Culture clash and Katrina dogs
By Gina Spadafori
August 27, 2007
Thoughtful read in the L.A. Times this morning, about another custody fight over a Katrina dog. Two years ago a rescue volunteer found the sweet-natured pit-bull abandoned in front of the house of the people who say they own her. The rescuer eventually adopted the dog, nursing her to health, spaying her and curing her of a potentially deadly heartworm infestation. The dog now lives in Santa Monica.
Back in New Orleans, the owner says she doesn’t believe in spaying — “I don’t want anyone to spay me,” she says by way of explanation — and apparently didn’t have money for heartworm preventive, if she even were aware of the danger. Ear-cropping, though, she considered important enough to have done, but not by a veterinarian.
The rescuer doesn’t want to give the dog back to a home she considers unfit and has offered to buy the dog for twice what the owner paid. The owner has a lawyer pursuing her claim. Even though her ideas of caring for pets are not ideal, it’s clear she loves her dogs.
For [owner Kara] Keyes and the animal rescue volunteers who helped her, Salk’s claim is outrageous, not to mention patronizing.
“You can’t judge me on my living,” said Keyes in a phone interview from New Orleans. “Crown is mine. She’s my baby.”
[...]
Most of the animal rescuers who went to New Orleans embraced a kind of urban animal welfare ethic: Pets should be micro-chipped and collared and never allowed to wander the streets off leash. Spaying and neutering are a must. Any hint of an ailment must be dealt with immediately.
Rescuers were dismayed to see so many animals in New Orleans that hadn’t been neutered and were suffering from heartworms. Some of the pit bulls they encountered bore facial cuts, a sign they may have been used for dogfights, which are illegal in every state.
Charlotte Bass Lilly [of Animal Rescue New Orleans] said that in Louisiana — and not just working-class areas — attitudes toward animal rearing are based on a more rural tradition.
“I hate to say it, but there’s a little bit of a plantation mentality that exists here,” Bass Lilly said. “It’s very rooted in traditions and habits.” Dogs visit the neighbors off leash: “You come out, you whistle for your dog, the dog comes back,” Bass Lilly said.
Pet owners don’t necessarily embrace neutering. “I can’t tell you how many good-income families have told me they want the children to have the experience of seeing one litter,” she said.
Ear cropping is simply a fashion in some of the poorer wards, where an aggressive-looking dog is prized, said Susan Eddlestone, an assistant professor at Louisiana State University’s School of Veterinary Medicine.
But much of the reluctance to neuter or test for heartworms, she believes, is a function of old-fashioned views and tight budgets.
[...]
Eddlestone helped run Louisiana State’s emergency animal shelter in Baton Rouge, which took in 2,000 animals from people fleeing the storms.
“The human-animal bond could not have been more exemplified by Katrina,” said Eddlestone. “People died because they couldn’t take their dog off the roof with them.” But the cultural differences did ratchet up tensions between the rescuers — mostly white and middle-class — and many of the evacuees — mostly black and working-class — who were forced to leave without their pets.
So … should the dog stay with the person who cares not only about her but also for her? Or with the family who loves her, but let her bring more unwanted pit bulls into the world, doesn’t believe in the health or community benefits of spaying and likely won’t protect her against heartworm disease?
I can see the arguments on all sides, really I can. And my sympathies switched back and forth a dozen times in the reading.
Here’s the rest. What do you think?
Speaking of pit bulls: Over on Lassie Get Help, Luisa airs some interesting speculation regarding the respective involvement of the HSUS and the ASPCA in the matter of the Michael Vick dogs.
Sick Vick in pleading guilty this morning said, “Dog-fighting is a terrible thing. I reject it,” and blamed immaturity. He apologized to everyone but the animals he tortured and killed, claims to have found religion and promises to redeem himself. Oh puh-lease.
I got an email last week from the HSUS asking to email the federal prosecutor and thank him for his efforts. In my opinion that was premature - that was before plea agreement details were released. I would love to know the status of the Virginia charges because in my humble opinion Vick may be getting off lightly.
Comment by Carol — August 27, 2007 @ 9:32 am
As a pit bull owner, I have to confess I found that part about the LAB attacking the pit bull kind of, well, ironic.
Of course Salk should return the dog to the owner. I believe all the previous cases that have gone to court have ruled in favor of the original owner. Just because Salk doesn’t approve of the way Keyes cares for her dog doesn’t give her special rights.
Comment by EmilyS — August 27, 2007 @ 9:51 am
Well, break out the banjo, Jethro, those educated yankees be doing another number on the folks in New Orleans.
Another civil war with snide comments is just what the situation calls for.
I am amazed, just amazed, that there are no ignorant “just one litter” folks north of the Mason Dixon! So, how DID these wily yankees manage to get so smart, seeing as how there are not any pet overpopulation problems, or abused pets or pets not getting health care up north!?
I swear, and fluently too, but I digress, that I told someone a while ago that I would not be surprised to hear the U.S. government thinks minstrel shows and bringing back that oh so fun blackface thing is the best way to rebuild New Orleans.
Can I call em or what?
Comment by E. Hamilton — August 27, 2007 @ 10:17 am
Gosh, E, I’ve lived in the Deep South — the Florida Panhandle. (You know Florida: The further North you go, the further South it gets.)
It was very strange being a California girl on the “Redneck Riviera.” The natives there think Californians are nuts. Californians think that a Southern accent means an automatic 50-point average drop in IQ points.
But when I was living there, I found that an amazing thing happened when I started talking to people. Both sides of the conversation found out that “people are people.” I wasn’t crazy, and they weren’t stupid.
Perhaps because of my “bi-cultural experiences,” I read the “culture clash” story as more of a socio-economic issue than a regional or racial issue.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — August 27, 2007 @ 10:27 am
Gina, it was the general flavor of the original story I was making fun of, it gets me going when people hear my accent and start speaking slower and louder.
And there has been a media..bia..er..trend about New Orleans that I have noticed. I think, in the long run, the media is gonna be sorry.
Maybe we can call in FEMA to do something to..er..for the next northern city with a large undervalued population when they have a crisis, return the favor. Nah, I would not wish that , even on a yankee.
Comment by E. Hamilton — August 27, 2007 @ 10:41 am
Of course, wily southerner that _I_ am, I can both speak AND write yankee if it suits me and I do enjoy the ensuing confusion!
California folks aren’t any crazier than anyone else and I hold to that no matter what anyone else says.
Comment by E. Hamilton — August 27, 2007 @ 11:12 am
But … but … we Californians ENJOY our lunacy! Don’t take that away from us!
Comment by Gina Spadafori — August 27, 2007 @ 12:01 pm
just received an email from the ASPCA
they have their latest press release up here:
http://www.aspca.org/site/Page.....uelty_home
Comment by straybaby — August 27, 2007 @ 12:04 pm
Until you have been to a D.A.R meeting AND a meeting of the U.D.C. in the same week you just have NO concept of crazy!
But you can learn.
Comment by E. Hamilton — August 27, 2007 @ 12:06 pm
Now there is a VERY big deal about going to the meetings of the U.D.C. and the D.A.R. and it involves the china you take to each meeting and only a southern woman will EVER understand it and every single southern woman knows exactly what I am talking about and no one who grew up elsewhere will ever understand, that must remain a mystery forever to outsiders.
The rest?, happy to share.
Comment by E. Hamilton — August 27, 2007 @ 12:17 pm
Gina, it was the general flavor of the original story I was making fun of, it gets me going when people hear my accent and start speaking slower and louder.
That may have been what you intended, but what you actually did was spew your bile at people here who had said and done nothing to provoke it.
And there has been a media..bia..er..trend about New Orleans that I have noticed. I think, in the long run, the media is gonna be sorry.
