Animals Dying While Rescue Groups Await Permission to Enter Stricken Areas

Project Hope, a project of the international animal protection organization, In Defense of Animals (IDA), is calling on state officials to allow animal protection groups permission to enter disaster stricken areas of Mississippi. The group, which has set up a rescue and recovery effort at the County Fairgrounds in Jackson along with Mississippi Emergency Response for Animals (MEPA) and the Disaster Animal Response Team (DART) to help animals affected by Hurricane Katrina, is prepared to venture into areas affected by the storm and deliver medical assistance and supplies, yet is being halted by the Emergency Operations Center (EOC).

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"We understand we could be facing dangerous situations and that precautions need to be taken. We appreciate measures being taken to ensure our safety," says Project Hope Director, Doll Stanley. "But we are sitting here in a parking lot with a truckload of supplies waiting for permission to utilize our resources while animals are dying for lack of food and water."

The Project Hope team secured a generous donation of supplies for the rescue operation from PETsMART charities including food, carriers and crates to house animals at the rescue center, as well as to transport animals to shelters and foster homes. While the group awaits permission to use the highway to help animals in need, news media outlets are reporting distraught evacuees being forced to leave their beloved animal companions behind and some even having animals euthanized for fear of their welfare once turned over to authorities.

Please contact the following state officials and politely urge them to allow IDA and other animal protection organizations into stricken areas and administer their much-needed assistance. Be sure to thank them for taking necessary precautions, but let them know that it is time to allow rescue workers who are willing to risk their safety do what they came to do.

Congressman Chip Pickering
110-D Airport Rd
Pearl, MS 39208
Tel.: [phone]
Online comment form: http://www.house.gov/pickering/Form.htm

James Watson, D.V.M., Director
Mississippi State Board of Animal Health
P.O. Box 3889
Jackson, MS 39207
Tel.: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]

Governor Haley Barbour
P.O. Box 139
Jackson, MS 39205
Tel.: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

IDA has established a Hurricane Katrina Animal Relief Fund to finance transportation, food for animals and volunteers, and to repair the damage done by the storm at the Project Hope sanctuary. Any funds exceeding the Project Hope team's expenses will be donated directly to the Louisiana SPCA in New Orleans, which has been hit hard by the storm. IDA is accepting donations to support its relief efforts on its web site or by mail. Send checks to: Hurricane Relief, c/o In Defense of Animals, 131 Camino Alto, Mill Valley, CA 94941.