PRESS RELEASE

LA/SPCA DENOUNCES ALLEGED THEFT OF NEW ORLEANS ANIMALS BY UNAUTHORIZED ANIMAL GROUPS THAT HAVE ENTERED THE CITY

NEW ORLEANS, LA (9/03/08) – The Louisiana SPCA (LA/SPCA) has learned that several animal groups have allegedly entered New Orleans without authority to go onto citizens’ properties to remove animals. “If this is occurring this is essentially theft of New Orleans’ animals,” says LA/SPCA director Ana Zorrilla. Only the LA/SPCA and groups authorized by the LA/SPCA are allowed to go into the city.

The LA/SPCA is the only organization authorized to be in Orleans Parish and is currently handling Animal Control in the same manner as prior to Hurricane Gustav. As of 9:00 a.m. today the LA/SPCA began ground rescue operations “ We have developed a structured response and are working in conjunction with New Orleans Office of Emergency Preparedness, and the New Orleans Police Department” said Zorrilla. Zorrilla said only groups working with and authorized by the LA/SPCA are allowed to participate in ground rescue operations.

“Any other animal group not working with the LA/SPCA and not authorized to enter the city and found taking any animals from residents’ homes and yards are stealing,” says Zorrilla.“

“The LA/SPCA will not allow any of our residents to have their pets stolen,” says Zorrilla. In months following Hurricane Katrina the LA/SPCA received countless reports of residents having their pets stolen after they had returned home. “We do not want our residents to go through this intrusion and essentially criminal activity from these unauthorized and overly zealous groups that have taken it upon themselves to remove residents' animals from the city.”

“Such actions are not helping local pet owners, but are causing them and their animals great emotional stress. Removal of an animal from its home or property is equal to stealing animals. We will not tolerate this activity from any organization that comes in our city without authority to do so,” said Zorrilla.

Zorrilla said groups could use their resources to help those areas that truly need them, and should do so through the system established by the Louisiana State Animal Response Team (LSART) which functions under the auspices of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF).

If residents do need to call for help for their animals they should call the LA/SPCA animal emergency line at 504-368-5191 ext. 100 or email info@la-spca.org.

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