Thursday, September 22, 2005

ALL CATS KATRINA PET RESCUE UPDATE, SEPT 21, 2005

ALL CATS KATRINA PET RESCUE UPDATE, SEPT 21, 2005
©2005 Janice Price

Buddy stands at the window and watches as Jan’s station wagon rolls down the street. “Sheeeee’s off!” he announces to the Funny Farm residents.

“Let’s get moving before she comes back,” Merci declares, to no one in particular.

Percy leaps onto Jan’s secretarial chair and quickly opens her e-mail program, searching for the latest All CATS update.

“I thought she would never leave!” Cyndi exclaims.

Cotton eyes Cameron with disdain. “We could have posted this last night, except for Mr. Fat Butt.”

“I do not have a fat butt.” Cameron shoots back at her.

“Now, Cotton,” Crystal says, soothingly, “Cameron doesn’t really have a fat butt. He just made a mistake. We all make mistakes.”

“Yes, but he is the only one of us who ever sat on the keyboard to take a bath.”

“You mean, he is the only one of us that ever sat on the keyboard and got caught taking a bath,” Cyndi says.

Buddy begins to laugh, breaking the tension between the cats. Gradually, the rest of the group joins him, as they remember the early a.m. confusion Cameron caused as the club waited for Jan to stop tossing and turning and fall asleep. The quiet was broken by a mysterious doop, doop, doop. When Jan turned on the living room light, Cameron was vigorously bathing himself, while playing a non-melodious tune on the computer hardware as he bounced on the keyboard.

Merci chuckles. “That sure killed our chances at the computer for the night. Jan turned it off, and we didn’t dare touch it until she left the house just now.”

“Can the chatter, guys!” Percy orders. “I’m trying to work here.”

The group moves to where each has a clear view of the monitor. Cyndi, Crystal, Cotton and Cameron leap onto the desk. Merci stands with her front paws on the desk, and Buddy edges closer to Percy, who is standing on the chair seat.

Crystal asks, “What is the “rescue board” mentioned in the update?”

“I don’t know,” Percy admits. “That’s new. No, wait. Jan asked the same question and this is the answer she received.”

Cotton, sitting closest to the monitor, reads the message to the group. “The rescue board is in the courthouse near the French Quarter and is used by several organizations. Our volunteers list every animal we rescue, describing it and giving the street address (or at least the street) on which the animal was found. Also, where the animal was taken. People then go to the site where the pet they believe is theirs is located. Volunteers there ask for proof of identity (address) to match up with the animal. Each animal has a plastic "collar" such as vets use with the address written on it. Of course, lots of times it's obvious because the animal's eyes light up and they try to run to their person.”

“This is yesterday’s update, guys. Let’s get it posted,” Cyndi says, with impatience. There’s another hurricane headed that way. The news will be outdated before anyone gets to read it, if we don’t hurry.”

Percy hits a key and the update is posted.

“Good work, Percy,” Merci beams.

“Yes,” Buddy agrees, “good work, pal,” He pats Percy on the back, pushing him forward onto the keyboard, which begins to sing doop, doop, doop.
www.jansfunnyfarm.com


All Cats Update for September 21, 2005

Last weekend, we received a donation and wonderful letter from a lady whose dog was one of those our volunteers had been caring for. She had found her dog listed on our rescue board with a notation that it was being cared for in its home. When she arrived at her home, she found our volunteer Charles feeding the dog.

Then, lo and behold, we receive a call from CBS saying they wanted to do a ride-along with us. That happened today and was on CBS and Fox News earlier. Fox has been showing the story about every three hours. The boat has ALL C.A.T.S. written on it and is camouflage colored. Our guys are wearing military-type clothing. During the ride-along, our guys rescued 4 horses and several goats. Plus four dogs--which were shut in the farmhouse. This was shown on the news clip. The newscaster did say, "Most of the rescue people search from the air; you go door to door and find animals the rest do not." Our reasoning is that all farms have animals; therefore, we must check them all to see if these animals may be trapped inside buildings and therefore not visible from the air.

We made sure that the horses and goats were able to get to dry ground/pasture--with shelter. We fed the dogs and left plenty of food and fresh water. Charles will, of course, go back and check on them--as we always do.

