"Why Bring More Homeless Pets to Utah?"

a letter from Gregory Castle, President of No More Homeless Pets in Utah

Before we embarked upon the mission to bring animals to Utah from areas hit by Hurricane Katrina we considered very carefully whether we should be doing this in the light of the many dogs and cats that are available for adoption in this state already, and the many which have to be euthanized because of lack of homes.

Like almost everyone else in the country we have been extremely saddened by the news and pictures that have been broadcast of animals lost and abandoned in that area.  Like almost everyone else in the country we wanted to do something, however small and whatever the demands on us, to help.  We wanted to be part of the national movement of caring and compassion which has sprung up with such energy in response to the dire fate of both people and animals in the affected areas.

We wondered if bringing these animals to Utah would result in fewer Utah
animals being adopted - at our Super Adoptions and other events.  We believe exactly the opposite to be the case.  The huge amount of public attention that has been brought to the issue of displaced animals has resulted in people coming forward to help who never would have otherwise.

So we organized this mission to bring a small number of animals to Utah and to find them homes.

We have been careful to observe several cautions in the course of this
operation.  None of the animals were retrieved from flooded houses or were found straying on the street after the hurricane.  In fact Louisiana
authorities are not allowing these animals to leave the state.

All the dogs and cats had rabies shots, and other vaccinations before they
left.  They all have vet certificates attesting to their freedom from
contagious disease.  They have all been treated for fleas and other
parasites, and all dogs were given heartworm tests.  All cats from Louisiana were examined by veterinarians both in Louisiana and the moment they arrived in Salt Lake City, and will be quarantined for a week before being adopted.

It now remains for us to keep the issue of Utah's own tragedy of unwanted animals in the forefront of people's attention, so that more Utahns will spay and neuter their pets, and more people will adopt animals from shelters, until one day there are no more homeless pets in Utah.

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Comments

[kd]

Bringing homeless pets from Katrina is a great idea.

The caviat is that people from Louisiana should have first claim on all pets.

The animals are in trouble because of the forced evacuation ... not because people from New Orleans are lesser souls who do not love their pets.

My guess is that, when the flood waters clear, there will be a resounding cry for the animals' return.

I would not be surprised if the demand for pets hits a fevered pitch in upcoming months.

If you take pets away ... you better be prepared to bring pets back.

[Kate at No More Homeless Pets]

I understand the concern that pets displaced by the hurricane be given every chance to reunite with their original families. However, all of the pets we have so far brought back from Texas and the Gulf Coast were homeless prior to the storm. They don't have owners to reunite with. By bringing them to Utah, we have actually helped the shelters in and nearby the region to hold onto potentially owned pets longer, so their families hopefully can find them.