Eric 's Dog Blog presents The Great West Virginia Dog Expo of 2006

SEE WV UPDATE BELOW!!!!

My Favorite Stuff On This Blog:

1. My own favorite Post: Click here
2. Best rescue video footage: Click here
3. This blog has the BEST PICTURES so far of Katrina Animals. It is all pics and good ones Click here
4. This is the coolest dog ever Click for The Coolest Dog Ever.
5. Most amazing photography: I mean must see: Click here
6. To reunite pets with owners: Click here
7. Watch a Pitbull video Click Here
8. The Video in the Links to right called "Shelters Dog Video" is very good.

UPDATE 6/26/06: FIRST TRANSPORT GETS 24 DOGS TO RESCUES NORTH. 74 MORE STILL NEED WAITING FOR HELP.
(IF YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT THIS CASE PLEASE SCROLL DOWN TO READ MORE)

FROM THIS:


TO THIS:











2 Urgent Hoarding Situations in Rural West Virginia
+ Mason County Shelter at over 200 dogs and now outside
after shelter burnt down
6/16/06
Updates at
www.ericsdogblog.com
www.vvsahs.org
http://wellminded.com/rescue/rescue.html

Your chance to support “Wild, Wonderful West Virginia”
and 3 URGENT CASES TOTALING 350 DOGS AND 100 CATS.
Pics below and attached.

Please donate via Pay Pal at donate@vvsahs.org

Or by credit card using pay pal at www.vvsahs.org Click “Donate”

************************

By Check made to: VVSA: Write: “West Virginia” on your check.

VVSA, PO Box 100, Bridgewater, VT 05034. VVSA is an incorporated humane society with 501 ©(3) status for your tax purposes.

Please email Sue the amount that is being sent so she can plan transports.
Primary Contact: Sue Skaskiw, 802-672-5302, cell: 802-952-8181.
Skaskiw@vermontel.net (prefers email)
VT Volunteer Services for Animals Humane Society
www.vvsahs.org

THERE ARE 3 SERIOUS ALERTS IN WEST VIRGINIA RIGHT NOW AND FUNDS AND RESOURCES WILL FIRST BE USED ON ALERT #1 BELOW. ANY LEFTOVER FUNDS AND RESOURCES WILL GO TO HELP THESE OTHER ALERTS WHICH CAN BE FOUND BELOW, OVER 350 DOGS TOTAL IN THESE CASES. First alert is the one we were first informed of a 100 dog/40 cat hoarding case in Roane County that is the first one being handled. Then the Mason County Shelter that was destroyed by fire now has over 200 dogs at the local fairgrounds and just 3 part time volunteers. A third hoarding case in Hampshire County, WV has 40 dogs
plus cats. (all described below) That is 350 dogs that are in situations outside “normal” animal welfare issues and a state in crisis. We will start with this first case in Roane County and then see if anything can be done with the others as resources line up for the first hoarding case which is being worked on. Maybe if enough people “act” we can share resources etc and save many more of these dogs and cats. THIS IS NOT A STATE WITH LOTS OF RESCUES AND RESOURCES; HELP IS NEEDED IN THE FORM OF DONATIONS, TRANSPORTS AND RECEIVING SHELTERS AND RESCUES.

Alert # 1: Urgent Hoarding Situation in Rural West Virginia

Approximately 95 dogs and 40 cats
County with few resources for handling a case this size.
(Please be sure to see the all the way below pictures
to see how urgent this hoarding case is)

Roane County, WV
Put together by Eric Rice: ericrice3@comcast.net
Updates at www.ericsdogblog.com

http://wellminded.com/rescue/rescue.html

Primary Contact: Sue Skaskiw, 802-672-5302, cell: 802-952-8181.
Skaskiw@vermontel.net (prefers email)
VT Volunteer Services for Animals Humane Society
www.vvsahs.org

1/3 of the dogs are in this barn, tethered.


A rescuer in West Virginia has gotten in over her head and local authorities have
had to step in. She is cooperating and wants the dogs to good no kill facilities
who will be kind enough to update her on the dogs as they are adopted. This is a hard thing for her to do as she loves each of these dog and feeds the dogs before herself. However, she knows things have gotten to a point that she needs help.
She is scared to death that any of her dogs will have to be put down and
we have told her that we won’t let her down for her cooperation.
She spends every dime of her money on them and feeds them before herself.

Approximately 95 dogs and 40 cats. Most dogs have been tethered for some time and others are in a very, very dirty barn. The farm is not sanitary with rats and
snakes in the high grass. THEY NEED TO GET MOVED TO RESCUES NOW and the cost of transport is becoming a huge problem.

