive to
bring in relief assistance to the Gulf coast disaster areas.
Brenda set up a command post base in south Florida with
several volunteers that included Karen Albert, Kyndra Crews,
and Cindy Miller to help answer and make phone calls, e-mails,
take messages along with providing search and rescue logistics
and vital information needed to our Director Relief
Coordinator and Volunteers when en-route and upon being on
ground in the disaster area
Pets & Animals in Distress started our Hurricane Katrina
disaster relief drive on Sept 3rd collecting animal relief
supplies throughout Florida for our first out of State relief
effort to bring in pet food, medical and pet supplies to the
disaster areas on the Gulf coast states. Katrina Relief
supplies were picked up in Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach,
Delray Beach, West Palm Beach, Port Saint Lucie, Okeechobee,
Fort Pierce, Jacksonville and Tallahassee, Florida. Director
Chris Sisto drove to Pet Supplies Plus stores located in
Delray Beach and in Lake Worth, Fl where PSP owner Mike
Camardello had set aside several hundred pounds of donated dog
and cat food, collars, leashes and pet supplies to bring for
the relief efforts and then to meet up with Brenda Beck to get
more relief supplies. Supplies were also being collected from
Brenda’s sister Karen Albert and family, friends and
businesses from Okeechobee, Fl. Brenda drove to Okeechobee,
Florida to pick up all the donated food and pet supplies that
were then brought to be loaded on the 24’ Ryder truck that was
donated by Ryder of Fort Pierce for the long 15 hour journey
ride to Perlington, MS.
Once the truck was loaded Pets & Animals in Distress Director
Chris Sisto met with Disaster relief coordinator Don Kjos to
go over their driving routes and their relief mission plan.
They finished loading the Ryder truck, said their goodbyes to
family and then proceeded to get on I-95 to start heading
north to Jacksonville, FL where they had to make another stop
to pick up several hundred pounds of donated Nutro Dog food.
When they arrived in Jacksonville around 9pm and picked up the
dog food and then headed to our next pick up stop in
Tallahassee where we were to meet Big Dog Rescue and
volunteers around 1 am in the morning at a Petsmart parking
lot to help offload 5 pallets of Meow Mix cat food from a
FedEx truck onto the Ryder truck. When they were done it was
around 1:30 and very tired we stayed in Tallahassee overnight
and met again and picked more dog food early the morning from
Big Dog Rescue from their warehouse and then embarked on our
travels to get to Pearlington, MS and bring in the food and
supplies needed to help the animals.
They drove through Pensacola, Mobile and Biloxi and started to
see the beginnings of the Hurricane Katrina’s damage with the
huge towering billboard metal signs that were along I-10 that
had been completely shredded, twisted and bent out of shape.
We were almost involved in a massive chain accident when about
10 cars in front of us a Semi-Tractor trailer and a Ford 150
collided on a bridge that had wedged the pick-up truck between
the front of the semi nose and bridge, blocking traffic for a
hour until it was removed. Luckily the driver of the pick-up
truck was not killed. We then started our journey and got off
on exit 2 going into Pearlington. When we arrived in
Pearlington, I don’t think neither of us was prepared for what
we were about to see.
The picture we see via our National Media do not explain no
justify the horror and devastation Hurricane Katrina placed on
this small town of 1700 only 45 miles east of New Orleans. The
eye of Hurricane Katrina passed directly over Pearlington,
bringing a 25 foot storm surge and almost wiping out
everything in it path. The entire town was flattened out. Upon
arrival in Pearlington Chris and Don met with Mr. Sam Bailey
who is the former Captain of the Fire dept in Pearlington.
Sam, his wife and animals had survived hurricane Katrina’s 150
mph winds and the 25-foot tidal surge that completely
devastated his home and town. We arrived to help to bring
relief supplies to help the animals and people of Pearlington
and Waveland, Mississippi
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Director
Chris Sisto meeting with Sam Bailey after arriving in
Pearlington to deliver pet food
And relief supplies to residents and to help in coordinating in
search and rescue of animals
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Pets &
Animals in Distress organized, coordinated and put together
their first out of State hurricane relief effort to help bring
in food & supplies, along with sending the word out to get many
other rescue organizations and volunteers involved to come in
and help in the search and rescue of the animals in Pearlington
that were wandering the streets without food or water. This was
a combined team animal relief effort by many we had never met
that answered the call of help that included several animal
rescue groups, volunteers, veterinarians and the pet food
corporations that came to help this small unknown town named
Pearlington, Ms.