During the ride-along, Charles talked about our organization and gave our website address. That address was crawling along the bottom of the screen while the clip was running.

We have received numerous emails thanking us for what we are doing--from people whose animals we have saved. The newscaster was very complimentary of our efforts--and your help. He said "You must have some great people on your supporter list." We told him that was definitely the truth.

A SPECIAL THANK YOU--To the office of the Governor of Texas. Carolyn contacted the governor's assistant today and was promised that there would be tractor trailers available, along with buses, for people to take their animals with them if evacuation of Galveston or any other area in Texas becomes a necessity. People will be allowed to take their animals (in carriers) on the buses during any evacuation. The tractor trailers are available in the same area to take animals that cannot be transported in carriers. All anyone has to do is talk to one of the drivers. They will go to the animals' location and pick them up.

We are very proud of what we have been able to accomplish--and of you for making it possible for us to do.

There is great need to continue our work, so we must ask you for more financial help. We especially need money for gasoline--we use a tremendous amount in the boats and trucks.

We also urgently need building materials--gift cards from places like Home Depot and Lowes would be wonderful!!

To donate--

1. Visit our website ( www.allcatsinc.org ) and donate on-line through PayPal with the special link for the Katrina Crew.

2. Send your check or money order made out to All C.A.T.S., Inc. to Carolyn Keeton at 4907 23rd Boulevard, Valley AL 36854.

3. Send money via Western Union to Carolyn Keeton in Valley AL and/or Barry Harbin in Albertville AL. BE SURE TO GET THE CONFIRMATION NUMBER AND SEND IT TO -

4. If there is any other way you wish to donate, we'll be happy to discuss it. Call Carolyn at the above number.

Please – if you possibly can, do find a way to help us help the animals. They are depending on all of us!

Friday, September 16, 2005

ALL CATS KATRINA PET RESCUE UPDATE, SEPT.16,2005

All Cats Katrina Pet Rescue Update, Sept. 16, 2005
(c) 2005 Janice Price

Buddy, carrying his stuffed bone with the broken squeaker, wanders past the computer. His ears register the sound of new e-mail notification, and he wanders over to check the computer. He calls, excitedly, “Percy, come quick! It’s here. Jan just received another update on the All Cats Crew in the Hurricane Katrina disaster area.”

Before he finishes, Percy has leaped down from on top of the refrigerator, raced into the living room and leaped onto Jan’s secretarial chair. “It’s about time!” Percy grumbles, as he scans the message. “How can we update people when we don’t receive updates?”

Merci joins them, standing on tiptoe to read the message on the screen. “Calm down, Percy. Remember the All Cats Crew is busy rescuing animals – mainly cats and dogs, either left in homes when people fled the storm, or stranded when the homes were flooded or destroyed. If the animals are not rescued soon, they will die. So the Crew doesn’t have time to chitchat.”

Percy’s deft paws copy and paste the message into a Word document. He runs a spelling and grammar check, adds a title, and ….

“Wow, you’re good at this,” Buddy says, in awe of Percy’s agility on the keyboard. “I used to be able to type that fast, but then I grew up and my paws got so large I can’t hit the correct keys unless I take my time.”

Percy smiles. “That’s why I’m Secretary of the Funny Farm Writing Club.” In no time at all, he has the update posted to the Club’s journal.

“I don’t know about you,” Merci says with a grin, “but it sure feels good to be able to do something to help those poor animals along the Gulf Coast.”

“Yes,” Percy adds. “We aren’t well-known writers, so we don’t have a lot of readers on our site yet, but sharing our journal with All Cats temporarily is the least we can contribute to the relief effort.”

Buddy sighs. “We could contribute a whole lot more if we could just figure out where Jan hides her credit cards!”

Percy,
Secretary to the FFWC

All Creatures Are Truly Special, Inc. http://www.allcatsinc.org

We have delivered four tractor trailer loads of dog and cat food to New Orleans and Mississippi--wherever needed. FEMA has requested our services in Mobile AL, and we have a tractor trailer load ready to go directly to the shelters there.

We're still feeding more than 70 dogs and over 100 cats and kittens that are in safe places until their owners return. These owners have been contacted and know where their animals are.