Gee, I read an article about the fact that there really are cultural differences between working class black people in the south and middle class white people in the north and on the east and west coasts. And which pointed out that some of those differences are simply economic. Although both women were portrayed as genuinely caring about the dog, Salk actually came off looking slightly the worse, unable to step outside herself or see beyond the end of her own nose.
What article did you read?
Maybe we can call in FEMA to do something to..er..for the next northern city with a large undervalued population when they have a crisis, return the favor. Nah, I would not wish that , even on a yankee.
Now, see, it’s this “even on a yankee” crap that does not inspire feelings of warmth and solidarity—especially among people who were outraged that FEMA treated American citizens like that—without any weaseling about “even southerners.”
Plenty of people from the north gave freely in the aftermath of Katrina, or traveled down there to help with their own hands, usually frustrated and often thwarted by FEMA, and you’re daydreaming about revenge, not on FEMA, not on FEMA’s political bosses (who mostly call Texas and other parts of the south home), but on an entire region of the country that you have decided is Nasty. I guess you’d be one of the people who were relieved when you realized it was safe to hate NY again, huh, E.?
Comment by Lis — August 27, 2007 @ 12:37 pm
Comment by Lis — August 27, 2007 @ 12:37 pm
My unsouthern fondness for those in baja -canada knows no bounds and occasions no end of comment, even in people who see New York where New York was never mentioned, thanks for the laugh!
I know where to put coal and get a diamond back from you!
I really needed the laugh.
Comment by E. Hamilton — August 27, 2007 @ 12:45 pm
Officials in Louisiana set the date of October 16, 2005, 6 weeks after the storm, for when unclaimed animals would become legally available for adoption by the various shelters. Not something I agreed with at the time but that is in fact what Louisiana officials agreed to. This allowed the entire pet rescue to move forward so shelters could continue to take pets. The article just avoided the whole legal issue, including the current state position of the 3 year property law.
This is a tough call, and not one I would want to have to make.
Comment by Barb — August 27, 2007 @ 12:48 pm
And, by her own admission Keyes didn’t search for her dogs in the months after Katrina. I wonder if she’s been relentless about finding Crown these past two years like many, many other owners have, or was it not until the reuniting rescuers put two and two together, that now she wants her dog back. I feel for both parties involved.
Comment by Barb — August 27, 2007 @ 1:00 pm
I think I’ll get it from both sides but here’s where this midwesterner comes out on this. I do think folks should spay and neuter their pets, but I don’t think this should decide custody.
However (OK,I’m hiding my head in case Elizabeth starts throwing things at me), not having a dog treated for heartworm is neglect in my opinion. I don’t believe the article states whether the heartworm was something the original owners knew about and did not treat or something that the dog got during its stray period.
That being said, I do think that both sets of owners genuinely care for the dog. But if (and its still an ‘if’ in my mind) one party is unable to afford or is unwilling to take the time to get medical care - then that should be considered.
Let the missle launch begin!
Comment by Andrea 2CatMom — August 27, 2007 @ 1:01 pm
E: you really need to calm down and think before you post. A lot of people have lost pets, not just yourself, and we’re all angry and upset at any number of things still going on. You get mad on one forum about name calling, then you proceed to name call yourself! Relax. We’re all in this together.
Comment by Becky — August 27, 2007 @ 1:06 pm
Sorry, but I have to weigh in on the side of what’s really best for the dog involved ~ health care makes the difference for me. She got it in California, didn’t in New Orleans. And the fact that the “north” has a pet overpopulation and some “just one litter” folks doesn’t make a hill of beans of difference in THIS case. I know that’s not going to be a popular stance, but it’s what I believe.
Comment by catmom5 — August 27, 2007 @ 1:07 pm
80% of the animals rescued after Katrina were heartworm positive! I was eaten alive by misquitos the entire 6 weeks I was there. Residents of NOLA had to have known the probability was high that their pets would undoubtedly become infected if preventative measures were not taken. Irresponsibilty and lack of funds for proper Vet care play a big part.
Comment by Barb — August 27, 2007 @ 1:07 pm
From the PETA blog:
Now we can say what we couldn’t mention before. PETA has been talking to Michael Vick’s personal representatives, legal team, and more insiders for weeks. We asked for two things over all others: We wanted Michael Vick to tell impressionable young people not to follow in his footsteps, and we wanted him to openly condemn dog fighting. Today, in his statement, he answered both those requests, calling dogfighting “terrible” and telling kids to pay attention and not go down the same road he did. Mr. Vick also said he has found Jesus. Christian or not, we can agree that if Mr. Vick now asks himself “WWJD?” he will not be led back to dogfighting.
Comment by KathyF — August 27, 2007 @ 1:19 pm
“We wanted Michael Vick to tell impressionable young people not to follow in his footsteps, and we wanted him to openly condemn dog fighting.”
wtf?! he barely condemned dog fighting and i think he said in his message to kids was to make better decisions. and of course he found Jesus. that was to be expected ;) i think the only thing MV really *gets* is that he got caught and will lose much of what he had, not that what he did was horrific. still seems to be on the “i made a mistake” page . . . hasn’t grasped the depth of his actions beyond how it will effect HIM.
Comment by straybaby — August 27, 2007 @ 1:28 pm
On Saturday I talked to a teacher who teaches underprivileged children. These kids are all into the pit bulls, rottweilers, etc. just like their idol Vick. She told me that these kids emulate their “idols” very closely. It’s going to take a lot more than Vick’s “timely” conversion and sudden change of heart to have an impact on these impressionable kids. It’s easy to be repentant after you’re caught - it’s a lot tougher to do it on your own. I’m sure he’s stunned that he has to pay any penalty at all. Sorry but I don’t buy his new attitude. The spin doctors are at work. He’ll be well rehearsed on what to say and do.
Comment by Carol — August 27, 2007 @ 1:30 pm
What is posted here will have no effect on what is done or decided. This is a truth that transcends north or south or rich or poor. Or any other this side or that side thing and I WILL make fun of all such imaginary divisions.
Always have. Deal.
It is not my cup to drink from and for that I am grateful, as I must be grateful for the cups that are mine.
That I can smile and be playful and wet my panties with the laughing in these dire times, may I ALWAYS be grateful.
Blasphemy though it be to say so, I do not think the meek inherit the earth, I think those that laugh have always held the pink slip.
And none of what I just typed had anything really to do with religion, it has to do with being human. And grateful.
Exits laughing, and crossing legs firmly.
Comment by E. Hamilton — August 27, 2007 @ 1:44 pm
My unsouthern fondness for those in baja -canada knows no bounds and occasions no end of comment, even in people who see New York where New York was never mentioned, thanks for the laugh!
I know where to put coal and get a diamond back from you!
I really needed the laugh.
Comment by E. Hamilton — August 27, 2007 @ 12:45 pm
Sweetheart, I knew you weren’t talking specifically about New York; I’m deducing your attitude towards the city from your sweeping unprovoked nastiness towards everyone who isn’t Southern.
Officials in Louisiana set the date of October 16, 2005, 6 weeks after the storm, for when unclaimed animals would become legally available for adoption by the various shelters. Not something I agreed with at the time but that is in fact what Louisiana officials agreed to. This allowed the entire pet rescue to move forward so shelters could continue to take pets. The article just avoided the whole legal issue, including the current state position of the 3 year property law.
This is a tough call, and not one I would want to have to make.
Comment by Barb — August 27, 2007 @ 12:48 pm
Barb, that was a wholly unrealistic date for the people whose homes and city were destroyed, and who at that point were still not getting any effective assistance in getting their lives back together. There’s no reason whatsoever for civilized human beings to regard that date as morally binding on the people forced to leave their pets behind—sometimes at gunpoint.