This was truly amazing to see such a positive national response
and very big undertaking that Pets & Animals in Distress
Hurricane relief coordinator Don was able to send out a national
911 Distress call by e-mail to animal shelters, rescue groups
and volunteers all over America to bring national attention and
spotlight to this towns plight to help save these animals from
dying and get the help and supplies they desperately needed
immediately, as time was of the essence.
We have received hundreds phone calls and e-mails from animal
lovers everywhere, said Brenda Beck, from as far away as Alaska,
New York, Texas, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Colorado, California
and even Canada wanting to know how they can come and help the
animals, it was truly amazing to see how big this has spread. We
are glad to know that through this national plea campaign has
put the town of Pearlington, Mississippi on the map that has
helped to bring in countless volunteers and supplies to save
hundreds many of these animals. We applaud the heroic efforts
from all the Rescue Groups, Veterinarians, Police Officers,
National Guardsmen, Coast Guard and especially to all the
Volunteers that gave up their time, businesses and families to
come and help in the search and rescue recovery and care of all
the animals that were wandering the streets and left behind in
homes, and on farms when residents evacuated in the aftermath
destruction from Hurricane Katrina, many were saved that would
have starved and died.
The overwhelming response from people and rescue groups from
everywhere was unbelievable said Kendra Williams who is owner of
Lansas Kennels in Mandeville, Louisiana and who is also with the
Pochatrain Humane Society along with Sam Bailey who both are
acting as a relief coordinators for Pearlington to help the
animals. I received over 500 calls the first week alone say’s
Williams with offers of all kinds to help. I could not keep up
with all the phone calls coming in every hour. Kendra who also
in undergoing chemo therapy for breast cancer while trying to
take care of the animals that are being brought in on a daily
basis has opened her kennel to become a make shift rescue
shelter for many of the Hurricane animals.
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U.S Coast Guard and Pets & Animals in Distress
Help in the Search and Rescue for dog on Pearl River Home
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Pets &
Animals in Distress Director Chris Sisto (left pic) and Relief
Coordinator Donald Kjos (center pic) were able to go on search and rescue mission with Chief Marshall
of the U.S. Coast Guard PSU 309 unit 2 boat team of 10 Coast
guardsmen to search for a dog that was reported left behind in a
home located on the Pearl river in Pearlington, Mississippi Both
Don & Chris were dropped off on the banks of the Pearl river
that was layered with 2-3 feet of mud to a large mansion home
that was totally destroyed by the Hurricane and tidal surge.
They walked and searched through the 5-acre property along with
going inside the destroyed home and barn to try to find the dog,
which they never found. Water and food was left behind on the
property in the event the dog was still their hiding and the
Coast Guard would contact in the event the dog was sighted
again. |
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PETS & ANIMALS IN DISTRESS ACCOMPLISMENTS
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Don was approached by a young resident of Pearlington who was riding
a 4 wheeler ATV to report a sighting of a small Pomeranian dog
that was left behind in a home on Hancock street that was
destroyed that had been living in an attic and seen running on
the roof for several days. The dog was able to get on the roof
from a large hole that was made from a fallen tree that crashed
through the roof. Don and 2 volunteers from Texas went to the
location to look for the dog. Don was able to climb a tree that
had fallen against the home to gain access to the roof to look
for the dog and seen that their were 2 huge holes left in the
roof were trees had fallen and allowed the dog to go out to the
roof. The dog was spotted hiding in the attic very scared and
was rescued and then was brought back to relief area where it
was
provided with immediate medical care, food and water and
photographed and ID by the camp vet to be re-united back to it
owners. |
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The National Guard Search and
Rescue team had informed Pets & Animals in Distress about 8pm in
the evening just before curfew of 2 large dogs and a puppy were
spotted and reported to have been left behind at a home that was
washed away off its foundation. We were given a street and
location but would not be able to go in until the morning to the
strict curfew that was in effect. We spent the night again with
the National Guard on the football field and woke up around 6am
after sleeping in truck and proceeded to the sighting location
that was given to us by the NG. Don & Chris were able to locate
and find the home where the animals were left behind inside a
gated fence that remarkably was still standing. The animals
looked very thin and dehydrated, which we immediately gave them
food and water and then were safely rescued and extracted all 3
dogs to be transported back to the camp to be examined by the on
ground vet and then photographed and ID. When we arrived we were
bum rushed by a 3oo lb pig that chased us back in our van, we
opened a 40lb bag of dog food for him to eat which he was very
hungry and placed some water for him, and reported the pigs
location to the rescue groups that were helping to get the
horses, pigs and goats.