The feral animals that are almost impossible to catch are being provided food and water in their own, familiar areas. We will not traumatize them further by trying to move them now that their home territories have been drained.

Since our last update, we have rescued another 3000+ dogs and 1800+ cats. 2088 of the dogs are back with their owners. 846 of the cats have been reunited with their people.

We have rescued 82 people with their pets. We also have 15 persons, 18 cats and 23 dogs living in our shelters in Valley. They will be provided with housing next week by the FEMA people. We also have 26 dogs and 30 cats that have been brought to Valley.
Again, since our last report, we have rescued over 100 head of cattle by getting them to dry land. A feed store donated food for them.

108 people have sent emails to Barry Harbin asking us to check their homes, entering by any means needed, to care for their animals. We have checked each location and reported back to the people who contacted us. We have provided food and water for all the animals we found. Most of the people are returning to their homes and animals next week.

You all have asked what else we need help with:

We always need a lot of money to purchase gasoline to keep all of these vital vehicles going! We are still the only animal rescue people operating boats. No one but us is helping the animals still surrounded by water. If we don't have gasoline, we won't be able to continue.

We have also rescued 36 horses, which will be turned over to the equine rescue groups. We have built temporary holding pens until the groups get to them. Money for building material is always needed.

We still need money to get that tractor trailer in to Mobile because it is sitting there ready to go--just need fuel. It also contains smaller cages for rescuing small dogs and cats.

Thank you all so very, very much for your help. Please try to continue your support as long and as much as you can. As you can tell, we urgently need financial support to continue helping all the animals which still need us.

You may donate in several ways:

1. Via PayPal using the special Katrina Crew link on our website.

2. Via Western Union to either Carolyn Keeton in Valley, AL or Barry Harbin in Albertville, AL. Be sure to send the Western Union confirmation number to Carolyn by calling her at -

3. By check/money order sent to Carolyn Keeton and made out to All C.A.T.S., Inc., and addressed to 4907 23rd Boulevard, Valley AL 36854.

4. To donate food or gas cards or any other items, contact Carolyn or Barry at the phone/email address described in No. 2 above.

Friday, September 09, 2005

ALL CATS KATRINA PET RESCUE UPDATE, SEPT 9, 2005

The Funny Farm has received another update from All Creatures Are Truly Special,, Inc, a team rescuing animals amid the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.


ALL CATS KATRINA PET RESCUE UPDATE, SEPT 9, 2005

All Creatures Are Truly Special, Inc. http://www.allcatsinc.org

We now have rescued well over 2,000 animals, all of which are now in safe, clean and dry locations with people who are dedicated to caring for them and 92 have been reunited with their people.

Another 17 owners have been found and are on their way to loving reunions with their animals.

We still urgently need dry cat and dog food and a lot of gasoline and money for other transportation related expenses. The transportation costs (averaging $900 per day) include gasoline and/or diesel fuel for the trucks and boats plus for the generators to provide electricity, which is still mostly unavailable.

Your donation of funds to provide the above food and transportation or the donation of the food itself or pre-paid gas cards is vital to enable us to continue.

We do not want to have to stop any time soon. There are so many more animals who need help!!!

You may donate in several ways:

1. Via PayPal using the special Katrina Crew link on our website.

2. Via Western Union to either Carolyn Keeton in Valley, AL or Barry Harbin in Albertville, AL. Be sure to send the Western Union confirmation number to Carolyn by calling her at -

3. By check/money order sent to Carolyn Keeton and made out to All C.A.T.S., Inc., and addressed to 4907 23rd Boulevard, Valley AL 36854.

4. To donate food or gas cards or any other items, contact Carolyn or Barry at the phone/email address described in # 2 above.