Sheriff and Local Animal Control are very cooperative and seeking YOUR help.
This is a rural location with high euthanasia rates as it is, so they need help moving these dogs. They need to know that support is on the way and that light
is at the end of the tunnel. The goal is not to euthanize any of these animals,
nor the ones currently being held in their town facility but we all know how things can spin out of control with this many animals to care for an deal with…

Sue Skaskiw and others from Vermont are familiar with the rescuer as she used to
live in Vermont. They are trying to coordinate efforts to help this situation. However, TRANSPORT is becoming a big issue and it is going to cost money. We are also trying to get spay and neuter done locally at a good cost. Everyone knows
what it costs to try to deal with 100 dogs and 40 cats and we need help.

Please note that one of the biggest problems is funding for relocation. At least $10,000+ needs raised to get these animals to receiving shelters in Colorado, Vermont, Maine and others. (Or transport donated) and get vetting done.

DONATIONS URGENT FOR TRANSPORTS AND VET CARE

Please donate via Pay Pal at donate@vvsahs.org
Or by credit card using pay pal at www.vvsahs.org Click “Donate”
************************

By Check made to: VVSA: Write: “West Virginia” on your check.
VVSA, PO Box 100, Bridgewater, VT 05034. VVSA is an incorporated humane society with 501 ©(3) status for your tax purposes.

Please email Sue the amount that is being sent so she can plan transports.

SHELTERS, FOSTERS, RESCUES, TRANSPORT WALKERS ARE STILL DESPERATLY NEEDED FOR ALL 3 SITUATIONS IN WV.

Can your group help walk dogs (transport walkers) on stops on the way to the North East or Colorado? Can you receive animals? Pick up and transport animals? Meet a larger transport vehicle and deliver a smaller number of animals from that transport to another NO KILL shelter or rescue? The animals will be coming up to the North East, Colorado, and New Jersey.

Sue Skaskiw, 802-672-5302, cell: 802-952-8181.
Skaskiw@vermontel.net (prefers email)
VT Volunteer Services for Animals Humane Society

See Pictures Below (this is but a few of the near 100 dogs plus cats)
“This is Helen’s Pole Barn. This is the building she was wanting to move into. I think she has a hand pump in this building and this is where she gets her water.
The sadness in these dogs eyes wanted to make you cry.” Sandy Bush – Roane County Animal Shelter Director













SEE THE SECOND AND 3RD ALERTS FOR WEST VIRGINIA IN THE COMMENTS. 2 MORE DESPERATE SITUATIONS. PLEASE CLICK COMMENTS.

THANKS FOR YOUR HELP, ERIC

A special rescuer

Shannon Hartwick Moore

MOORE Shannon Hartwick Moore, passionate advocate for animals and active volunteer for many humane organizations in the New Orleans area, died May 31. A lifelong resident of New Orleans and Metairie, Shannon was 36. She was a magna cum laude graduate of Loyola University and, at the time of her death, was a partner with Fitzmaurice & Moore Associates CPAs. Shannon's volunteer work for animals leaves an imprint that survives her. On behalf of the animals she loved, Shannon formed (SOS) Supporters of Save Our Pets. She was instrumental in rallying grassroots support and awareness for the Louisiana Pet Evacuation Bill so that pet owners would never again be forced to abandon their pets in the event of a disaster. She was a driving force behind the People & Pets March to the State Capitol steps this spring, part of a coordinated non-stop push for passage of the bill. Although her possessions had been damaged by Katrina, Shannon's response was to focus on saving the lives of hundreds of the thousands of hurricane stranded animals. ***Continued in the first comment***

LA state vet continues to show they are in the dark.

These are probably some of the dumbest comments in the history of animal welfare. I have made bold the ridiculous ones for your enjoyment.

