Imagine your beloved pet wandering the streets of your hometown without food, water or shelter. That is the reality in many parts of hurricane ravaged New Orleans today.
City of Corsicana employee Charlotte Childers and her sister Celia Lueck ventured to Bayou Country to assist with the Animal Rescue New Orleans (ARNO) effort Dec. 2 through 9. What she saw both astonished and repulsed her beyond belief.
Garbage piled as high as houses on both sides of streets, animals growling at people due to starvation and water still stagnant in the city.
“What people are seeing in the news, the rosy pictures of how New Orleans is being rebuilt, is untrue,” Childers said.
Ever since Hurricane Katrina made landfall in Louisiana, the pictures of devastation and despair have been replaced with rebuilding efforts with help from across the nation. The situation for the animals, however, has been deteriorating.
Taking her vacation and volunteering her time and effort to saving these animals, Childers was overwhelmed at the number of animals trapped and hungry in the streets.
“It’s a nightmare, it’s unimaginable,” she said in regards to the living conditions for both the animals as well as the people.
Despite the Red Cross’ daily meal distribution throughout the devastated region, food and water were still scarce in the city, Childers said.
“Aside from two grocery stores, on opposite ends of the city and a few convenience stores — there is no food,” Childers said.
Childers and 20 other people divided into teams of two and began the retrieval and location process of the program. Once an animal is located, the location is usually marked in spray paint on doors of abandoned homes, they are fed and scheduled for the trapper.
Once trapped, the animals are taken to a hospital and then to a shelter where they are fed and walked, pending location of the owner. If an owner is not located, the pet is then put up for adoption.
A lot of the bigger companies have pulled out since the Katrina disaster, according to Childers, and the grassroots organizations are left to continue the struggle.
The turnover rate for volunteers is sky high and getting new recruits up to speed has been a challenge, she said.
Childers said the ARNO still needs several more volunteers, as well as donations of money and supplies.
“My main goal is to get the word out to people,” Childers said. “If you can volunteer please go. And if you can’t, please donate.”
For more information, go to Web site www.animalrescueneworleans.com or www.kinship.org. Or, call (225) 298-9513.
—————
AJ Narasimhan can be reached via e-mail at ajn@corsicanadailysun.com
Latest News
Related Photos
Discussion
The things I have seen ...
City employee said more help is needed in New Orleans
- Latest News
-
-
City spraying for mosquitoes
The City of Corsicana and the Corsicana/Navarro County Health Department want to get the word out about a pesky warm weather creature — mosquitoes.
-
Linda Coleman devotes 27 years to Workforce
Imagine if you came the aid of a friend, someone who’d lost their job, their means of support, and you helped them find employment. How warm would the feeling of satisfaction be?
Now imagine that feeling times about 40,000 — and that’s how Linda Coleman must feel after 27 years of helping people find jobs at the Workforce Solutions, North Central Texas. -
Pioneer Days gets kids away from electronics, down to nitty-gritty
It’s the hands-on activities that bring kids back each year to enjoy Pioneer Days. Although their everyday lives are about stuff on screens — cell phones, television, video games — Pioneer Days is about getting their hands dirty, and sometimes climbing trees.
-
City grants tax abatements
The Corsicana City Council granted tax abatements to Guardian Industries and the proposed water park when the group met in regular session Tuesday. Both companies will be given 50 percent abatements for 10 years, and both are proposing sizable investments and the creation of dozens of new jobs.
-
Former Kerens VFD treasurer arrested for theft
The loss of $2,900 from the Kerens Volunteer Fire Department in May has led to the arrest of the group’s treasurer, Kaell Mullen.
Mullen has been charged with theft of more than $1,500 and less than $20,000 by a public servant, a third-degree felony. -
Workshops to be held to review restoration bids
There are three contractor proposals to consider for the proposed restoration of the Navarro County Courthouse, but a decision on the next step in the project is still likely a few weeks away.
Commissioners opened the proposals for the restoration project shortly after the 2 p.m. deadline Tuesday, along with proposals for asbestos abatement in conjunction with the project. -
Local Beat 6/19/13
A listing of meetings and events of interest from throughout Navarro County
-
Nominations underway for annual Daily Sun contest
It’s time to nominate your favorites for the annual “Best of the Best” contest sponsored by the Corsicana Daily Sun.
This year’s contest marks the 17th annual “Best of the Best” competition, a fun way to pay tribute to your favorites in a variety of categories of business, people and life in Navarro County. -
10 things to know for Tuesday, June 18
A daily look at things being talked about in the news around the world.
-
Help available in Corsicana for substance abuse
Penelope had been down a long, dark road ... a back injury at work led to a surgery. Even after her operation, she still had so much pain she was forced to take pain pills.
- More Latest News Headlines
-
Obama Renews Call for Nuclear Reductions
Raw: Car Jumps Curb in NYC, Injures 8
Obama: 'Lives Have Been Saved' by NSA Programs
Obama: Friction in Afghan Talks No Surprise
Unusual Heat Wave Bakes Alaska
Raw: Massive Protests Fill Brazilian Streets
Raw: German President Welcomes President Obama
Fans Cheer Dramatic Heat Comeback
Raw: Arizona Wildfire Scorches 8 Square Miles
Hoffa Mystery Still Fascinates After 4 Decades
Raw: 1 Dead in Shooting at Mo. Apartment Complex
Raw: Huge Fire Near Yosemite National Park
3 Charged in Ohio With Enslaving Mom, Daughter
Kid Couture: Spending Big Bucks on Babies
