We've had steady, sometimes heavy rain, for over 24 hours now. Those poor devils in eastern NC are not going to see any let-up any time soon. Travelk trailers and house trailers have been set up and more are on the way to house victims. However, some flood victims are living outside with only platic between them and the weather. Fall cold snaps aren't far away. . .

Monday September 27, 1999 07:37 PM

Call for Help Coming from Area Animal Shelters

TARBORO (WRAL) -- Dogs and cats that survived Hurricane Floyd are packing shelters from Greenville to Raleigh. County facilities and volunteers are being stretched to the limit and are calling out for help.

If they could speak, some survivors of Hurricane Floyd would have interesting tales to tell.

"We've actually had pets jump off of logs and roofs into the water and into the rescue boats," says Howard White of the American Humane Society.

The animals' lives are still in the hands of heroes. Members of VMAT, or Veterinary Medical Assistance Team, have come in from all parts of the country to check on the animals.

VMAT members check for parasites the pets may have from drinking contaminated water.

Space is at a premium at the Tarboro Animal Shelter where some dogs have to double up in cages.

A few days ago, an outdoor area next to the shelter was overgrown and unused; today it has been transformed into a temporary shelter.

The Humane Society of the United States sent relief teams to help county and state animal control officers.

As the number of rescued pets continues to climb, they are looking for more space to house the animals and more volunteers to care for them.

Volunteers are needed to help clean kennels, feed the animals and help with processing.

"We're really desperate to get people helping. You can come down and wash bowls, you can walk the dog. If you can help us anywhere, we'd be thrilled," says White.

Penny Kennon of Tarboro is doing more than just giving her time. Last week she rescued a cat and a dog from homelessness.

Some animals may never be reclaimed or adopted. That is the one thing these workers do not want to see happen.

"We have not had to euthanize any of the animals yet. God willing, we won't," says White.

The Tarboro Animal Shelter is located on the 2900 block of Main Street. If you are interested in volunteering, just show up. Workers say they have plenty of work for you to do.

NOTE FROM OG: I'm sure if you sent a check addressed to the Taraboro Animal Shelter, 2900 Main Street, Tarboro, NC, it would get there. Those living near the area--Food Bank of NC, Salvation Army, and other relief agencies are accepting pet food.

For those who think I shouldn't be wasting my time on just animals--humans are getting lots of help right now, animals aren't getting nearly enough. Hell, I'd even ask for help on behalf of the pollies if they were living outside under plastic too. Well, I hope I would, anyway.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), September 28, 1999

Answers

Thanks for the update, OG,...Every time I think or read something about the aftermath of Floyd in NC I get woozy with the enormity of the devastation, some/much of which is connected to lack of foresight, and failure of 'planning' on the part of TPTB. I can envision that the residents will face consequences of dire environmental impact for years and years. (contaminated water resources to name just one) I checked out news pieces on the whole "Boss Hog" debacle. Once again in a Taker Culture (to borrow from 'Ishmael') the train wreck was seen far in advance, and Mother Culture's hidden message to destroy the planet worked its worst. (Sigh of great sadness)

For anyone interested Daniel Quinn's book, Ishmael here is a link with information:

Ishmael

http://www.ishmael.com/origins/Ishmael/

-- Donna (moment@pacbell.net), September 28, 1999.

Old Git -- do you have a zip code for Tarboro? I'd like to send in a donation in memory of Ethel Cat who died a year ago today.

-- Libby Alexander (libbyalex@aol.com), September 28, 1999.

Tarboro zip code: 27886

-- a (a@a.a), September 28, 1999.

Old Git,

It is hard to visualize the magnitude of this disaster. I can only imagine how this latest rain will lower the spirits further of those affected. It has been raining here solid since yesterday morning and predicted mostly rain till Thursday.

Can you post some of the relief addresses? Our local schools are collecting funds, with Lowes Hardware matching the donations. You can also send directly to Red Cross or NC Gov. Jim Hunt with notation for flood relief on the check, but seems to me, if businesses will match funds, that is where you would want your dollars to go.

For physical donations, we have local contacts here, but I suspect collections will be made across the country. I must say, with all of this "hoarding", it is a very good feeling to actually have something substantial to give this time, and not really miss.

Multitudes of people needing everything. We think shelter, clothing, water and food now, but just every household item: furniture, cleaning and supplies, bedding and toys and other personal items.

-- Lilly (homesteader145@yahoo.com), September 28, 1999.

Old Git - do you have a link for the article? I'd like to pass it along, rather than a cut-and-paste of this thread. Thanks.

-- Brooks (brooksbie@hotmail.com), September 28, 1999.

Old Git,I live to far to take care of any of the animals.I have made out a check to help out.Thanks for the post.

-- maggie (aaa@aaa.com), September 28, 1999.

Git:

Saw an article today about how snakes were taking refuge from the flood waters by going in houses, etc. One fellow found six snakes underneath his kitchen sink. Yikes!!! (I hate snakes)

-- b (b@b.com), September 28, 1999.

Thanks for all your kind words and deeds. According to the local weather guru, this rain could keep up for another 24 hours, maybe more. There are flash flood warnings in effect for locales roughly on a vertical line from Durham east--that, of course, includes those areas devastated by Floyd. New flood crests for the affected rivers are also being broadcast. For instance, the Tar River will crest 6' above flood stage at Tarboro on Sunday. Please also bear in mind that whole local economies have been wiped out and many people are now unemployed as well as homeless.

