tzikeh

"Just got email from friend at LSU. [... the National Guard] have started forcing evacuations with no pets allowed. Yet another person who was staying [in order to] keep his dogs alive was forceably removed from his home in New Orleans. Can't supply address, but they're trying to contact SPCA on this."(more here).

"On the flooded streets of New Orleans you can hear the dogs barking for miles. They are trapped -- in houses, on roofs, tied to porches. They are frightened and hungry. For the pets left behind after Hurricane Katrina, relief is on the way, but it's a race against time."(more here)

Call FEMA at (202-646-2763) right now. They are taking names and numbers, petition-style, up to the meeting which is going to determine whether or not animal rescue will continue.

Many, many, MANY links and phone numbers where you can make a difference for the animals left frightened and alone are at the bottom of this blogpost.

These people have nothing left. How much worse will they be if they don't even have their pets?

Three insta-links to get you started:

The Humane Society
ASPCA
Best Friends

And, to offer a little pet cheer, here are some pet rescue stories with happy endings:

Puppy love

Military kitten

And some looting we all can get behind.

The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way in which its animals are treated. -- Mahatma Gandhi