Chris and Don worked side by side with several National Guard
members who volunteered their time to help build several dog
kennels in Pearlington at the animal search and rescue site. Ten
9’ x 12’ Kennels were constructed that had tarps secured and
placed over the tops for shading of the animals. All Kennels
could now house between 60 to 80 animals that would no longer
have to be left in these confined cages overnight and could move
around more freely until they were picked up to be transported
to the Kennels shelter in Louisiana.
Director Chris Sisto and several volunteers went on a search &
rescue mission at Nasa’s Stennis Space Center outside of
Pearlington by I-10 for 2 dogs that were reported seen on the
government property running wild. They searched for several
hours but could not find the dogs and would have other Search
and Rescue groups come back the following day to do another
search.
Brenda, Chris and Don coordinated with Equine Rescue (Victoria
and Peggy) out of Pensacola
http://www.panhandleequinerescue.org
and Sarasota that contacted Pets & Animals in Distress that
offered to bring in horse trailers, volunteers and hay and water
on where to go to help look for horses, goats, pigs and any
livestock.
Pets & Animals worked with several law enforcement agencies from
Florida, that included FL State Troopers, Officers Wells from
Tampa & Officer Washington from Jacksonville, FL who were
driving through Pearlington and approached our relief
coordinator Don to ask if they could get some dog and cat food
to keep in their police vehicles to help feed animals that were
running everywhere when they were on patrol. Both Officers Wells
& Washington also helped in the search and recovery of several
pets that were phoned into Brenda Beck who was manning the
phones and e-mails and coordinating relief efforts from south
Florida where she was able then was able to contact several
relief coordinators that are on ground to pass on the
information of these animals locations to go and search and
rescue these animals or drop of food and water. Having Officer
Wells helping to be our second set of eyes while also
being able to take the time to help provide food to animals was
truly a blessing to have this back up support from our own
State, said Beck.
Officer Wells is in direct contact with Brenda that reported
that 3 dogs that were left at a store off of hwy 90 and also a
cat with a broken leg was that was seen by a neighbor hiding
under a mobile home trailer. Both reports and locations were
passed on to our relief coordinators Don & Chris and to Saint
Lucie Humane Society volunteers Bunny, Crystal and Sandy who
went to the address location that was provided by Officer Wells
to Brenda and found that the dogs were already picked up by
another search and rescue team. We then located to find the
mobile home trailer were the injured cat was reported as seen
that was hiding. When we arrived we coordinated an extensive
search of both inside and underneath the trailer several times
to try find the cat, which after one hour of searching was never
found. We left plenty of food and water behind and our contact
information that we gave to neighbor and would come out again
the next day to do another search. We have good news to report
that we have received a phone call that the injured cat with the
broken leg was found alive and caught by volunteers Bunny,
Crystal and Sandy and was brought to the Vet Medical camp in
Waveland to help fix the injured cats broken leg, which we are
glad to report is doing well, and will be kept their for
observation until the owner of the trailer can claim him and
be re-united.
Chris and Don drove through the streets of Pearlington trying
to catch several dogs that were wandering the streets that were
scared, hungry and running wild. Many of these spooked dogs were
very hard to catch without live traps. Food and water was left
behind for them for them until live traps could be brought in to
catch them.
