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The
Louisiana SPCA marks the
REMEMBERING AND MOVING
FORWARD
Two-Year Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina – August 29, 2007
“Amidst the chaos emerged one of the most enduring of bonds –
the human-animal bond. During the hours, days, weeks and months
following the storm that bond has only strengthened. In our
relationship with animals, it became painfully clear that we
needed them as much as they needed us...That the memories and
aftershocks of Katrina will remain with us for a long time to
come is undeniable. It has impacted every facet of life for a
community of people and its animals. The response and reaction
to the animal tragedies of Katrina has hopefully marked a
turning point in how we view and treat our animal companions.
Reflecting on the past year compels us to do no less.” –
Louisiana SPCA, August 29, 2006
Any memorial to Hurricane Katrina would be incomplete without
acknowledging the tragedy that bore down on the animal
population of our region when the levees broke. The lives of
animals impact the lives of people. It’s that simple. People
lost their lives because they wouldn’t leave their four-legged
companions behind when they couldn’t evacuate with them. Others,
forced to leave them behind, continue looking for their animal
companions two years later. And others live with the permanent
scar that leaving them behind with food and water was not
enough.
Too, the loss of New Orleans only animal shelter, had it never
returned post-Katrina, would have exacted another major blow to
the animal population. Had the Louisiana SPCA not been re-built
it would have unleashed another flood of tragedies.
In a community where animal overpopulation has always tipped the
scales, imagine what it would be like if there wasn’t an
organization that was dedicated to reducing overpopulation
through affordable options and creative solutions. Imagine a
community teeming with stray animals and no organization skilled
in finding and humanely rescuing strays. Imagine New Orleans
without an animal shelter where all animals are accepted.
Imagine New Orleans without an animal welfare organization that
understands that animal cruelty is as unacceptable as human
cruelty and that both are often linked.
Imagine another disaster without an organization like the
Louisiana SPCA that fought not only to have animals gain a seat
at the table for future disaster planning, but served as a
national model on how to safely evacuate hundreds of shelter
animals prior to a disaster striking. It matters that New
Orleans was able to witness the rebuilding of its only animal
shelter. More than just concrete and mortar, the rebirth of the
Louisiana SPCA in this post-Katrina landscape impacts the entire
community. Two years following Hurricane Katrina the Louisiana
SPCA recaps some of the highlights of a year that found the
organization still recovering from its own losses; with a staff
still bearing the emotional scars; in a community still in need
of its services; for the animals who desperately need its
compassion and care. Finally, as the Louisiana SPCA marks the
two-year anniversary of Katrina we recap why those services are
so vital to the community.
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