Silly comments from the below article:
1. "State vet not in business of helping evacuate animals" -- Eric Comment, "Seems like they should be. I know I would be looking for a way to get involved if I were a state vet"
2. "Keep shelters secret" -- Eric comment - this is one of the most bizarre statements I have ever heard.
3. "Animals removed if owners don't take care of them" -- Eric Comments -- Lets see people's houses destroyed and families spread all over the place (maybe dead) after a disaster and you don't want to help them with animals. Confusion and stress for them and you are going to do what? turn the animals out into the streets? How about inviting people like me to man the shelters and take care of the animals. How about caring about your citizens. Of course it is a good idea to have those that can take care of their animals.
4. “will never again allow out-of-state vets to come in” - lets see they only helped save 10,000-20,000 animals but I doubt the state vet stopped by Lamar Dixon to notice what went on. Maybe I should send some video of the hundreds of animals being worked on at one time.
5. "Credentials Required" - I am fine with that but they seem to blame us for them not being at all prepared for this. Had Mrs. Poirrier been prepared I would not have been needed. They seem willing to sacrifice the lives of animals to prove a point. Lets us no forget that many thousands of animals that would have died behind closed doors were saved.
6. Final Comment - They are all focusing on the "rescuer." In the typical disaster they only need a few dozen or a few hundred in the field rescuers. However, what will save more animals is shelters and help for people to get to the shelters. In every disaster and every potential disaster/evacuation in process they need thousands of volunteers to man shelters, direct traffic, hand out flyers letting people know shelters are available. They need this days BEFORE the disaster. They need people to take care of the animals of thousands of people and an intake system that is fool proof and security guards who have been vetted BEFORE the storm. They are focusing on one small part of this. This is what none of them especially Poitter gets. I'd be begging people to come down to LA to take a 1-2 day course called "Evacuating and Sheltering LA animals in Disaster" 100's of volunteers could be on call by week. If the hurricane is headed that week you are asked to respond even if it doesn't hit.
7. Final Final Comment - They don't pass the Trump test. Love him or hate him the Donald would pull together a team that got this right. These people don't live up. They wouldn't make it in my world. None of them. Not one of them has stood up for common sense, its all about "saving face" not doing the right thing. 100% Period. They have been outed. I saw the incompetence and lack of will with my own eyes.
How do I apply?

The below article reprinted from the Best Friends website. Please visit www.bestfriends.org and donate to one of the best organizations in the country.

LOUISIANA STATE VET'S OFFICE ANNOUNCES PLANS THAT WILL HOBBLE ANIMAL RESCUE EFFORTS DURING A DISASTER
May 4, 2006 : 12:00 AM
© by Laura Allen, All rights reserved

The Louisiana State Veterinarian’s Office announced Saturday that it is not in the business of evacuating animals during an emergency. Dr. Renee Poirrier stated it is each individual’s responsibility to evacuate their pets in an emergency. The state vet’s office plans to have a few temporary shelters, but their location will be kept secret from the public until a disaster hits. It is not clear how people will find these shelters in an emergency. Also, the state vet’s office will require pet owners to take care of their pets in the temporary animal shelter. It is not clear how this will work if people are forced to evacuate or where the pet owners will stay during this time. Dr. Poirrier warned animals would be “removed” if a pet owner did not come and take care of the pet for two consecutive days. In other words, in Louisiana, as far as the state vet’s office is concerned, you are on your own in trying to save your animals during a disaster.

This announcement came during a meeting at the Hotel Crown Plaza in the New Orleans French Quarter of several rescue groups including Best Friends Animal Society, Southern Animal Foundation, St. Francis Animal Sanctuary, and Muttshack as well as officials from the American Red Cross and the City of New Orleans. The state vet’s office used the meeting as a forum that seemed to discourage help from private animal rescue groups and particularly, out-of-state veterinarians during a crisis. Dr. Poirrier stated unequivocally the state vet’s office which is actually headed by Martha Littlefield “will never again allow out-of-state vets to come in” and help save animals stranded and dying as a result of a disaster. She made clear all veterinarians working in Louisiana during a crisis must have proper credentials from this state. She did not even offer a relaxed licensing plan for vets to help during an emergency. Russ Mead, Best Friends Animals Society’s attorney and representative at the meeting, told Dr. Poirrier he could have offered $10,000 per week for a vet after Katrina but there simply were none to be found in the area to help with the Best Friends Animal Society’s rescue effort. She had no response to Mr. Mead’s comment.

Dr. Poirrier also announced private animal rescue groups will not be allowed in the state during an emergency unless they have proper “credentials”. The state vet’s office will also, according to Dr. Poirrier, require daily reports from any private shelter or rescue group operating in the state during a disaster.

When Mr. Mead asked her about the criteria for obtaining credentials, Dr. Poirrier said they have not worked that out yet. (The credentialing required is likely FEMA courses such as ISCS 100, ISCS 200, NIMS 700 and NIMS 800). She then turned on Best Friends Animal Society, questioning whether that organization had any experience in emergency response and sheltering. Her criticism provoked an outcry from the other rescue groups present. They actually applauded Best Friends and told Dr. Poirrier they could not have saved the animals they did without the help of Best Friends.....SEE CONTINUED....

CONTINUED IN THE COMMENTS SECTIONS OF THE BLOG
Final comment from Eric - "these people have lost it. they should get some people in from Florida who know how to do this stuff and stop trying to act like they have any experience"