As for 80% of the animals rescued after Katrina being heartworm-positive—well, if you want to declare the people of an entire region of the country unfit to have back the pets they love, hmm, maybe you want to think that through. Maybe you want to think about the fact that such high numbers suggests that they didn’t understand the risk, and that providing information might be a more constructive course overall than simply denying people their pets.
In my lifetime there’s been a revolution in how pets are cared for; I routinely protect my pets today against dangers and health hazards that neither I nor my parents appreciated when I was a kid. At least two of those pets died, I am certain in retrospect, of things that not only could be prevented now, but could have been prevented, or at least dealt with more successfully, then, if we’d known the right questions to ask.
There’s lots of evidence that this is a revolution that has proceeded at different speeds in different regions, though. And absent abuse or neglect, and given lots of evidence of loving care, it seems wrong to condemn people on the basis of living in a region where prevailing ideas about pet care are not the same as mine.
Is Keyes unfit to be a pet owner? Were I and my parents unfit? Is Salk a bit thick, asking Keyes to be “sensitive” to her feelings because she loves her Sweetie, while apparently feeling no corresponding need to be “sensitive” to the fact that Keyes feels the same about her Crown—the same dog? What about Salk denying that it’s the same dog—despite the identical rather unusual mark on her head, the fact that she was rescued from the front of Keyes’ house, etc.?
Most of the cases where the owners have tracked down the rescued pet, the pet has been returned, or the owners and the adopters have reached an agreement in some form. In the cases where it goes to court, though, the adopters have tended to win—and pets are moved from working class black homes to middle class white homes, pretty consistently. I do not think that that’s a right outcome, at all.
Comment by Lis — August 27, 2007 @ 1:46 pm
Since I never, at any time, posted what _I_ think might be the best choice in this case, somebody is a world class conclusion jumper and potential diamond mine.
My choice, was it mine to make, might surprise you.
The choice is not mine, nor yours. Those who have the choice did not, to my knowledge, ask for either opinion.
I have got to go pee and my ribs hurt! You guys are some of the funniest I have ever read, bar none.
Comment by E. Hamilton — August 27, 2007 @ 1:58 pm
Comment by E. Hamilton — August 27, 2007 @ 1:58 pm
Um, I don’t recall saying anything suggesting that you had expressed an opinion on what was the best choice in this case. I did respond to Barb’s commments on that; did you miss the part where I quoted her, and addressed her by name? It’s not all about you, honestly.
As for those who do have the choice to make not having asked for your opinion, or mine, or Barb’s—completely true. Shockingly enough, that doesn’t mean that Barb or I, or even you, if you wnated to, can’t have an opinion, and express it. In public, even.
Comment by Lis — August 27, 2007 @ 2:42 pm
They may not have asked for an opinion, but the OP did indeed inquire as to what readers’ opinions were.
Anyhow.. I digress. IMO, the dog ought to be reunited with her original owner.
As far as the heartworm, I would imagine that there isn’t really any way of knowing whether or not Crown became infected while she was under her original owner’s care. I’m sure the mosquitos were horrendous in Katrina’s aftermath, and pets orphaned by the storm certainly weren’t receiving heartworm preventative while their owners were off seeking shelter in other parts of the country.
I may disagree (and strongly, at that) with some of the original owner’s philosophies regarding what constitutes responsible pet care.. but, IMO, that doesn’t give me (or anyone else) the right to take away an animal that isn’t being abused.
Comment by Gwen — August 27, 2007 @ 2:56 pm
Comment by Lis — August 27, 2007 @ 2:42 pm
Is the fact that this blog is public some sort of shock to you? As I, and many, MANY others have been posting about that fact for , oh, going on 6 months, perhaps reading a few more of the archive posts might soothe your high strung nerves.
Have a cup of decaf, listen to Yanni, yoga seems to help some. Have you had your thyroid checked?
Comment by E. Hamilton — August 27, 2007 @ 3:08 pm
Comment by KathyF — August 27, 2007 @ 1:19 pm
“From the PETA blog:
Now we can say what we couldn’t mention before. PETA has been talking to Michael Vick’s personal representatives, legal team, and more insiders for weeks. We asked for two things over all others: We wanted Michael Vick to tell impressionable young people not to follow in his footsteps, and we wanted him to openly condemn dog fighting. Today, in his statement, he answered both those requests, calling dogfighting “terrible” and telling kids to pay attention and not go down the same road he did.”
Oh great. Now publicity-mongering PeTA claims credit for something they almost certainly had nothing to do with. But hey - if they can bask iin the reflected “glow” of Vick’s self-serving “repentance”, why not? It’s not like the word “Ethical” is part of their name or anything . . . . . . .
Comment by The OTHER Pat — August 27, 2007 @ 3:18 pm
E: You should follow your own advice and chill out already. I’ve read a lot of the archived posts and man, you are one angry person. Your anger is directed all over the place, too. It’s one thing to be angry over the pet food recall, the ensuing tragedy, the worthlessness of the FDA, the greed of Wal-Mart, etc etc, but you constantly go after other posters. Can we just move forward already?
Comment by Becky — August 27, 2007 @ 3:23 pm
Come on, help Lisa out, there are posts all over the internet about tea or herb treatments that help pussy cats with the nerve problems.
Why, Culpepper herbal, a fine old book, lists pages and pages about how to treat things like what afflicts poor Lisa, and Culpepper says it only lasts for a few years, 10 at the most, even in the worst cases, see there IS good news!
Comment by E. Hamilton — August 27, 2007 @ 3:23 pm
Hello … Gina here …
Discuss the issues, please and quit attacking each other. You remember the “play nice” rules, don’t you?
Comment by Gina Spadafori — August 27, 2007 @ 3:30 pm
Why all the personal attacks? Please can we go back to talking about our anger at the *issues*?
Comment by The OTHER Pat — August 27, 2007 @ 3:32 pm
Becky,
Comments on the original story were INVITED, a distinction that might be missed by some with reading comprehension problems.
And the hilarious comments are well worth the reading, I promised not to post the things being done with photoshop and the words tight, diamond and ..you get the drift. They are still funny !
Comment by E. Hamilton — August 27, 2007 @ 3:36 pm
E, No, I don’t get the drift. I don’t see anything funny about it either. On sale, at Amazon, for your consideration:
“The Anger Trap: Free Yourself from the Frustrations that Sabotage Your Life”
Comment by Becky — August 27, 2007 @ 3:39 pm
Comment by The OTHER Pat — August 27, 2007 @ 3:32 pm
According to some, anger is no longer permitted.
Though I invite MY comments to be submitted to Miss Manners, you will find nothing that is not absolutely correct.
I AM a well taught southern woman.
Comment by E. Hamilton — August 27, 2007 @ 3:39 pm
Well, I for one, felt a wave of nausea at that piece of PETA drivel. Let’s beat up on them for a while.
Comment by Diane — August 27, 2007 @ 3:41 pm
Comment by Becky — August 27, 2007 @ 3:39 pm
Ten Stupid Things Women Do to Mess Up Their Lives
by Laura C. Schlessinger
Comment by E. Hamilton — August 27, 2007 @ 3:42 pm
Comment by Diane — August 27, 2007 @ 3:41 pm
Let’s!
Comment by E. Hamilton — August 27, 2007 @ 3:43 pm
Gina, not ONE comment made by me in this thread can be considered an attack or anything but polite.
NOT one.
However, SEVERAL attacks have been made on me, of a personal and unacceptable nature to POLITE society.
Though they were funny, and pretty feeble.
