[LANMaster]

Texas oilman charters jet for 80 pooches

MAJOR

Louisiana dogs to be temporarily living in California
By BRIAN SKOLOFF
Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO - The first major airlift of dogs from the hurricane-battered Gulf Coast left Louisiana on Sunday, carrying about 80 pets to new temporary homes in California.

The Continental Airlines flight from Baton Rouge, La., was chartered for about $50,000 by Texas oil tycoon Boone Pickens and his wife, Madeleine, in a movement dubbed "Operation Pet Lift."

About half the dogs on Sunday's flight were headed for San Diego, with the rest bound for San Francisco. Sunday's move was being organized by PetRelocation.com, based in Austin.

"The goal was to help rescue 200 dogs," Pickens' spokesman Jay Rosser said. "They're overjoyed that they were able to rescue 80, but clearly disappointed and dismayed at the bureaucracy, which prevented them from taking the full 200."

Organizers complained that some legal requirements were impractical, such as waiting 30 days for owners to claim their pets before transporting the animals.

Kelly Harrington, director of disaster response services for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, said a makeshift shelter for up to several thousand dogs had been set up at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales, La., about 45 miles northwest of New Orleans.

She hoped additional dogs would be flown out in the coming days, but said the effort was taking time.

"Every animal has to be vet checked, vaccinated and microchipped ... so we can track these animals in case an owner does find them," Harrington said.

Petfinder.com was setting up a database of pet pictures to help reunite owners with lost animals.

Andrew Rowan, executive vice president of operations for the Humane Society United States, said animals must be moved out of the Gonzales facility quickly to make room for "maybe 50,000 or more dogs and cats in New Orleans that need to be rescued."

"There are vans and cars and trucks all over the place," he said. "Dogs are barking, cats are meowing. It's a tremendous logistical operation to provide the care that these animals need."

The Humane Society's Dave Pauli, director of the Gonzales facility, said 200 animals were shipped out Sunday by truck to Houston, but rescue teams expected to bring in about 300 more in the afternoon.

About 200 animals have been reunited with their owners at the facility.

"That's what keeps us going," Pauli said. "Every one of them brings a tear to your eyes and makes these sleepless nights worth it."

Houston Chronicle

[slickoe]

I have a better idea. Every family that lost a pet should adopt a new one from the local pound and save its life and the effort being squandered in the above mentioned article be devoted to helping humans.

[LANMaster]

I think what he is doing is admirable.

[slickoe]

I say people come first; before dogs, spotted owls, or red meat.

[Gibble]

Originally Posted by slickoe

I have a better idea. Every family that lost a pet should adopt a new one from the local pound and save its life and the effort being squandered in the above mentioned article be devoted to helping humans.

Yeah, and the people who lost family should just get a replacement If they lost a father or mother, find a homeless person to replace them, if they lost a child, adopt! Why squander dollars saving people in NO...

Seriously...dogs and cats are part of the family and mean alot, and your logic is bassackwards. You're basically saying let these animals die and save others from dieing...umm...why? In either case animals will die, and other saved...why not let the people who lost their pet, reclaim, their pet.

[slickoe]

Originally Posted by Gibble

Yeah, and the people who lost family should just get a replacement If they lost a father or mother, find a homeless person to replace them, if they lost a child, adopt! Why squander dollars saving people in NO...

Seriously...dogs and cats are part of the family and mean alot, and your logic is bassackwards. You're basically saying let these animals die and save others from dieing...umm...why? In either case animals will die, and other saved...why not let the people who lost their pet, reclaim, their pet.

Because getting families off of gymnasium floors under 24 hr. a day lighting should come before a poodle hunt.

[TooBad]

Originally Posted by slickoe

Because getting families off of gymnasium floors under 24 hr. a day lighting should come before a poodle hunt.

Gee, why not do both! Getting the people off the gym floor takes time, during that time you can save some animals too!

[slickoe]

Originally Posted by TooBad

Gee, why not do both! Getting the people off the gym floor takes time, during that time you can save some animals too!

I would be VERY interested in whose pets are the ones being rescued; those of white families in stable situations or inner city pit bulls belonging to blacks still stuck in sports arenas? I bet FEW blacks stuck in shelters have been approached by this philanthropist eager to save THEIR canines.

[Gibble]

Originally Posted by slickoe

I would be VERY interested in whose pets are the ones being rescued; those of white families in stable situations or inner city pit bulls belonging to blacks still stuck in sports arenas? I bet FEW blacks stuck in shelters have been approached by this philanthropist eager to save THEIR canines.

HOLY CRAP MAN!!! DO YOU READ WHAT YOU WRITE?!?

You're looking for racism under every rock...grow the *beep* up!

[slickoe]

Gibble have you ever been to an American inner city ghetto?

[Guyzer]

Slickoe the race issue in your country isn't ever going to end. It's people like you that want to keep it alive. It's a shame, it really is.

[Gibble]

Originally Posted by slickoe

Gibble have you ever been to an American inner city ghetto?

No, but what does that have to do with your quest to find racism all over the place? I mean, it's despicable how lowly you think of humanity. You assume people are inherintly racist, that every action is in some way an attempt to oppress and punish people for being black. It's sad that you are so jaded and cynical.

I give people the benefit of the doubt, I don't look for the bad, I look for the good. I don't assume malicious intent. I don't paint every white person out to be a racist becuase of the actions of the few.

I mean really, think about what you are accusing this person of? It's not like you have any evidence. You are making a very serious accusation on the basis of your cynicism.

[LANMaster]

Originally Posted by slickoe

I would be VERY interested in whose pets are the ones being rescued; those of white families in stable situations or inner city pit bulls belonging to blacks still stuck in sports arenas? I bet FEW blacks stuck in shelters have been approached by this philanthropist eager to save THEIR canines.

Sure, yeah, they're rescuing the white pets before any of the darker pets.



You must think that because I am Caucasion that I would obviously have a predeliction to saving a white before a black, or a white owned pet before a black owned pet.

You'd be wrong. And if you feel that way, I'd have to label YOU a racist.

[poochee]

A friend forwarded me an email of some group down there trying to place pure-bred dogs. Is this not animal discrimination?

[valley]

Originally Posted by slickoe

I would be VERY interested in whose pets are the ones being rescued; those of white families in stable situations or inner city pit bulls belonging to blacks

If a pet is wandering around lost, can you really picture a group of people wandering around and trying to determine the color of their owners skin before they rescue them?

Ya know...your own reasoning about what kind of dogs you think are owned by black people reveals your own brand of (undiscovered?) prejudice, imo. I dont know about anyone else but I dont automatically associate pit bulls as being the most popular breed owned by inner city people. Why not poodles or terriers? Actually, if they did come from the inner city with lots of apartment buildings...having a smaller dog would make more sense instead of deciding that they might prefer a bigger and more vicious breed.