Happy news for US pet owners.
The rescue workers in those Iowa floods saved pets as well as humans. The pet rescue reforms brought about by the tragedies of Hurricane Katrina seem to have taken hold.
Even better news is that while Iowa appears to be one of those states that had not established a state-wide disaster pet rescue plan, amazing public officials, private citizens and volunteers stepped up and created temporary shelters.
According to a New York Times article, Beloved Pets, Displaced by Floodwaters, Find Temporary Shelter in Iowa, when the floods overran Cedar Rapids' city animal shelter, they removed all animals to higher ground at the nearby Kirkwood Community College's Animal Health Technology building.
From that beginning, the emergency shelter grew. Displaced people began dropping off their pets to be cared for while they waited for more permanent housing. Calls came in from folks who had to flee the floodwaters, asking for their animals to be rescued. And volunteers began arriving from all over the US.
Volunteers from United Animal Nations were in Iowa, providing emergency shelter services for all kinds of pets. Their blog posts for June and July have some great photos. The Humane Society of the US also had great blog posts in June about their work at Kirkwood Community College.
All this goodness of heart makes me smile. In fact, I giggle everytime I look at the photo above. I keep wondering what that rescue boat would look like if those people had a Great Dane, instead of a cute little cat!
Hi Cousin Kaye,
This is such great news. I remember when Katrina hit and some of the animals weren't as lucky.
Animals are often helpless, so it's good to know there are caring people who are looking out for our four legged friends.
Have a happy 4th.
Posted by: Barbara Swafford | July 02, 2008 at 11:53 PM
Hi Cousin Barbara,
What I really liked about the top photo is how everyone in the boat, including the family and the cat, are so matter of fact about their ride to safety. It's clear the cat in her pet taxi was accepted as someone to be rescued!
Posted by: Kaye Swafford | July 05, 2008 at 11:04 AM