Comment by E. Hamilton — August 27, 2007 @ 3:47 pm
E: You tell someone to have their thyroid checked (which is a serious disease) and you consider that polite? You may be a well taught southern woman but certainly not a proper one.
Comment by Becky — August 27, 2007 @ 4:09 pm
Becky, I asked, politely, instead of implying that certain disorders of a permanent nature might be involved, that would be very wrong. A temporary thyroid problem, often used as a “polite” term in cases where certain words should be avoided, as I most carefully DID avoid them.
Judith Martin, AKA Miss Manners or if you have the time for more in depth reading, perhaps not needed in your situation, Emily Post, they BOTH dedicate several chapter that might be of particular interest, and dealt with in a sensitive manner. I certainly would not advise anyone who probably has no need for formal etiquette to take the time but on the off chance, now you know where to look.
On to the PETA thing and PETA and the Vick defense team all holed up in a Secret Squirrel clubhouse, for weeks, uh… I will not spit Pepsi on the keyboard…uh.. I will not spit Pepsi on my monitor, oh hell yes, I will!
Bwaahaaahaa.
IS there enough bleach on the planet to take care of the clubhouse?, can I ever look at PETA with the same respe..hahahaha, ok, I lost it there, forget it, I have no opinion that can be posted on this matter and no more spare keyboards!
Carry on, because this just cracks me up and now they are sending me MORE email with photoshop things that are… can Secret Squirrel DO that??
Comment by E. Hamilton — August 27, 2007 @ 5:00 pm
I came to the comments to see what people thought of these custody battles. Gina, make them stop.
I’ve read stories where I thought the pet should definitely go back to the original owner and stories where I thought the pet should stay with the new owner. This one is harder. What I’m wondering as we pass the 2 year mark, will time play more of a factor in leaving the pet with the current owner?
Comment by kb — August 27, 2007 @ 5:23 pm
I’m working on it. :)
Next person to address a person instead of the issues is on moderate.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — August 27, 2007 @ 5:31 pm
I’m so sorry about Katrina and always will be. For the animals and the people.
As far as PETA, They know where they can go!!!!! They also want all the dogs to be put down. i’m not surprised, they like killing live animals.
I am from the north [as far up as you can go]. Wow. i am a Yankee. I live in the south now, my children are southerners. And people are the same everywhere. People should be respected no matter where they live!
Comment by Trudy Jackson — August 27, 2007 @ 5:33 pm
I too adopted a Katrina dog, she came equipted with 8 pups, malnutrician,& almost end stage heartworm. She did not become that positive in the aftermath of Katrina, she was sick way before the hurricane. She did not become that emaciated due to Katrina, it started long before. According to my vet she had perhaps a month or so to live without treatment, which cost a small fortune. Would I give her back if someone claimed her? Far as I’m concerned she died sometime in Dec. due to neglect.
Comment by lynn — August 27, 2007 @ 5:39 pm
Salk should return the dog. She did a good thing, fostering the dog, but the original owner deserves what is legally her property, like it or not. She should be grateful the dog has a loving owner, and now that Sweetie is spayed, she won’t have any unplanned litters.
Comment by Margaret — August 27, 2007 @ 6:03 pm
The LA Times story omitted several key items. Sweetie’s ears were not “cropped” they were cut with scissors to her skull (this is substantiated in the vet records), she is mutilated. The vets @ Lamar Dixon accessed that Sweetie had been bred every time she was season for her entire life. Sweetie had “stage 3” heartworm (LIFE THREATENING, ADVANCED HEARTWORM). All the above is substantiated in vet records from Lamar Dixon and by several vets who attended to her after her evacuation.
Comment by Jason promhaus — August 27, 2007 @ 6:12 pm
I was in LA @ Lamar Dixon - I worked in the ICU with the sickest and dying of the rescued animals. I treated Sweetie when she was in the ICU (Intensive Care Unit) - she was considered an abuse case, by the staff. I have reunited many animals with their original owners in LA, almost all of whom were poor and had less than ideal knowledge of animal care, but none of them were breeders who had mutilated their animals and used them as a source of profit. As rescuers we made a vow to the animals we pulled from roofs and out of trees - that they would be safe - should that vow mean nothing? If anyone found a child and after a time it’s parents came forward, expressed their love for the child and their wish to have the child returned, but evidence showed they had abused the child the state government would not allow that child returned. The state of LA considers animals no more than TV sets - property pure and simple with no consideration of welfare. Anyone who loves animals should find this policy reprehensible. Animals are worthy of our protection.
Comment by Jason promhaus — August 27, 2007 @ 6:13 pm
Here’s some questions I think we need to know the answers to:
What type of care did the original owner provide? Food, water, shelter available, yes or no.
Did the owner know she had heartworm, and if so, did she seek treatement?
What type of efforts were made by the owner to find her dog? If no efforts were made, why not? If efforts were made, was the new owner intentionally avoiding being contacted?
Is the original owner willing/able to compensate the new owner for expenses incurred treating the heartworm?
I don’t think the original owner had to be a ‘perfect’ pet parent, but some standard of reasonable care should be verified before returning the dog. If she took her dog for care when she knew the animal was sick, that seems reasonable to me. Not perfect, but reasonable.
If she neglected the animals care by not providing any vet care ever for the animal,even when it was sick, then that doesn’t seem reasonable.
Is the original owner willing to continue with heartworm treatment now that she knows its an issue?
Most cases I have read about have sided with the original owner. Liz (or anyone else)- do you have sources for your statement that most have stayed with the new owners? You may very well be correct, but it may be that we are both generalizing based on reading selected stories. I think this would be interesting to know.
Comment by 2CatMom — August 27, 2007 @ 6:38 pm
Re: Comment by Lis — August 27, 2007 @ 1:46 pm
“Barb, that was a wholly unrealistic date for the people whose homes and city were destroyed, and who at that point were still not getting any effective assistance in getting their lives back together.”
I agree that that date was unrealistic and said so above. I was just stating the facts, which the article did not mention.
I’m on the fence on this one, but whatever is in the best interest of the dog, THAT ought be be taken into account.
57 days after the storm I rescued a very pregnant (for the third time I later learned), heartworm positive corgi mix named Eve. Eve was sent up to Best Friends Sanctuary in Tylertown and from there she went to someone in Michigan, I think. A few weeks after we rescued her Eve’s owner contacted me after finding my note on the door two houses down from where she once lived. Owner had to wait until pups were born to get Eve back, which she did in Dec. ‘05. I kept in touch w/ the owner, calling every now and then to see how Eve was doing, each time asking her to please spay her dog, which she promised she would do. When I called again in early May ‘06, owner told me Eve had gone missing a week or so earlier while her son was playing catch with Eve at one of the many trailer parks; Eve went running for the ball and never came back. By the time I called, Eve’s owner had put a sign up in the trailer park about her lost dog but had not found her yet. I made up a LOST poster and immediately emailed it to rescuers & shelters in town that I knew asking for them to post it everywhere! That was early May. In late August I received an email from a woman in NOLA who saw my LOST poster in a dry cleaners. Turns out she had found Eve only days after she went missing in May, she’d had Eve all that time, thankfully. Once I gave her owners address Eve was returned home for a second time. Eve’s owner called me in tears, she was so happy and thankful to have her baby back, again. And again I asked if she’d been spayed, even gave her addresses & phone numbers for where she could go to get free s/n vouchers. This past Feb 07 when I went back to NOLA for dog shooting arraignments, I surprised Eve’s owner (her phone# was out of service) stopping by her home to see Eve. We were both thrilled to finally meet but sadly I was told sweet Eve had been hit by a car and killed one month prior. Where they live there’s one small road along the bayou that only the residents of about 15 homes travel on. The liklihood of her ever being hit by a car was very slim, although possible. She was hit by a construction worker doing work down the road. She had never been spayed.
