Good Morning,

I thought that I would post this just in case.....

Our shelter is a "safehouse" or "safehaven" for any ferrets needing
relocation temporarily following Irene's destructive path. We are
listed with the national and regional Red Cross organizations. We have
already been contacted by the National Red Cross and the regional
office in NCarolina and will coordinate with these folks should the
need for our assistance arise. Several counties in NC are registering
evacuees with pets (ferrets) and are listing themselves (and their
pets) on the directory for pet relocation and temporary housing when
and IF Irene creates an unlivable habitat for humans and pets for any
length of time. Already shelters across the region are being contacted
to assist folks with their pets if their homes are unlivable after
Irene passes. Organizations have already come forward to participate
in travel and relocation if the need arises. Believe it or not, rescue
groups are en route now to various points along the east coast. You
know there is going to be some poor animals who will need their help.

We, in this region, learned many many lessons with Katrina and Rita
back in 2005 and now we as a rescue community are much much more
proactive in preparing for disasters such as these and with getting
people registered with their pets to assist them in any way needed.

I promise you...staying in an area where there is no power or ability
to move around for a long period of time is not something you want to
do....I know many people who attempted this following Katrina on the
coast of MS and it was not a happy situation for human and certainly
not for the pets. No power, no water, no plumbing, bugs, bugs, bugs,
filth....oh, just awful unlivable situations! Food is in very small
supply and you are at the mercy of others for food and water...and that
means food and water for your pets as well. If you are in the path of
this thing, get out and take your pets with you! Don't ride it out....
there are mechanisms now in place to care for animals because of the
fate of many thousands of animals left behind when Katrina devastated
this area in the south --- there are new regulations now that provide
for the welfare of animals and municipalities must provide for them.
LEAVE WITH THEM NOW! There are shelters for owners and their pets and
some shelters just for pets - even livestock!

We inevitably took in many ferrets and some stayed for a short/long
periods of time to allow the owners to rebuild and regain some
semblance of normalcy and they reclaimed their ferrets. Alas, others
could not rebuild for many different reasons and gave up their ferrets
to move and begin again somewhere else. But those ferrets were safe
because their owners evacuated and took their pets with them.

Unfortunately our phone, and by extension our Internet access, is out
for another weekend due to a phone line problem discovered when AT&T
attempted to install our new Internet access. So, if anyone needs to
contact our shelter, you will need to text me or call
me....901.335.6536.

Many many prayers going out today and throughout the weekend for the
east coast....

Maren Qualls
Raisins From Heaven Ferret Rescue & Sanctuary
Hernando, MS

[Posted in FML 7166]