Here's the WRAL Local News URL; on the right of the page are links to more Floyd news, including the Tarboro animal story above and the story about the Raleigh rescue effort and the vet association's help, and where the numerous relief addresses are. May I ask you to concentrate on the Salvation Army addresses unless you have a special reason for donating to the Red Cross. Although the Red Cross staffed shelters and is now doing other work as well, the SA were first on the spot with practical help, e.g., mobile kitchens, and they've been doing heroic work.

http://www.wral-tv.com/news/wral/

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), September 28, 1999.

http://www.wral-tv.com/news/w ral/

-- Lilly (homesteader145@yahoo.com), September 28, 1999.

Flooding from the current heavy rains is forcing evacuations from animal shelters in the Floyd area:

Tuesday September 28, 1999 11:44 PM

Emergency Pet Rescue Underway at NCSU Vet School

RALEIGH (WRAL) -- A major rescue operation is underway at the N.C. State University College of Veterinary Medicine.

Rising water in Edgecombe County has forced animal shelters to evacuate. More than 300 pets saved from Floyd's flood waters are on their way to Raleigh.

A trucking company has volunteered trucks to help transport the pets. Other volunteers are also making the dangerous drive to rescue the pets and bring them to Raleigh.

Many of the pets are wet and hungry. Others are sick and in need of medical attention.

Money is needed for food, vaccinations and other medical treatments.

If you can help, you are asked to send a check to the N.C. Vet Medical Foundation, c/o Animal Disaster Relief Fund, P.O. Box 8401, Raleigh, N.C. 27695-8401.

You can also call 1-888-835-9966 for more information.

The shelter is expanding as fast as it can as more pets arrive with crates and kennels.

I know many of you have already been generous, but couldja just squeeze another $10 from the housekeeping and send it to the vet school? These folks also help out a lot with free spaying, neutering, and shots for feral cat colonies.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), September 29, 1999.

Old Git:

Thanks for the address-the check is in the mail.

When my parents were flooded out in '82 (Missouri, Meremac Rivers), the Salvation Army was the first group on the scene with IMMEDIATE aid to help displaced residents. The Red Cross came a few days later with vouchers and some paperwork, but they did come through. FEMA came dead last with lots of red tape, bad attitudes and little else.

-- Sam Mcgee (weissacre@gwtc.net), September 29, 1999.

Tarboro Animal Shelter

2900 N MAIN ST

TARBORO NC 27886-1921

The more accurate you get with the address, and the clearer you write it, the faster it will get there. Automation will handle most of the mail, but if the machine can't read it, it has to be done by hand, which may slow it down. Please, no staples, they hurt our fingers!

By the by, go here to see what the Fed. Gov. is doing for their employees who are affected by Floyd's aftermath:

http://www.opm.gov/oca/compmemo/1999/floyd.htm

The Postal Service also routinely allows employees to donate hours to those in need, in blocks of 8. The unions make sure it gets to those who need it. This is something that gives the Postal Worker that 'sense of family' at work, and outshines all the nastiness that supervisors can muster!

It sure has been a long 'three days' for those unfortunate folk in NC.

Thanks Old Git for updating the info. I'm taking all these stories into work so they can post them for everyone to see.

-- J (jart5@bellsouth.net), September 29, 1999.

Old Git,

I can't make sense of the map on the WRAL site or determine where the pets are being evac'd from to Raleigh. My sis & I have been in these pages half the day - we've sent checks to the VMAT P.O.Box, but need a street address to send cat food to. We have the street address for Tarboro shelter, but are the pets gone from there? I can't find a street address for VMAT there or Salvation Army in either place.

Can you give us a street address where packages can go for the pets? And which town/city has more of them or the most need for help, if you know? Thanks old dear.

-- Scat (sgcatique@webtv.net), September 30, 1999.

Here are a few I found using yahoo to search. I am not endorsing these facilities in any way, your mileage may vary, buyer beware, and all that stuff. I surehope the formatting holds! I ave such rotten luck with it here!

Salvation Army 215 S Person St Raleigh, NC 27601-1423 919) 834-6733

Salvation Army 336 Tryon Rd Raleigh, NC 27603-3530 919) 779-8867

Salvation Army 902 Wake Forest Rd Raleigh, NC 27604-1221 919) 832-6918

__________________________ Second Chance Pet Adoption 3113 River Oak Turn [Suite #? missing] Raleigh, NC 27613-3241 919) 571-3654

PET ZONE 319 CHEVES RD ZEBULON, NC 27597-6159 (919) 496-2898

WAKE COUNTY SPCA INC 327 US HIGHWAY 70 EAST GARNER, NC 27529-4053 (919) 772-3203

SECOND CHANCE PET ADOPTION 3113 RIVER OAK TURN [missing item in address] RALEIGH, NC 27613-3241 (919) 571-3654

JOHNSTON COUNTY SPCA INC 720 DURHAM ST CLAYTON, NC 27520-2961 (919) 553-3749

-- J (jart5@bellsouth.net), September 30, 1999.

it didn't! Surprise! Hope you can make it out. I gotta go to bed!

-- J (jart5@bellsouth.net), September 30, 1999.

Scat, have e-mailed you privately, recommending you send the pet food to the Salvation Army for distribution to those in need. I think the will get it to those who need it most via the fastest method possible. The vet school is taking care of hundreds of pets from the stricken area, including those evacced from the Tarboro shelter, closed again due to new flooding (believe the Tar crests on Saturday). The Raleigh shelter is also helping to care for evacced pets. As far as I know, Second Chance and Pet Zone are not assisting with Floyd animal rescue and care.

Thanks again to all of you for caring so much. I'll post updates on the situation when news items are broadcast. WRAL (one of my two part-time employers, happy to say) has done a fantastic job of getting the word out.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), September 30, 1999.

The latest pet and general Floyd info, plus a link to a great new site--a pet locator for animals and people separated by Floyd!

http://www.wral-tv.com/news/wral/weblinks.html

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), September 30, 1999.