Wednesday, September 07, 2005

HURRICANE KATRINA ALL CATS RESCUE UPDATE

The Funny Farm has suspended regular postings to keep everyone updated on All Cats, Inc., an animal rescue team that has been actively rescuing pets in New Orleans since September 1st. We know there are other reputable groups also rescuing animals from the areas devastated by Hurricane Katrina, but this is the one we are familiar with and so we back their efforts 100%, knowing that every penny donated to them will go toward rescue expenses. After the rescue efforts have finally ceased, there will still be the care and feeding of numerous animals, some of which will need veterinary care. Some have already been reunited with their owners.
Percy, Secretary for the FFWC


HURRICANE KATRINA ALL CATS RESCUE UPDATE

Hurricane Katrina All Cats Rescue Update for Wednesday, September 07, 2005

All Creatures Are Truly Special, Inc. http://www.allcatsinc.org

We have now rescued 480 dogs and cats and have reunited a total of
50 with their owners. In addition, we have relocated 18 people WITH their animals.

You may have seen a piece on CNN that showed rescue of a very sick man whose collie was running alongside the boat in which he was being transported. The dog tried to get in the boat but was pushed back and finally gave up. We have rescued that collie, who has his tags on with his person's name. He is now with a lady who lives nearby and WHO will care for him until (hopefully) his owner recovers and they can be reunited.

You may also have seen a piece on Fox News about a Mississippi lady who refused to leave her home without her dog. One of our volunteers has taken her both people and dog food and she is now able to stay at her home, which was not extensively damaged. She is also taking care of some of the dogs we have rescued.

Home Depot and Wal-Mart stores in Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi have offered us any salvageable building materials free of charge. This is a BIG help, as we don't have to purchase fencing, cages and other materials for this purpose.

Our major need is still fuel.

1. Visit our website and donate via paypal using the special Katrina Rescue link.

2. Send money via Western Union to Carolyn Keeton at Valley, AL or Barry Harbin at Albertville, AL. Please be sure to let Carolyn and/or Barry know the confirmation number by calling Carolyn at -

3. Send a check or prepaid gas card to Carolyn at the Valley, AL shelter - made out to All Cats, Inc (and with a notation for Katrina Rescue). The address is All Cats, Inc., 4907 23rd Boulevard, Valley, AL 36854.

Thank you!

Monday, September 05, 2005

UPDATE SEPT 5, 2005, HURRICANE KATRINA ANIMAL RESCUE

The Funny Farm Writing Club has unanimously decided to post the latest update on the All Cat Katrina animal rescue efforts. We are saddened by the horrors the storm victims have been enduring - human and animal - and are grateful to know there are people out there who will risk their lives, dig deep into their pockets, offer shelter and do their best to help humans. And we are grateful that there are others who are willing to risk all to rescue the victims' four-legged friends. This is one of the groups who is actively involved in rescuing animals in New Orleans.

Percy,
FFWC Secretary


Update Sept 5, 2005, Hurricane Katrina Animal Rescue

All Creatures Are Truly Special, Inc. http://www.allcatsinc.org

Some VERY GOOD news to begin with--we have reunited 32 animals with their families and have supplied all of them with food. They are presently in Kenner, LA. Our plan is to post messages about all the rescued animals when we have the means to do so on-line.

Our total of rescued dogs and cats is now over 400. We have also assisted in helping trapped cattle get to safe, dry places where they can graze.

We have had to bring about a dozen dogs to the Valley shelter due to their urgent need for medical attention. If you can help with these costs by paying their bills at the vet directly or by a special donation, it would be greatly appreciated.

A representative of the Forsyth (GA) County Humane Society has visited us in Valley and plans to ask their membership for financial help.

THERE IS SO MUCH MORE WHICH NEEDS TO BE DONE. BUT WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF MONEY FOR FUEL AND DRY FOOD--AND OUR CREW WILL HAVE TO LEAVE UNLESS WE GET MORE FUNDS. PLEASE HELP US STAY AND HELP THE REST OF THE ANIMALS WHO REMAIN IN DANGER.

AS A REMINDER--YOU MAY MAKE A DONATION FOR THIS RESCUE EFFORT BY:

1. VISITING OUR WEBSITE AND USING THE SPECIAL KATRINA RESCUE LINK.

2. SENDING MONEY VIA WESTERN UNION TO CAROLYN KEETON AT VALLEY AL AND/OR BARRY HARBIN AT ALBERTVILLE AL. PLEASE BE SURE TO LET THEM KNOW THE CONFIRMATION NUMBER--CALL CAROLYN AT -

3. SENDING A CHECK TO CAROLYN AT THE VALLEY SHELTER - MADE OUT TO ALL CATS INC AND A NOTATION FOR KATRINA RESCUE. 4907 23RD BOULEVARD, VALLEY AL 36854.

