I had the opportunity to take a week in early November, volunteering in Tylertown, Mississippi and then in New Orleans, on behalf of Best Friends Animal Society. "Best Friends" has been processing rescued pets coming out of New Orleans since early September.

Part of the rescued pets processing center in Tylertown, MS

It was a truly remarkable experience, being surrounded by so many dedicated people from around the country, trying to make a difference. From carpenters and veterinarians, to cooks and tech staff managing Internet communications, volunteers were working to unite families with their lost pets.

I worked with carpenters building a yurt to house more volunteers [see: http://network.bestfriends.org/News/PostDetail.aspx?np=59], helped set up tents for another clinic and tech center and went into New Orleans to bring back more rescued dogs from "Hound Zero."

Evans with a rescued Shepard in New Orleans

The Saturday I left Tylertown to return north, I brought 6 cats and a dog up to St.Louis where they were transferred to 2 other waiting cars. The dog, named Bitsy, was one of the lucky ones. The week I was in Tylertown, her family was located in Topeka, KS. By Sunday morning, shortly after I had arrived back home in Wisconsin, volunteer drivers who met me in St.Louis had delivered Bitsy to her family. The cats I brought north to St. Louis were transferred to volunteer foster homes. If their families are ever located (each animal is tracked via a computer chip), hopefully, they'll be reunited.

Bitsy, back with her family in Topeka, KS

There are so many dogs and cats now in the Best Friends animal processing camp in Tylertown, Mississippi, that the camp is now unable to allow rescuers to bring in more animals. There remain probably thousands of pets loose and somehow still alive in areas of New Orleans where miles and miles of neighborhoods remain destroyed.

One fellow I spoke with was a rescuer working on his own and living out of his car, said that now, about 70% of the animals he sees are dead, but he's working to save the other 30%. With Tylertown full, people are desperate to move animals out to foster homes anywhere.

Kitty City where cats needing medical care are processed

If you, or someone you know, might be able to help by fostering animals or making contributions in other ways, I invite you to visit Chris' Web site at http://www.animalrescuefront.net or the Humane Society of South Mississippi at http://www.hssm.org, or contact Best Friends http://network.bestfriends.org/ or phone Best Friends at (435) 644-2001.