BAYOU RESCUE

Beagle Bus

Beagles are on board, and returning to the triangle from Tylertown MS!  The welcome wagon tomorrow morning will include WRAL-TV - be sure to tune in!

Up to the minute

Updates on 3 teams from NC:

1) As of 3:00 e.s.t., Madeline and Lisa were about 45 minutes NE of Tylertown, and should have a van load of very happy beagles (is that redundant?) to return to the triangle.   Yea Tribeagles!

2) Because of weather issues, Debbie Grissom was contacted by Gonzales and asked to wait to leave until today.  Due to arrangements with her  co-volunteer in ATL, they will now be leaving on Tuesday.  The Gonzales site IS still operational.

3) The Stroms have had quite an adventure these last 3 days. First, their RV "Toonces" required emergency mechanical care in SC.  Jen assures us that finding a master mechanic willing to call off his family plans on a Friday night to work on an '86 RV was a bit of a miracle.  (See photo of hero, who also brought them dinner and much needed beverage).  Once Toonces was all better on Saturday,  high winds and their vulnerability in an RV with horse trailer required enacting PLAN B - go to MS gulf coast area instead of Tylertown.   They finally arrived TODAY after more hours of traveling than the average person could stomach. They will get to work with the  Humane Society of Southern MS  to repair new facilities that were being built before the storms, and to care for animals. It seems there are also many animals surrendered by evacuees that may be able to come to IAR.   Jennifer is also working to match donations and supplies to needs of facilities in that area, and Bayou Rescue is working to make connections for them as well. For more detail on the Strom travels, see Jennifer's blog on the Indy Website .

IN THE WORKS..

TODAY - Fellow Katrina animal rescue volunteers Ann Titleman and David Shaul (in ATL) are trying to find a way to save animals in a N.O. shelter that is being flooded from a levee break.  They have also procured an offer to transport ONE HUNDRED (100!) animals via private jet out of the gulf area.  NOW THEY NEED TO FIND A FINAL DESTINATION THAT CAN TAKE THEM ALL!!  Email us if you have suggestions - anywhere in the U.S. - and we will pass that info along!   Way to go ATL team!

Also, Bayou Rescue was able to help transport Bruiser (the poodle who was beaten with a baseball bat) with the help of Ashleigh (Savannah Pet Coalition) and Marty W. and her daughter from Charlotte.  Bruiser is resting in his new home at the Creature Coalition, and will soon also get a new name! Photos to follow.

And Yea!! The Beagle Bus left today, driven by Lisa and Madeline from Tribeagle.  Go to their website if you can offer to foster or help donate for medical needs.  They are bringing back 10 -1 2 beagles.

CHECK ARCHIVES

Click on the title "ARCHIVES" for info on this mission dating back to September 6th.  DON'T MISS THE OLD PHOTOS!

And There Will Be More..

More exciting news, more dogs hopefully in transport, and more photos.

Don't forget the Strom team is headed to LHUS in Tylertown as we speak.  They will be playing the role of Santa Claus AND all the elves for this site, bringing donations and working to build more runs and care for animals. They may bring back some special "reindeer" on their sleigh on Thursday.

ALSO, Debbie Grissom, a volunteer with the NR Golden Rescue, is headed down to Gonzales, and should arrive tomorrow.  The situation there has become even more critical. Debbie will call Bayou Rescue with info on that situation once she gets down there. 

There are many variables in both of these situations, so PLEASE REMEMBER that nothing is certain. Bayou Rescue will continue to do everything we can to get the next group of animals out of 'there' and into foster homes.  STAY TUNED!!!

I'm Gonna Break...

My rusty cage. And run!  — J. Cash
We have 2 bits of GOOD NEWS in this still unsettling time:

1. BEAGLE BUS - After TWO WEEKS of countless hours of pleading, prodding, and politicking, we have TRIPLE confirmation from Best Friends that they will release 10-12 dogs to foster.  At this time, they are primarily releasing to breed specific groups, so this lucky batch will be ALL BEAGLES.  Lisa Mason and her co-pilot will be headed down to pick up these passengers on SUNDAY.  AROOOO!  They are super-thrilled to hear they will be headed to the triangle to hang with their peeps at Tribeagles.