I’m just saying.
Comment by Barb — August 27, 2007 @ 7:48 pm
Didn’t the article say that Ms. Keyes found out where Sweetie was when someone put a flyer at her house? That doesn’t describe a person who was looking too hard to me.
Also, the article kept talking about treating heartworm. You don’t have to treat for heartworms, if you prevent them in the first place by giving heartworm preventative.
Sorry, but I do rescue and in the south. If people don’t give heartworm preventative it’s the number one dealbreaker for me. Especially in a place as far south as New Orleans.
Comment by Tracy — August 27, 2007 @ 7:52 pm
Lynn and Jason, unlike the rest of us, you saw reality first hand. Animal abuse (and ignorance doesen’t count)is animal abuse everywhere in the world. Hope the courts let this poor lady pit live out her life in a caring and loving home.
Those of you who volunteered help and homes in this catastrophe should receive our deepest gratitude.
This isn’t a North/South or East/West issue, it’s about educating pet owners and providing services they can afford.
Comment by MaineMom — August 27, 2007 @ 8:21 pm
Comment by Barb — August 27, 2007 @ 7:48 pm
why didn’t eve get spayed before she was returned to her owner if you were so concerned about it?
i’m just saying. . . .
Comment by straybaby — August 27, 2007 @ 8:25 pm
Spay & neutering animals was not something that was automatically done upon rescue. It was most likely done by families and shelters that eventually took them in after some time passed with no owner coming forward. It wasn’t up to me, but had I lived in NOLA, which I did not and do not, I would have taken care of it for the owner. I would imagine she wasn’t spayed because the owner was found so quickly after her being rescued.
Comment by Barb — August 27, 2007 @ 8:45 pm
Spayed or not, she was allowed to run loose - what more can I say?
Comment by MaineMom — August 27, 2007 @ 9:03 pm
Comment by Barb — August 27, 2007 @ 8:45 pm
then don’t make it an issue. you were in contact and the owner had to wait on eve’s pups. if the owner said she would spay her, seems to me you could have worked it out/gotten it done before she was returned.
and as far as her running loose, in some areas, that’s perfectly fine with folks. heck, people let their dogs loose in NYC, and that’s where i’ll raise the roof. but in some areas (while not desired by many in rescue) it’s common practice especially if they are in an area supposed to be fairly safe, such as Barb described. we can’t demand people keep their pets exactly as we would, all we can do is try and educate and work within the boundaries that are there. if the community in general is raised in a certain way as to what’s ‘acceptable’ animal care, that needs to be respected and looked at. you can’t change it by saying flat out they just can’t have their pets back.
Comment by straybaby — August 27, 2007 @ 9:31 pm
Please read Jason Promhaus’ earlier posts here.
His descrption of Sweetie’s condition at the ICU may alter your opinion - she was considered an abuse case. Cropping a dogs ears with a pair of sissors at skull level isn’t abuse? In what country?
Comment by MaineMom — August 27, 2007 @ 10:34 pm
I also was in NO in the aftermath of Katrina. First heartworm disease takes 7 months after the bite to lodge in the heart and produce a positive reading and all dogs were tested shortly after being rescued so they could be shipped out to safe groups with a complete heath record so all that read positive within that time were previously infected. This is a slow and painful way to die, the dogs heart and lungs full of worms that can grow at times to six feet. They slowly, over mths and years are unable to breath or pump blood to the body and it is agonizing to see the gasping and pain in the end stages. This is something that develops over yrs. I do know, no matter where you live, if this is a problem due to geographical area, and you take your beloved pet to the vet on a regular basis for the state mandated rabies and the annual vaccines, that the vet would have made sure that an owner were aware of the risks and supplied that owner with the knowledge of how to prevent. If someone claims ignorance to me it points to the fact that this animal isnt recieving even the most basic care. To me this is a point not to be taken lightly. TO love something, an animal unable to provide its own needs, is to show responsibility for the welfare and care and safety of this animal. Love alone isnt enough when it comes to pet care, and much, much more is involved. If the original owners are able to provide vet records to substantiate even the most basic of care and concern over the health of the animal such as a rabies each yr, then maybe we have something. But if, which I believe to be the reality, this dog was NEVER provided with even the most basic care, then to me it is a clear case of abuse and neglect. Clean and simple. If you make the choice of dog ownership it most certainly entails more than ‘love’. If the story is true that scissors were used to cut the ears to the skull without even , I am sure, any means to help the pain, , then this shows blatant disregard for the pain and suffering of the dog and I shudder to think of all the flys eating away at the wounds this dog was forced to endure after being tortured, as I know this is a certainty(Texas here, same climate). No this isnt love, and it certainly isnt even remotely what any animal deserves. This behavior towards animals exhibits no feelings or compassion for animal suffering and absolutly no attempts to show responsibility for the care and commitment to the animal. I also witness here the horrible practise of breeding pits for a buck, and every 10 seconds here one is put to sleep due to abandonment. How many os Sweeties many pups are living a good life with vet care and loving homes? I shudder to think of the more likely ones now dead to to being used as bait dogs or fighters. Needless, senseless suffering. Doesnt matter south, north, east or west. It is ACTIONS that show what is in your heart and how you try to ease the pain of animals, your COMMITMENT to their safety and heatlh that must be the key factors in determining who any animal lives with. Any other determination is selfish and irresponsible, and not at all in the greatest interest of an animal.
Comment by kelle — August 28, 2007 @ 5:10 am
It is very impressive to me that the standard of pet care so forcefully endorsed here is so high. Daunting is a word that could be used.
I believe that many people could be discouraged from having a pet of any kind if it can be made just a bit tougher, just a little more of a “I take better care of my pet than you do” competition.
No one disputes that proper care for all living things is a good value to endorse and if the only level of caring that is acceptable is the level of care that YOU think is acceptable, well, why shouldn’t that be enforced on others?
Best for the pets to do it to the top of the mark, or not at all.
And not at all, for some of the ignorant or poor or those who are willful in refusing to be educated, would really be best.
I am reminded of the “Mommy competitions” so prevalent in certain circles. The more complex and time consuming the process is and the more medical intervention and the more pain involved, the better. Hours of research, if not weeks are required for the smallest detail and additional points seem to be awarded for the phrase “But it is all worth it.”
Unfortunately this has not resulted in fewer children being born into a world groaning under the weight of the expectations these “golden children” bring with them. Or the demands of the entitlement minded mothers who are, it must be said, honestly puzzled that all this effort has not produced a child superior to any that came before.
Nice people don’t talk about the fact that countless women in third world countries produce the very same squalling bundle. Just skip over that uncomfortable fact, a lot of the bundles die pretty quick anyway.
And very many of these high minded, hellbent on doing it RIGHT and getting those status points for doing it just so people, gaze into the face of the miracle they have wrought and then kick the dog that used to be a cute puppy out of the car on a country road.
All fanatics look alike to me. Color, sex, language, none of that matters. That “I know better than you” gleam says it all. Religion, health food, the true and holy way of caring for a pet, unwavering faith in the power of “market forces”, whatever.
I have seen dogs, cats sometimes, birds, monkeys, all sorts of animals, kept as pets in other countries. None to MY high standards, of course, but still loved and fed, often with food that meant the owner went hungry. And I have petted a flea ridden, doubtless parasite infested pet and had the owner smile back at me, and I would die, die on the spot, before having the gall to say a word about the standard of care or letting them see me wash my hands in bleach water before touching my own dogs.
I honor the bond, whether to my standard or not. Whether it happens in this country or another, in Haiti or Louisiana.
How and with what grace you honor the bond, in what circumstance you might consider the bond “acceptable” to be honored is up to you.
