Attack on America Tragedy: Veterinary update

Animals The Next Tragedy of the WTC Disaster

Permission to cross-post the following received from Jim Willis:
tiergarten@onebox.com
http://jimwillis0.tripod.com/tiergarten/

Click here for UPDATE to this story
posted 09-19-01

From: mandy787@aol.com
Patty Adjamine
New Yorkers For Companion Animals
Date: 09-18-01

I have been going to the Center for Animal Care and Control (CACC) since they opened. In all my years of rescue from this shelter, I have NEVER seen what was witnessed yesterday.

Cars were double-parked up and down the block on 110th Street. Inside the shelter, the lobby was completely FULL with people dropping off animals. It seems many people for whatever reason (fear or possible damage to homes) are suddenly "moving" out of the city and cannot take their animals. An unusually high number of "strays" also suddenly coming in:Five Purebred Chow Chows, Pomeranians and many other breeds. Sharon at the CACC showed me a smallish pure Collie who looked just like a scruffed up version of Lassie.

This very sweet, senior dog had just come in as "stray." (We put a memo on her.) Cats, moms and litters were also everywhere. Many of them suddenly abandoned after years in a home.

The computers are still down at CACC. There is pitifully scant information on the animals' cards. Though we can surmise many of these now-homeless pets are actual or indirect victims of the WTC tragedy, such is not indicated on their kennel cards. Many of the groups or individuals who have offered to "help WTC animals" will not help these as "WTC" is not noted on the cards.

I was also informed today that a number of the animals in evacuated buildings around the ground zero area have been abandoned by caregivers. Or, perhaps the guardians have perished. In any event, no one has stepped up to claim the animals.

We have tried to put memos on a number of animals, regardless of the noted "reason" they are there. But, we do NOT have sufficient offers or placement for them.

I am putting out this e-mail to bring light to the fact, that an incalculable number of animals ARE coming into CACC as a result of the WTC tragedy.

However, since the info on them does not state this, I am concerned that the truth will not "get out" to all those who have offered to help these pets.

People who want to help these animals need to be CONTACTING ALL RESCUE GROUPS and SHELTERS in New York WHO TAKE CACC pets, including ours, NYCA. Most are listed on Petfinder.org. Or, if in New York, they can adopt directly from the shelter. Please forget about requirements that the animals "be victims of the WTC tragedy."

Trust me, they ARE.

Patty (New Yorkers for Companion Animals) (212) 427-8273.
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If you know of an animal that has been abandoned due to this attack or due to other circumstances, here is their emergency telephone hotline number: 1-888-LOST123

Note: Please do not call the CACC on this line for any other reasons than to report an abandoned animal. This is for emergencies only!

If you wish to contact the CACC in Manhattan shelter, their telephone number is: 1-212-722-3620.

The CACC Staten Island Shelter number is: 1-718-984-6643

Related Reading
09-18-01 Relief for the Companion Animals
09-18-01 Animals The Next Tragedy of the WTC Disaster
09-12-01 Veterinary Update Part I: post-terrorist attack
09-12-01 NYC-area veterinary hospital report

EARS Disaster Action Reports - Ongoing relief effort reports from Emergency Animal Rescue Service (EARS)

Text: Copyright © Janet Tobiassen Crosby. All rights reserved.

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