Diane Robinson of American Humane’s Red Star Animal Emergency Services sets up kenneling facilities within the Mega-Shelter in Shreveport, Louisiana, just ahead of Hurricane Gustav’s landfall

            It’s ironic Deborah Schnackenberg, senior director animal emergency services at the American Humane Association, happened to be in New Orleans as Hurricane Gustav was approaching. She spoke Friday, August 29 on the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina at the unveiling of the Katrina Pet Memorial at City Hall.  Mayor Ray Nagin might have attended, but, as it turned out, he was busily making plans to evacuate the city. 

            In her remarks Schnackenberg commented on how lots of lessons were learned from Katrina. In a very dramatic way, the nation witnessed what animal rescuers have known for years, that people aren’t willing to flee in emergencies unless there’s somewhere safe to take their pets. Leaving their pets behind just isn’t an option. During Katrina, as a result, human and animal lives were tragically lost.

            In the intervening three years since Katrina, the government began to shore up the levee system surrounding New Orleans, while the Louisiana State Animal Response Team began to shore up holes in the previous evacuation procedures, and enlisted American Humane Association and others for advice.

            When Nagin ordered the mandatory evacuation for Gustav, this time around residents who weren’t able to drive to pet friendly relatives, friends, hotels or motels had another option.

            At various staging stations around New Orleans, people registered themselves and their pets. Then folks headed for Shreveport. For the first time ever in a major evacuation – as far as anyone can recall - cats, very small dogs, and assorted other small pets were allowed on buses. Larger dogs and more ‘exotic’ pets, such as snakes, were placed in crates (available free to those who didn’t arrive with one) on to air-conditioned refrigerator trucks. And it’s a good thing; the air conditioning wasn’t for mere comfort, with temperatures well into the ‘90’s, cooling was necessary for the approximately six-hour ride.

Schnackenberg, drove from New Orleans to Shreveport to meet up with American Humane’s Red Star Animal Emergency Services Team, and others representing animal welfare organizations including Noah’s Wish, the ASPCA, The International Fund for Animal Welfare, and later joined by the Humane Society of the United States.

The plan – which mostly worked – was to caravan so pets and people arrived at the same place at the same time

            “I can honestly say it’s heartwarming to see these people reunited with their animals,” says Joellen Cimino, director of Animal Health Services for Noah’s Wish. “I can tell you that I was told numerous times, ‘thank goodness you have provided a way out (the buses and trucks), and a shelter where I can have my pets on site, otherwise I wouldn’t have left New Orleans.”

            The phenomenon of people refusing to evacuate without four-legged, feathered and scaly family members even received attention from FEMA Director R. David Paulison, who briefed reporters during the crisis aboard Air Force One. He said, “Remember during Katrina, people wouldn't leave their homes because they didn't want to leave their pets, and shelters wouldn't take pets. So we opened pet shelters so people have a place for their pets to be housed safely."

            Approximately, 1,600 people hunkered down at the Hirsch Coliseum at the State Fairgrounds in Shreveport. Just across the way, within easy access, just over one thousand animals were housed in a large livestock barn, including cats, dogs, rabbits, hamsters, gerbils snakes and lizards.

             Schnackenberg says there’s no comparing this organized effort to the chaos that ensued (during Hurricane Katrina), and the myriad of homeless pets which were never reunited as a result of that chaos. “This is absolutely better,” she says. “The concept is great – though we have to fine tune some details, it’s been wonderful.”

            Clearly, the main intent is to motivate residents, who otherwise wouldn’t leave the city, to evacuate – for their safety and the safety of responders who would otherwise be required to rescue people and/or pets. Another somewhat unexpected benefit is simply having the animals around.

            “Walking dogs, talking to and petting the cats – definitely a stress reducer,” says Schnackenberg. She says there’s a palpable difference in the general atmosphere between shelters which don’t allow animals, and those that do allow easy access to pets. “Oh my gosh, the stress level is off the map at places which don’t allow the pets. And that’s understandable. But then when the pets are around something magical happens, improving the ability to cope.”

            Schnackenberg, Cimino and their colleagues from across the country were assisted by an unexpected group of ‘volunteers,’ inmates for Louisiana correctional facilities. Schjnackenberg says, “They cheerfully worked alongside us, doing some of the heavy unpacking, and unloading of pets. They were great. And so were many local residents, who also volunteered to help.”

            Schnackenberg and many of her colleagues will remain in the area for some time to do search and rescue work. Learn more, and follow blogs at www.noahswish.org and www.americanhumane.org.

American Humane’s Big Rig shows up

© Steve Dale, Tribune Media Services