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS HELPED IN ANY WAY THUS FAR.

Friday, September 02, 2005

HURRICANE KATRINA ANIMAL RESCUE

HURRICANE KATRINA ANIMAL RESCUE
© 2005 Janice Price
www.jansfunnyfarm.com


Buddy sidles up to the desk and peers at the computer monitor. “What are you doing, Percy?

Standing on the secretarial chair at the computer, Percy responds without breaking stride in his typing. “I’m writing a journal entry for the club about the Hurricane Katrina Relief effort to rescue animals.”

“But aren’t there agencies to deal with helping the survivors?”

“Yes, Buddy, but they deal with rescuing people. There are so many people who need help, the agencies are overwhelmed and help is slow and chaotic for them, at best. Many people are having to abandon their pets to die. They don’t want to; they just aren’t allowed to take them with them to shelters or on buses. It’s breaking their hearts and making a horrific situation even harder for them to deal with. One little boy cried until he vomited when his dog, Snowball, was taken away from him because evacuees were not allowed to take pets on the buses leaving New Orleans..”

“They should let us run the rescue work,” Merci chimes in, standing on her hind legs to see what Percy is typing. “We could straighten that out in no time! After all, we straightened out Jan, didn’t we?”

“Well,” Percy says, fervently, “there are some groups already helping to rescue as many abandoned animals as they can find. Some of them are on rooftops, in trees, or other dangerous places, and they don’t have any food or water either.”

“Jan gets newsletters from some lady named Carolyn who runs a rescue shelter named ….. uh, I can’t remember the name of it.” Buddy looks at Merci and asks, “ Can you?”

“Yes,” Merci says, after thinking for a few seconds. “All Cats. All Creatures Are Truly Special, or something like that. I think they’re in Alabama now. They used to be in Georgia, didn’t they, Percy?”

Percy nods, distracted as he reads over what he has typed. “How does this sound, guys?”

Rescue operations are under way for surviving animals. Carolyn Keeton and a group of volunteers left for New Orleans on Wednesday, August 31st to help the endangered cats and dogs who have been left behind. The Coast Guard has given them permission to enter the city, and the Chief of Police has promised to help as much as possible. A helicopter will be available if needed. If anyone would like to make an online donation for the Hurricane Katrina All CATS Crew, just click on this link for All Cats, Inc.

Buddy and Merci both nod their approval. “It sounds good to me,” Buddy says.

“Do you think you should add that donations are desperately needed to help pay for things like paper products – food dishes, paper towels, toilet paper, etc, since only biodegradable items are allowed to be taken into New Orleans?” Merci asks.

“Good idea, Merci.” Percy’s toes fly over the keyboard. “Drat. Jan really needs to get on the ball and clip my nails. They snag the keys.”

“And,” Buddy chips in, helpfully, “ don’t forget to let people know they can also mail donations to All Cats.”

“Right,” Percy agrees. “If they have any questions, they can e-mail us and we can find the answers.”

“Right!” Buddy smiles. “Merci and I can find anything. We’re good hunters and trackers.”

“Wait, shouldn’t we add something about folks donating to agencies to help the people displaced and stranded by Katrina?”

Buddy shakes his head. “Not really, Merci. Jan already wrote about donating to the American Red Cross or other agencies to help the human victims. She posted that story on Mercy And Percy . But only cats and dogs live on the Funny Farm.”

“And Jan. Don’t forget Jan. She’s not a dog or a cat. She’s a klutz.”

“And it’s off,” Percy announces, hitting the send key.

“You’re a good cat, Percy, “Buddy praises him enthusiastically, as he taps him on the back, the force of his tap knocking Percy off the chair. “I’m glad you’re my friend. If I ever need help, I know I can come to you and you’ll e-mail everyone until you find help for me.”

“Or at least he’ll email everyone until they put a spam block on his e-mails,” Merci laughs.

Percy,
Secretary of The Funny Farm Writing Club