We also met with the Christian Life Church leader Mr. Boyd in
Waveland 15 miles east of Pearlington who were set up giving
away food and clothing to the people in a K-mart parking lot and
were very glad to see that we had brought in loads of dog and
cat food as many residents asked if their was any food for the
animals and at that time their was not. Mr. Boyd blessed and
thanked us for bringing the food for the animals. We then set up
a relief staging area in the Big K shopping plaza to unload our
truck of 15,000 lbs of donated dog and cat food, collars,
leashes, litter, cages, carriers, shampoos, advantage,
revolution and many other pet supplies to give to many of the
Waveland resident pet owners that were very thank full we were
there as they had little or no food left to help feed their
animals, we were thanked for bringing in the food at the this
critical time. |
 
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While at Camp we had reports of hundreds of
dogs roaming the devastated beach area of Waveland, MS. Don and
myself decided to take the Ryder truck and the van with kennels
to the area. As we approached the beach area there was nothing
but foundations and debris hanging from trees that survived the
storm. We drove up and down the beach and noticed no dogs at
all. We found a plot of land where a luxurious house once stood
and decided to make a trough of food for the poor dogs running
rampant. We opened approximately (20) 50lb bags of food and cut
the tops off 10 one-gallon jugs of water so the homeless pets
wouldn't starve or dehydrate. We had taken another six bags of
dog food and left them in the area for people to replenish the
supply of food.
All relief groups, rescue groups, vets and volunteers stayed at
the Pearlington school and on the football field in the evening
under the jurisdiction of the National Guard and would meet in
the morning to then go back to the relief staging area for the
animals to help walk the dogs, clean kennels and feed the
animals, and then deploy search and rescue teams to go out and
look for animals
Pets & Animals in Distress coordinated with several outside
rescue groups including Cris and Sarah from Mixed up Mutts
http://mixedupmutts.org who took over the overwhelming number of
calls that were coming in to help coordinate logistics and
relief efforts from Northern Indiana. Cris would stay in daily
contact to give status report updates to Don and Chris who were
traveling en-route and when they arrived on ground. After we had
left, Cris organized to leave with several volunteers, that
arrived on Sept 16 and is on ground in Mandeville talking and
coordinating with Sam and Kendra overseeing operations for
search and rescue and supplies that are needed in other disaster
areas to help the animals. Animal Relief Supplies are also being
directed to deliver to secure warehouse located in Mobile,
Alabama.
Pets & Animals in Distress has been in contact with several
vets from Delaware Veterinary that have just arrived on ground
to coordinate and volunteer their vet services to help with the
intake of rescued animals in selected disaster areas that they
will be needed most in.
We were very glad to meet and speak with Deputy Mark Stroud of
the Polk County Sheriffs Department from Florida who Chris and
Don helped to provide special pet food to be given to the K-9
police units as well as search and rescue dogs. Sheriff Deputy
Mark Stroud of the Polk Sheriffs department also volunteered to
help in building several 9’ x 12’ dog kennels working alongside
Pets & Animals in Distress and the National Guard.
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We will be coordinating to send several
volunteers next month to got pick up animals that have been
released from their 30 day quarantine hold under the States
guidelines, which we have been put on the waiting list. Please
help support all animal organization relief efforts in working
together to help be a voice for the Katrina animals that all of
us need to give our attention to continue on this mission. This
is going to be an ongoing battle to help many of these animals
and the many people that have lost their own pets who were
trapped and left inside their homes that were not rescued and
have now left us to cross over the Rainbow Bridge.
Please say a prayer for all the ones that are still waiting to
be rescued and to the ones that were lucky enough that have been
reunited back to their owners and to the ones that now have a
second chance in life to be adopted to a waiting family and new
home. God Bless to all the animals and everyone that is taking
part to help save them. Please visit our Hurricane Katrina Photo
Galleries to see pictures of our relief efforts and the animals.
Sincerely,
Brenda Beck, President
Pets & Animals in Distress
Hurricane Katrina Relief Efforts Photo Gallery 1
Pets & Animals in Distress
Hurricane Katrina Relief Efforts Photo Gallery 2
Pets & Animals In Distress
Thank You's
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