Comment by E. Hamilton — August 28, 2007 @ 7:58 am
Not to get this all buzzed up again, but in my time living in the South I did see a real difference in the prevailing standard of acceptable animal care.
It seemed just a little bit of a lag time. For example, when I was growing up in Northern California (the ’60s), it wasn’t unusual for people in “good” neighborhoods to let their dogs roam more or less freely. That’s almost unheard of now.
But when I was living on the Panhandle, I had two or three dogs accompany me on every walk with my dogs. I knew where they lived, but they came and went as they pleased with their owners’ blessings. And this was a very expensive area in which I was renting a house I could never have afforded to buy.
It’s not a question of “right” or “wrong,” but what are accepted norms of care in a particular area or within a certain group. I can tell you things are different regionally, and also different urban vs. rural.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — August 28, 2007 @ 9:55 am
Sorry E, have to disagree with you. If we are not going to hold people in the US to minimum standards than we have no right to complain when some people fight their dogs, or otherwise abuse their animals. After all, in some communities its acceptable.
I would not impose these standards on outside the US. But I have read about many cases of owners being charged with animal abuse for cropping their dogs’ ears with scissors. If the original owner did this, then I amend my earlier post. She is not fit to own a dog…period. If you want to see cases - go to http://www.petabuse.com. There are plenty of cases there for your reading enjoyment.
I would feel the same way about some who performed genital mutilation on their female child. I don’t care what’s acceptable in your country or origin or your local community, its unacceptable in the USA…period.
And yes,if I saw someone’s dog was flea ridden - in this country - I would point it out to them. I would even go so far as to buy a flea dip and give it to the pet owner if I thought it was a case of not being able to afford the treatment. But in another country -no I wouldn’t do that. When I was in Peru I saw a cat so flea infested I wanted to cry. But I would not impose my standards on someone from another country.
However, last time I checked, New Orleans was part of the United States and we do have laws that prohibit abuse of an animal.
Comment by Andrea 2CatMom — August 28, 2007 @ 10:01 am
I agree with you E om most points. Being involved in a rescue group in my home town I am lucky enough to have two big stores that donate animal food to me. I have to take all of it when it is donated and therefore get horse, chicken etc food also. I have found familys that could use these types of food who are not financially able to afford all that is needed to provide these animnals with all they need and so I make weekly stops to help them out by providing food on a regular basis. Iam here not to judge or be as you put it, in competition for best pet owner, but do consider it my duty to educate and help if I can and if they are willing and open, in teaching them to better provide for their pets. I deliver food for dogs, cats, chickens, horses, and feel honored to do so. I do work to make a difference. In addition I provide heartworm meds to several people that just cant afford it out of my own pocket. But just to say that a bond is what is most important to an amimal is passing the buck that to me and all of us rescuers and animal advocates stand for. Education is the key and I never hesitate, politly and with an offer of help, to try to educate people on the reality of not spaying or neutering, importance of heartworm prevention and anything else I may be able to help with. To say one doesnt believe in spay and neutering to me is saying you believe in the hundreds of thousands of homeless animals that perish each yr either from starvation, abuse or euthanasia. This is one quote from Sweeties NO family that really bothered me. Ignorance is an excuse I suppose but my place in this world of the animals is with the animals and I feel that the best place for any animal is the one that makes the best decisions in the live and health of the pet.
Comment by kelle — August 28, 2007 @ 10:03 am
I emailed Jason’s comments about Sweeties condition upon rescue to Pia Salk earlier, asking if details of what he wrote were true. She wrote back confirming that YES, what Jason wrote is in fact true.
See Jason’s posts here:
Comment by Jason promhaus — August 27, 2007 @ 6:12 pm
Comment by Jason promhaus — August 27, 2007 @ 6:13 pm
Comment by Barb — August 28, 2007 @ 11:21 am
Jason’s information does change the picture, and not including it in the article effectively misrepresented the situation. Keyes should not get the dog back.
The omission does, however, make even funnier the idea that the article was somehow biased against Keyes and/or the region of the country she lives in.
Comment by Lis — August 28, 2007 @ 11:37 am
The Legacy of Katrina - Two Years Later:
http://network.bestfriends.org/News/18252.html
Comment by Barb — August 28, 2007 @ 2:40 pm
Pia Salk, Jane Garrison & David Meyers are three hero’s and the biggest champions of the animal rescue effort that took place in New Orleans after Katrina IMO. They are the three who started Animal Rescue New Orleans, an organization which, in Feb. 06 was turned over to local residents who, to this day continue to, rescue, treat, care for, and adopt out homeless animals still roaming the streets of New Orleans. All told since Feb. 06, ARNO has rescued, cared for, and adopted out just over 3,200 more homeless animals left since the storm (along with 2,3,& 4th generation litters.)
In Pia’s defense, Jane Garrison just sent me this letter and has given me permission to post it. (It’s long and I may have to do this in 2 or 3 posts, depending on how long a comment PC allows.)
“My name is Jane Garrison, and I was one of the people who led the entire Katrina pet rescue effort in New Orleans. I am writing to set the record straight about the amazing effort of the rescuers in New Orleans and
give some very important facts about the situation with Pia Salk and the dog she
rescued, Sweetie. Before people rush to judgment and harm the reputation of Pia, or assume that any rescuers did anything but risk our lives to save pets and reunite then, I think it’s important that people know all the
facts.
As volunteer rescuers were pouring in during the days after Katrina, the single thing that was needed most in order to save pets’ lives was shelters around the country who would house the pets, and people who would foster
them. On many days, the make-shift shelter at Lamar Dixon was overfilled with animals because there were not enough shelters taking them out, and so we had to leave pets in the city of New Orleans to die. There is no nice
way to say this. Many thousands of animals died because of the lack of space to house the animals we were rescuing.
…continued on next post…
Comment by Barb — August 28, 2007 @ 3:31 pm
Jane’s letter continued:
Shelters around the country were already full with animals from their own cities, so the only way they could help house these tens of thousands of Katrina rescues was to place the pets in foster homes. But few people can
agree to foster a pet forever. Emotional bonds are built, veterinary costs are incurred, and someone must take full legal responsibility for the animal if the animal bites someone, etc.
So the State of Louisiana officially said that all animals should be held in foster until October 16, 2005 (6 weeks after Katrina), and after that could be legally adopted into new homes, to make space so more rescued animals
could be moved from New Orleans. Every shelter that took pets signed this agreement. Then, the state asked for a voluntary extension until
December 31, 2005 to give people a full four months to reclaim their pets, which every shelter agreed to.
Many thousands of families around the country answered the call from the State of Louisiana to open their homes and their hearts to a rescued animal. This kept those pets from being euthanized and made space, so more pets
could be saved from starvation on the streets of New Orleans. People provided foster care for four months, and then adopted the pets. That was nearly 2 years ago. Without people adopting these pets, there could not have
been a rescue effort. Even with the four month rule, there were many more days when our facility was full then when it had space, and thousand and thousands of pets died as a result of this.
Some people did more than answer the call to help by fostering and then adopting. Some spent their own money to come to a disaster zone with no expectation other than to help people and animals. They faced disease and
infection, worked sleepless for weeks, turned their personal lives upside down, all to help out in our nation’s largest ever natural disaster. Pia Salk is one of these people, and had she not rescued, provided medical care,
and then adopted Sweetie, Sweetie would not even be alive today.
Many of these people, like Pia, have now had the animal in their care for almost as long as the original owners ever did, and they love the pet they saved or adopted. Thousands of families around the country are just now
learning that the pets they legally adopted, have paid thousands of dollars to care for, house, cure of illness, and introduce into their homes, may be at any point taken away from them.
