[StBernard] Shelter Caring for Hundreds of Animals in Chalmette

[Westley Annis]

Shelter Caring for Hundreds of Animals in Chalmette

Steve Cannizaro

St. Bernard Parish Government

Public Information Officer

504.278.4221 OR 504.259.3395

Rick Ducharme of Jacksonville, Fla., said he saw the horrible stories about
Hurricane Katrina on the news but "there was a photo of a dog in a church
window with flood water around him'' that drove him to action.

"That really did it for me,'' said Ducharme, an ASPCA volunteer. Soon he was
handling a drive that came up with tons of pet supplies for animal rescue
groups in Louisiana.

Ducharme ended up in St. Bernard Parish, where he has joined a swarm of
volunteers that have handled as many as 1,000 animals since Katrina's
destruction on Aug. 29. "Ground zero is the way I would describe this
place.''

St. Bernard's shelter has been housed in Arabi at a barn but, with the help
of a giant tent obtained by the ASPCA, has relocated to Rebel Playground,
near the Chalmette High School baseball field, on Palmisano Boulevard. About
200 dogs and cats were housed in separate cages there last week.

Veteran St. Bernard animal shelter director Ceily Trog said there have been
many heroes in the battle to save and care for animals who were left behind
by owners or were living on the streets when the hurricane struck. Many have
been re-united with owners, some tearfully, Trog said.

Parish Council member Mark Madary of Arabi has been in charge of the animal
shelter operation. He said he was moved to act after seeing a man whose dog
had been shot after the hurricane. 

"We had a duty to do something,'' Madary said.

Many animals had to be left behind when their owners were evacuated after
the flood but were told their pets couldn't go on a boat taking them to
safety, Madary said.

He said the shelter has been an efficient operation manned by volunteers.

Many of the helpers have come from other states, including Kelly Harrington,
an ASPCA official from Albany, N.Y., who said the size of the response has
been huge; Tammy Kirkpatrick, director of a humane society in Fort Worth,
Texas and Penny Koncz, who is studying to be a veterinarian tech in
Michigan.

Others are local, including Julie Becker of Jefferson Parish.

Veterinarians have also given their time in the effort.. The animals are fed
and given water daily, as well as taken out for exercise when possible.

Officials are trying to find homes out-of-state for animals that aren't
claimed, officials said.