See photos of BELINDA (under "Puppy Love) and DOUG (under Rise and Shine) from Sept. 16th. Doug is the brown beagle in the run with 5 other dogs.

2. BRUISER'S CRUISERS Only a few of you know that behind the scenes, Bayou Rescue has also been trying to help coordinate transport for an elderly black poodle named Bruiser.  Bruiser has been cared for in a vet clinic in Savannah, after sustaining severe injuries resulting from a very cruel person armed with a baseball bat.  Ashleigh, with Savannah Pet Coalition has been caring for Bruiser as best as she could in the clinic where she works as a vet tech. Unfortunately Bruiser was becoming more stressed by being in the crate in this environment. Shannon W. offered a home for Bruiser at the Creature Coalition, but there seemed to be no one that could bring him to his new home, and weeks had passed.  After some emails and phone calls, Bruiser's Cruisers were coordianted and will bring him to his new home tomorrow.

This Just In

A letter from Jen & Bill Strom:

Download JEN_BILL0922.pdf

Reunited...

...And it feels so good.  Click here for more reunion stories.  And HERE  for a special video from the front lines!  Don't miss these - this is what it's all about!

Dazed & Confused?

Word is that there is still some confusion about the Bayou Rescue missions.  Welcome to the club, but let's try make some things a bit less fuzzy.  PLEASE NOTE THAT ARCHIVED POSTS ARE ON THE RIGHT, LISTED BY DATE and that has most of the info you are seeking.

Q: Are you back?
A: Dave and Amber are back from the Best Friends location in Tylertown, MS. (Sorry if you haven't heard from us yet- we're swamped!)  Bill and Jennifer Strom are leaving Friday for the LHUS location in Tylertown, just down the road from B.F. And Babs Brown will be headed down in October, to a place that is in greatest need at that time.  Dave is still figuring how soon he might be able to leave again as well.

Q: What's the deal on the transport and placement of fosters?
Still trying to find special scissors for all the red tape. Please see our entry Who'll let the dogs out? Entry, Sept. 16th.  Also check the WORD document.
            
ALSO - If you are tired of waiting (understood!) and want to foster or adopt a dog or cat TODAY, please, please go get one from your local shelter or rescue group!  Your new roommate will have his/her own stories to tell and you literally will be saving TWO LIVES, as your kindness opens space for another lucky animal!

Q: Are you still taking donations?
A: YES, because there will be more trips made in the next month, to different locations. You may choose to send  financial donations for Katrina relief be sent directly to us, or to one of the organizations listed under LINKS.  Thanks to these donations, Dave and I were able to say YES to several urgent requests once we got down to Best Friends, to the tune of about $1800.00 in trips to Walmart, Lowes, and a vet clinic.  These were all items that we didn't start out with in our van, but were needed for the animals and volunteers ASAP!

Q: What in-kind donations do you need?
A: This changes at each site, every day.  We do know that most all sites & shelters in MS & LA do not need dry dog or cat food at this time.  If you have already started collecting that, there is a greater need right now at the Durham APS and the Orange County APS, so please consider sending the food there!  Vet and grooming supplies are always in need, as are cash or LOWES and WALMART gift cards.

New Drop Off

Please note that after THURSDAY 9/22, the Independent Weekly will no longer be a donation drop off point for Bayou Rescue /IAR missions.  Since Jen will be gone,  the Indy office would be stockpiled, which may make Jen unpopluar with her coworkers. 
Other drop off points will be 1) Jane Marshall's house, which has directions listed in archives on this blog, and 2) Debbie Meyer's house on 150 Wild Horse Run, off Jones Ferry Road.

Also, Four Paws Animal Clinic is still graciously collecting donations in an exam room in their very busy practice and we THANK THEM.
Thank you to all of you that continue to make these missions possible!