Meanwhile, back on the Texas coast …
By Gina Spadafori
September 16, 2008
Yesterday Wall Street shuddered, and this morning, markets around the world fell. The American presidential campaign goes on. Both of these news stories are on center stage, and justifiably so.
But … the coastal communities of Texas and Louisiana are devastated following two hurricanes, and that doesn’t seem to be getting as much attention as it should. It seems that once New Orleans was spared another Katrina, everyone outside of the region sighed with relief and moved on. “So, how ’bout that Gov. Palin? And what about the economy? Hmmmm … maybe those gutters need some attention before summer ends.”
I’ll tell you there are many people who aren’t thinking much these things right now, including the mayor of Galveston, Texas:
In this ruined city, reduced to such an unlivable state that its mayor wants all remaining residents gone, searchers made their way through 90 percent of the inundated neighborhoods. So far they have confirmed two dead, with four others undetermined. Thousands of homes have yet to be reached.
Galveston Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas warned that her city was heading toward a “downward spiral” and is not fit for habitation. Residents who evacuated are not being allowed back.
“There is nothing to come here for right now,” Thomas said. “Please leave. I am asking people to leave.”
After the collapse of Noah’s Wish post-Katrina (the small charity was simply unable to properly deal with the donated funds), and the criticisms of big national animal groups that really seemed to show up more for the photo ops and fund-raising than the helping, I find myself simply unable to recommend an animal charity to help.
So, if you’re looking for a charity, try Guidestar. A simple search turned up dozens of local and regional agencies that probably would make excellent use of your funds, to help people and animals both.
If you want to help and aren’t up to surfing guidestar (Which won’t, for example, tell you that BARC is pro-MSN), may I recommend the breed rescues? There are some really awesome statewide ones here in TX.
Comment by Cait — September 16, 2008 @ 7:50 am
I was unsuccessful in my Guidestar search (how do you work this web thing?) so would be happy to read anyone’s personal recommendations. I would like to know of any rescues who help all Ike victim dogs and cats in need.
Comment by slt — September 16, 2008 @ 7:57 am
Having worked with some of the big groups in disaster rescue, despite the fact that they get the PR and use it, they do get help into areas and have the connections and memorandums of understanding to operate in the disaster zones to help the agencies and animals.
I blogged an entire week about Animal Disaster Preparedness (it is National Disaster Preparedness Month) because I still see the same issues I saw in the early 1990s because people fail to prepare (and 140,000 failed to evacuate in Hurricane Ike.)
Local agencies usually need the outside help. The resource you provided is great but I don’t agree with failing to recommend the trained resources for animals.
HSUS, AHA, EARS, Best Friends, are the most well known and Noahs Wish, once run by a corrupt and media hungry leader, is now under new leadership. (Last I heard they were operating again…please send me the link if they are not.)
All donations get filtered, so what do you think is the solution?
Comment by Diana L Guerrero — September 16, 2008 @ 8:37 am
I would also like to point out that helping the human victims of Ike also ultimately helps the animals there as well. Helping owners get through the initial crisis period after a disaster makes it more likely that they will be able to keep their animals, or reclaim their animals. So I will be making a donation to Red Cross
I will be making a donation to BF, as they do not subscribe to breed bias. While I have heard very positive things regarding HSUS’ disaster training seminars, I have no trust in the organizations leadership and there are simply too many questions still unanswered about funds collected last time around for HSUS to ever receive a dime from me.
Regardless of a local agencies stance on issues such as MSN, donations to local, on the ground and in the trenches organizations are still going to be the most “bang for your buck” in terms of the amount of your donation going directly to the care of animals displaced by this disaster. For my local donation I’ll do what research I can, but my primary concern is that the local group is there doing what they can right now.
Comment by JenniferJ — September 16, 2008 @ 9:07 am
Spindletop Pit Bull Refuge, which moved north out of Houston in part to avoid frequent flooding there, got hit pretty badly. They took in (and still have) many Katrina pit bulls (and other “difficult” breeds). Leah may not be the best communicator in the world (she’s a classic lonewolf type rescuer), but I know her standards and her dedication (one of my dogs was rescued by her) so I feel comfortable recommending her for those who can help: http://www.spindletoprefuge.com/Donate.html
But what a sad horrible state of affairs that we can’t trust the big national groups that claim so much attention… and yet seem to do so little.
Anyone know if “EARS” is involved?
http://www.uan.org/index.cfm?navid=27
Comment by EmilyS — September 16, 2008 @ 9:20 am
Here’s some articles that mention work being done to help animals in the Houston/Galveston areas.
http://www.chron.com/disp/stor.....03880.html
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,422001,00.html
http://www.moberlymonitor.com/.....ricane-Ike
http://www.chron.com/disp/stor.....04362.html
http://www.khou.com/news/local.....0ce8c.html
It appears that the Houston SPCA is doing a lot. They have taken in animals from the Galveston Island Humane Society, Bay Area SPCA of Galveston County, as well as those from the Brazoria County. They put out advisories to pet owners and made transfers between shelters before Ike hit. They summoned mutual aide from the Humane Society of Missouri’s Disaster Response Unit. They post information about pets lost or found due to Ike on their website. The Houston SPCA is doing all this even though Houston itself was hit hard by Ike. Please consider making a donation to the Houston SPCA.
http://hspca.convio.net/site/P.....ke_Updates
The Houston SPCA mentions these organizations that have helped them deal with the effects of the storm: Denver Dumb Friends League, Code 3 Associates, Humane Society of the Pike’s Peak Region, SPCA of Texas, Humane Society of Missouri, SPCA of Los Angeles, and Louisiana SPCA.
Coincidentally, the Houston SPCA is the place where I got my first dog, many years ago. She was a fabulous dog, that I still miss.
Comment by LauraS — September 16, 2008 @ 9:54 am
Houston SPCA gets 4 stars with Charity Navigator
http://www.charitynavigator.or.....orgid=5660
Comment by LauraS — September 16, 2008 @ 10:12 am
All donations get filtered, so what do you think is the solution?
Comment by Diana L Guerrero — September 16, 2008
Diana, I don’t have the solution. Often all I have are the best questions to ask. The Noah’s Wish melt-down was something you could see coming a mile away. In the weeks after Katrina they had so many donations they couldn’t open all the envelopes. They just didn’t have the infrastructure or oversight to cope.
When *I* donate, I study annual reports, and I look at policy, and I look at past actions.
Problem is, there isn’t time to do that during a disaster response. Especially when the groups most active and most in need of help are local to an area we don’t live in.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — September 16, 2008 @ 10:18 am
Not the SPCA of Texas
http://badrap-blog.blogspot.co.....-risk.html
I think Houston SPCA doesn’t adopt out pit bulls, either, so I fear for any of the dogs that end up with HSPCA
Comment by EmilyS — September 16, 2008 @ 2:38 pm
There are many small & foster type groups here in Houston that need help, such as Spindletop Refuge and Scout’s Honor Rescue, Inc: scoutshonor.petfinder.org, which takes in and rehomes many APBTs. The Houston SPCA does NOT adopt out APBTs or obvious mixes. TX Wildlife Rehab could also use help as there are hurt birds everywhere plus baby squirrels.
Comment by Wendy Mahoney — September 17, 2008 @ 2:21 pm