The Katrina-affected people who became separated from their pets absolutely are victims. Everybody agrees with that. But the pets themselves are also victims, and now the people who answered the call to help and stepped up to provide permanent homes are also being made victims. It is one of the many
tragedies of Katrina.
If you lose your pet today through no fault of your own (perhaps you are trapped in a landslide or injured in a fire) and you do not reclaim your pet within 5-7 days, your pet no longer belongs to you and can be adopted out or
euthanized at your local shelter. No one questions that. A special exception
was made because of all the pets that were lost due to Katrina, and everyone
supports that. The residents we were risking our lives to help had four months to find their pet, and all of us worked day and night to make that happen with every pet we rescued. In fact, we kept rescuing and reuniting
pets long after the four months passed. But no effort to reclaim Sweetie was ever made during all that time.
This issue has huge implications on people’s willingness to assist in this type of rescue in the future. If pets held for a reasonable time cannot be adopted into new homes, there will be no shelters and few individuals able
to house a pet forever, making any major pet rescue effort impossible in future disasters. Let me make that even clearer — if it is your belief that an original owner can come forward years after they lost their pet without
any time limitation, then you are closing the door on any mass pet rescue effort ever again.
No one ever questioned reuniting pets with their owners for the months and months after the storm, and Pia was a leader in that reunite effort. And even today, 2 years later, if there are pets still in the shelter
system, of course they should be reunited if possible. But now taking happy and healthy
pets from adoptive homes in which they have been for years is a very different story. It does not at all take into account what is best for the animal.
As for the false issue of race, class, and differing attitudes towards the care of pets, people must know that the city of New Orleans was empty and destroyed. We didn’t know if we were rescuing pets for people who were black
or white, rich or poor. All there was were starving pets, and we saved and reunited them with their owners every day.
Comment by Barb — August 28, 2007 @ 3:32 pm
Jane’s letter continued:
As for Pia specifically, she devoted many months of her life as a volunteer after Katrina, and helped me coordinate the entire rescue operation which saved the lives of tens of thousands of dogs and cats in and around New
Orleans. She personally saved and reunited many animals with their original owners, and was even featured reuniting animals on Animal Planet Heroes: Hurricane Reunions, and ABC News 20/20. Pia is respected as a true hero
by the thousands of rescuers who worked with her to save and reunite starving animals with their owners, and by the many people who now have their pets back because of her.
As the main rescue center (Lamar Dixon) was shut down in mid October, 2005, Pia stopped the possible euthanasia of over a hundred of the last pit bulls, to insure they could be moved to safe haven and possibly be reunited
with their original owners. She then helped continue the rescue effort by co-founding an organization with me that would continue to rescue and reunite pets. Her credentials for both rescuing and reuniting animals with
owners are impeccable.
The issue with Sweetie is a personal issue between two people who love a
dog. It is not a public issue, and shame on the people in the animal
movement who are trying to make it one.
In the case of Sweetie, Pia saved her life three times. First in early September, 2005 by personally taking this starving animal from the
street in a destroyed and abandoned neighborhood, and properly identifying the
dog’s whereabouts so she could be located. Then again by placing a note on the cage to make sure Sweetie was not euthanized because the dog was so sick, and make no mistake, Sweetie would have been euthanized during the
hurricane Rita evacuation. And then again by paying many thousands of dollars for vet
care over the months it took to cure Sweetie of heartworm, which although easily and inexpensively preventable, is fatal if left until symptoms appear, and is a painful and horrible death for the dog.
I am not suggesting anything negative about the person claiming ownership of Sweetie because I do not know her. Unlike the people criticizing Pia, I do not talk about people I do not know. But to understand this issue and
the issue facing Pia, people should know that veterinarians who have seen Sweetie have all questioned whether Sweetie was used as a breeding dog for pit bull fighting, and whether she was subject to abuse.
The Louisiana criminal code says that all animals are legally protected from the ignorance of sometimes well-meaning people. It is unlawful to mutilate, or cause or procure to be mutilated, any animal. Sweetie’s ears are
clearly mutilated (cut with scissors to her head), and everyone who saw Sweetie after she was rescued assumed that she came from a bad home.
When Pia was told that a possible original owner had come forward, she bought a plane ticket to go meet this person, and then never had a call returned, and the ticket went unused. It seemed as if she was not being
given access to truly asses the safety of the home, and this may have to do with pit bull breeding going on in the household.
Let me ask you, if someone came forward years after you adopted a pet and claimed to be the original owner, would you, could you, simply break all your emotional ties and just let the pet you have saved and loved for years,
leave your home? What if you had been the legal owner, responsible for the health and actions of your dog for two years as Pia has? If Sweetie had ever bitten anyone, clearly Pia would have been legally responsible over the
last two years. How can that be wiped away in a day? Wouldn’t you have the right and the responsibility to ensure that the dog you legally adopted 2 years ago remains in a safe environment of your choosing?
Pia, like all of us who rescued in New Orleans, literally risked her life
and health in an unknown and poisonous city to save animals. She developed a severe infection, and her rescue partner came down with hepatitis. We all turned our lives upside down. We did not pass judgment on anyone. We
simply rescued as many pets as we could and constantly worked to reunite pets for many, many months. That was 2 years ago. The thousands of wonderful people who answered the call to foster and adopt must know that they did the right thing, and they will not suddenly have their entire life put out on
public display and dragged through the mud as Pia has had to endure. It is just wrong.”
For anyone interested in helping, there is still a huge rescue effort taking place daily in NOLA. Please go to ARNO’s website http://www.animalrescueneworleans.org and offer help if you’d like..donate, adopt, help with a transport, send much needed supplies, etc…
Comment by Barb — August 28, 2007 @ 3:34 pm
Jason:
Since you were in ICU at Lamar Dixon, and seemingly know Pia Salk intimately, perhaps you both can answer a question. Adrienne Ledden, a vet tech at LD who took Sweetie/Crown and 6 other animals out of Lamar Dixon, said she did so because she feared for all of their lives because there were orders to euthanize animals. Since you were in ICU, care to comment on that? Just wondering.
Comment by Ramal Nixod — August 28, 2007 @ 4:22 pm
Barb - thank you for taking the time to post Jane’s letter - it really clarifies the many issues and risks faced by the brave people who took on the task of saving as many pet lives as possible.
Comment by MaineMom — August 28, 2007 @ 5:43 pm
Oh, my that is a tough one as to who gets the dog.
Anyway ,we can let the dog decide , by having each owner call them. Saw that in a movie once.
I think the most practical solution is to destroy any records after a certain time, maybe a year, so such situations could be avoided in the first place.
Such situations could also nurture a set-up for an easy scam/black mail with the new owner paying a hefty price in order to keep the animal.
Comment by Serijna — August 28, 2007 @ 5:45 pm
This article raises a good point I hadn’t thought of. Many of us have adopted pets from shelters. Some of these are former street strays, but some are undoubtedly animals that got lost from their owners. Maybe they were left to wander, but maybe they made a dash out of a house and then couldn’t find their way home again.
How would you feel if someone appeared several years after you adopted an animal and said ‘hey, that’s mine’ I’m the real owner?
I know this is a different situation and Pia knew that the dog probably belonged to some person prior to Katrina - but two years go by and the owner doesn’t try to find her dog. What’s up with that?
This is also a different situation than the fraud perpetuated by Noah’s Wish - where they told adopters that the animals had been relinquished by their owners and they hadn’t. In most of those cases, the owners were frantically looking for their pets and they were never listed on Petfinder or any other web site so it took a long time for the animals to be located.
