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From: gp
To: bb
Sent: Tuesday, September 13, 2005 10:22 AM
Subject: Help for Friends
I've had a deeply personal experience that I want to share with
the world in hopes that it may open some doors for some friends
that are in desperate need.
A couple of hours ago I returned to NY from a trip to Louisiana.
Like so many of my friends, I had donated to the Red Cross and
other charities but still felt I needed to do something more. I
tried to contact my longtime favorite New Orleans organization,
LA-SPCA (Louisiana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals) to find out what I could do to help them. LA-SPCA is
where I had adopted Zigaboo in 1988, Pocky Way in 2001, and
where Funky Tchoupitoulas got his start somewhere in the late
'80's. I was unable to reach them. I read online that they had
successfully evacuated all of their animals to shelters in
neighboring states, and that the staff was currently working
with the Humane Society of the United States in make-shift
shelters in Baton Rouge and Gonzalez, LA, where stray, abandoned
and displaced animals were being brought by the truckloads. I
didn't take time to think about it, and booked a flight to Baton
Rouge for the next morning.
Overall I found the outlook of the people and the news coming
out of New Orleans to be encouraging. But I won’t sugar coat it
all. The immediate situation at the shelters is very grim. These
animals and the people helping them so desperately need so much
more help. I spent time at both shelters, volunteering in
whatever capacity was needed. I walked, washed, watered and fed
countless dogs, unloaded truckloads of donations from generous
folks from all around the country. After my first day I had
realized that the shelter in Gonzalez was so overwhelmed that I
decided to spend all of my time there. This was where the
majority of rescued animals of all species were being brought.
But all of my time and work was not nearly enough to make a dent
in the ever growing needs they have there. In fact, there were
hundreds of volunteers from all over, but there were literally
thousands of animals and more coming each day.
I got to work along side some of the staff of LA-SPCA and the
U.S. Humane Society and I can tell you, seeing these incredible
people in action was something I’ll never forget. While rescue
teams would travel to heavily flooded and abandoned areas
literally pulling animals out of the water and out of houses,
others stayed at the base and tried to keep up with the
overwhelming administrative work. Others were on the scene
caring for the animals, whether they were trained vets or just
people who love animals and wanted to help. After days of not
sleeping my ankles were buckling, my feet were blistered, my
hands swollen and my back sore to the point I could barely reach
down to open another crate to give a terrified dog a well
deserved treat. But, I'd never felt as good as I did in those
moments.
So many of these dogs had probably never had a treat given to
them, or had a toy to play with or chew on. To see them get so
excited about having their own squeaky toy under these
circumstances was one of the most beautiful things I'd ever
witnessed. So many of them had never gotten a loving pat on the
head, or been told they were a "good boy" (or girl). But they
all needed these simple things.
The animals that were brought to the shelter were the lucky
ones, but even those in the best shape had been so painfully
affected by their time in hell on earth as they fought for their
lives. They were stressed. They were scared. They were
exhausted, overheated, dehydrated and starving. They were
confused. They had no idea what was happening to them, where
they were, or what happened to the people they love or the world
they knew.
So I'm writing this in hopes of inspiring you to do the same if
at all possible. It is an experience you will never forget, and
above all else, you need to know that whatever help you can
offer, even if for only an hour, is so desperately needed. The
Humane Society is a relatively small organization and LA-SPCA
even smaller, and this catastrophe is of such epic proportions
that as good as they are, they cannot possibly do it alone. They
rely on the help of volunteers and donors. And this crisis has
stretched them so thin that some battles are inevitably going to
be lost. As many volunteers as they had, they need so many more.
Every hour that passes brings new realities to the dire
situation they are dealing with. In short, it really, really
sucks.
So I'm urging you to please help those that cannot help
themselves. It doesn't matter if you’re a dog person, a cat
person, horse, bird, reptile person, or whatever, they are all
there (in separated areas). If you know a vet, vet-tech, or a
vet student please let them know how urgently their skills are
needed. Likewise, even if you have not had experience with
animals, you can still be a huge help. Just get there if you
can. The animals need all the help we can get to them. They're
going to need a lot of luck too. These organizations need your
hearts and your hands like never before. This is, by all
accounts, the most difficult task they (or any other animal
protection organization) have ever dealt with. Time is critical,
and each hour the situation is growing more desperate.
Obviously, getting to Louisiana may not be possible for some
people who still want to help. Donations are also quickly put to
very good use.
They are not getting the media attention they need so badly to
alert people around the world as to what is going on there and
the magnitude of the effort is so sadly going largely unnoticed.
Consequently, they are not receiving the enormous sums that the
Red Cross does. My point is not to say that the Red Cross (or
any other charity) is not very worthwhile, but to point out that
those that cannot speak up for themselves and cannot bounce back
on their feet by themselves will not have any hopes of surviving
this catastrophe unless we all help them immediately!!! The
animals will not be receiving aid from FEMA, or any other
government agency. It is entirely up to us.
Please pass this along to everyone.
P.S. If you or someone you know is looking for a lost pet from
the hurricane, the place to go is Lamar-Dixon Expo Center,
Gonzalez, LA. 24 hrs a day. If you can get there, please go as
soon as you can. If you can donate cash, food or supplies,
please, please, please do it right now!
If you can adopt a pet, they really need that too. Please
contact them.
-Gary Ptak |
Ptak's passion for jewelry began at the age
of five when he was only eye level
with the showcase gems at his
father's business in the Diamond
District on 47th Street. Little did
either of them know that this young
man's imagination and fascination
would develop into the creative
force driving the family's business,
and eventually his own venture, Gary Ptak LLC. Gary
Ptak's love for animals began well
before his effort's following
Hurricane Katrina. His support has continued with
a portion of Gary Ptak's proceeds
being donated to the rescue and
safety efforts of the animal loving
community of New Orleans. 