Comment by 2CatMom — August 28, 2007 @ 6:34 pm
I lost a purebed microchipped Maine Coon in a move almost six years ago. I tracked every lead from my flyers, to vets, to shelters, to rescues, to rumors for years. Carried a cate in my SUV for over three years and tracked down every lead. I sincerely hope he found a good home and wasn’t eaten by a coyote or hit by a car. If I ever locate him, and he has found loving caring pet parents, he is theirs to keep. I only want him to be happy and well cared for.
Comment by MaineMom — August 28, 2007 @ 8:18 pm
I happen to know that Keyes has been told she can get a big cash out from Salk who she thinks is a rich Californian from a famous family.
Comment by Piper — August 28, 2007 @ 8:55 pm
Ramal - I saw my name when I was asked to look at this blog, so I will respond to your question. I transported dozens of dogs and cats in cars and on commercial flights out of Lamar Dixon for months after the storm. I personally drove Sweetie from NO - the reason I took animals with me in my car (something I swore I would not do) was because Hurricane Rita was coming and we were told by the military personal who were charged with securing the facility that we were in a low lying, flood prone area and we (the civilian volunteers) would be locked in the bathrooms (the only secure structures on the property) guarded @ gunpoint and not allowed to leave even if (and this was expected to happen) the shelter flooded and the rescued animals all drowned locked in their cages. They knew we would risk our lives to save them again and we were told the military could not allow that. Hurricane Rita was expected to hit the next day so at the request of tearful VMAT personnel I loaded my small car with the sickest, most at risk animals from the ICU. Parvo Puppies (who would have been required to be euthanized if they stayed) - dying cats and and severe heartworm positive dogs (one coughing up blood), Sweetie among them. I threw out all my clothes and belongings to make room - put cages on the roof of my car (cracking my sun roof) and drove through hurricane Rita with the rain coming into the car stopping every few hours to administer fluids and meds to my carload of dying animals. Animals were euthanized, but thankfully I was not privy to how those decisions were made. I hope that sheds some light.
Adrienne
Comment by Adrienne — August 28, 2007 @ 9:22 pm
How wrong you are that Kara Keyes expects anything from a lawsuit except to get her dog back! The attorney handling this is doing it pro-bono. There is NO monetary gain in this; all Kara wants is her dog that she adores. Kara did look for her dog! The Petfinder information for this dog contained WRONG information about what shelter she went to; volunteers searched for months for her and hit a roadblock since the info was INCORRECT. The only reason that volunteers looked for an owner for Sweetie/Crown is that Pia posted EVERYWHERE that she needed to find her a NEW HOME since her other dog was attacking Sweetie/Crown.
Comment by Ramal Nixod — August 29, 2007 @ 9:05 am
Ummm…Just because an attorney is doing pro bono hours, which many law firms require of associates, doesn’t mean the client might not give up the dog for the “right” amount of money.
Comment by MaineMom — August 29, 2007 @ 12:35 pm
Pia Salk actually offered money for Crown to Kara Keyes. Ms. Keyes told her that NO amount of money would ever be enough! She wants her dog back, plain and simple. The attorney is simply helping her achieve that.
Comment by Ramal Nixod — August 29, 2007 @ 2:32 pm
Thanks Barb for the letter from Jane, great points. It raises the question, why aren’t pets “flagged” when they come in if everyone agrees or suspects the animal has been abused? This would prevent the original owner from getting the dog back.
What a tragedy this story is. Adrianne you made me cry. Thanks to all the volunteers! I’m really proud of Pia, for what she’s done. Still, I think there are too many dogs needing homes, and Sweetie needs to be re-homed. Here is the owner wanting her dog back. Better she get Sweetie who’s spayed than another pup she will probably breed repeatedly. Sorry Pia.
Comment by Margaret — August 29, 2007 @ 4:30 pm
ARNO; Two years later -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQeneeBZpWo
Video slideshow retrospective. Makes me want to cry all over again, especially knowing there are still thousands of animals still roaming the streets in need of rescue.
Comment by Barb — August 31, 2007 @ 7:25 pm
As a fellow founding coordinator of Animal Rescue New Orleans — and someone who knows Pia Salk personally — I am disgusted by this article’s passive slant against Pia.
I am neither all pro-reunion nor all pro-adoption. I believe every sad and heroic story about an individual animal’s rescue in Katrina’s aftermath has its own unique circumstances. To say EVERY animal must be returned to his or her original guardian years after the storm is to ignore that animal’s specific circumstances.
This article is framed in an underhanded way to portray Pia as the urban sophisticate versus Kara Keyes as the underpriveleged, long-suffering survivor.
Believe me, I’ve put my own life on hold for two years and counting to form Kinship Circle Animal Disaster Relief and aid evacuees in the search for their companion animals…and to mobilize volunteers/supplies to ongoing Gulf Coast animal relief missions.
Reunions are the miracles I live for. And original ARNO — a coalition of volunteers from around the U.S. which Pia co-founded with Jane Garrison and David Meyer — was 100% pro-reunion.
But Pia found Sweetie emaciated and suffering from often fatal heartworm infection. Sweetie’s ears were basically mutilated in a botched cropping attempt. Pia nursed this dog and loves her completely.
Moreover, this article makes FAILURE to spay/neuter companion animals, treat them for heartworm, and ID or leash them…sound like quaint, heartwarming traditions of the South.
Baloney! Welcome to the 21st Century. Neither tradition nor heritage justify animal abuse and neglect.
To my friend Pia: Hold on tight.
To others: A kazillion mistakes were made in the frenzy to ID animals after Katrina. Everyone learned from an unprecedented disaster in which hundreds of thousands of animals were left behind indefinitely. Would we do some things differently? Absolutely.
Do we judge the character of evacuees who walked away pre-storm, without their pets, and now want them back? No.
Do we regard each story’s circumstances individually, looking fully at both sides? YES.
Brenda Shoss, founder/president
Kinship Circle
Comment by Brenda Shoss — September 13, 2007 @ 11:04 am
This is pitiful. Oh poor, poor victim Kara Keyes (sarcasm intended). She is not the victim, her former dog is … for the mutilation that SHE invoked on her (a botched ear docking). This dog has been away from this woman for 2 years! If she really cared for the dog, she would leave the dog where she is, in a comfortable, loving home. If she really cared for animals, she would rescue one out of the shelter and not breed!
Comment by Vegan Betty — September 13, 2007 @ 12:25 pm
Vegan Betty said: “If she really cared for animals, she would rescue one out of the shelter and not breed!”
***
That is crap. I know many responsible, reputable breeders who care plenty about animals, and you can take the time to read about them on this blog.
I will not have PETA’s “a breeder is a breeder is a breeder and they’re all bad” fund-raising mantra go unchallenged here.
Expand your horizons. Responsible, reputable breeders care about animals every bit as much as you do. And more than PETA does, with its walk-in freezer for storing the bodies of euthanized adoptable animals they couldn’t be bothered to re-home.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — September 13, 2007 @ 1:28 pm
Comment by Margaret — August 29, 2007 @ 4:30 pm
I don’t understand your comment at all. You don’t dispute the informaton that Sweetie/Crown was abused, and you say, simply because Sweetie now needs to be rehomed, she should be returned to an owner who abused her? Because there are too many dogs needing homes? What makes Sweetie less deserving of a good home than all the other homeless or abused dogs and cats? The fact that her former owner will simply get another dog, that she can breed, if she doesn’t get Sweetie back? If she wants to go back to her old ways, she’ll do that anyway! Giving her Sweetie won’t prevent that!
Either she was a good, loving owner for Sweetie before Katrina, or she wasn’t. If she wasn’t, the large number of homeless pets doesn’t justify giving back to her a pet she previously abused.
Comment by Lis — September 13, 2007 @ 2:09 pm