———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Kinship Circle – kinshipcircle [at] accessus.net
Date: Dec 24, 2008 8:45 PM
Subject: Rebuilding Lives, Two Hands At A Time

KINSHIP CIRCLE ANIMAL DISASTER AID NETWORK

12/24/08: Rebuilding Lives, Two Hands At A Time
YEAR-END REFLECTIONS * www.kinshipcircle.org/disasters

THIS IS FOR YOU:

1. Rebuilding The Gulf Coast, Two Hands At A Time
2. Kinship Circle Recognized For Work In Iowa Floods 2008
3. The Great River Rescue
4. I Rescued A Human Today

=======================

1. Rebuilding The Gulf Coast, Two Hands At A Time

SOURCE: 12/24/08, VIDEO – With My Own Two Hands
WATCH VIDEO NOW: www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJ44B33HRmo&NR=1

FROM KINSHIP CIRCLE: Thanks to my sister and fellow animal rescuer, Cara Shoss, for alerting me to this beautiful video and inspiration for this message. Brenda Shoss, president, Kinship Circle

From Cara Shoss, cshoss [at] gmail.com — Imagine what we could do if we all used our own two hands to change the world. Keep believing in what you are doing. Happy Holidays to all of you and thank you for using your two hands to make a difference for the animals in the world.

TURN UP YOUR SPEAKERS: www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJ44B33HRmo&NR=1

KINSHIP CIRCLE REFERENCES:

GULF COAST: Animals In Gulf Coast Storms & Other Disasters

www.kinshipcircle.org/disasters/gulfcoast/default.html

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———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Kinship Circle – kinshipcircle [at] accessus.net
Date: Tue, Oct 28, 2008 at 5:52 PM
Subject: Ginger’s Story: Two-Time Hurricane Survivor

www.kinshipcircle.org/disasters

KINSHIP CIRCLE ANIMAL DISASTER AID NETWORK

KINSHIP CIRCLE NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT.
DONATE ONLINE: www.kinshipcircle.org/donation/

GULF COAST
10/28/08: Ginger’s Story – Two Time Hurricane Survivor Illuminates Flaws In Evacuation System

Courtney Chandel with Ginger, rescued after Hurricane Katrina, 2005. Lower Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana.

SOURCE / REPLY TO:
Courtney Chandel, akameridians [at] yahoo.com
Nanette Martin, nantucketred [at] earthlink.net

2005: LIFE AMID RUINS IN POST-KATRINA PLAQUEMINES PARISH

Katrina left Louisiana’s Lower Plaquemines Parish post-apocalyptic. The deserted area stretched for miles, with sprawling shrimp trawlers parked on highways, a truck in a tree, debris strewn fields. Former homes were stripped to concrete foundation blocks. It felt as desolate as the moon.

The Parish had finally let animal rescuers in — when Nanette Martin and I drove from New Orleans with dog/cat food, carriers, catchpoles… It was hard to digest what we saw. Neither of us spoke until we spotted a cluster of remarkably intact mobile homes by a roadside sign that said “Ironton.”

“First stop, Ironton,” Nanette said as I turned the bumpy corner into the debris-strewn neighborhood. We hoped we’d find something alive here… Then we saw her — a gorgeous Golden Retriever with expectant eyes, wagging away. A sparkling oasis of life amid destruction and decay. She sat by her little dogloo, near her boarded-up person’s home, tied to a tree.

We ran to her. Her tongue dropped out and she smiled… “Good dog! Good girl!” She was so thin. We could feel her bones easily, yet bowls of fresh food and water sat beside her. We saw the house was deserted, so we headed to the street where a woman greeted us. “You met Ginger!” And so we learned how a neighbor was caring for Ginger after her disabled person evacuated. People weren’t allowed to take pets with them, even the disabled. We tried to imagine what Ginger had seen and felt during the storm…the sounds, wind, darkness… It was hard not to feel fiercely protective toward her.

Each day we made the two-hour drive from New Orleans to Plaquemines Parish, we checked on Ginger. We thought about bringing Ginger to ARNO until her “mom” came home. The idea was cinched when we saw three German Shepherds, who’d also survived, bullying her. We obtained mom’s phone number… There is no other call like the one after a disaster to tell someone their animal is alive. And, yes, she sure would like it if Ginger got out of there…

Ginger’s odyssey didn’t end with ARNO. She was routed through Best Friends and then to a foster home in Southern California…until her mom returned after living in a FEMA trailer. We advised her to never leave Ginger again.

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———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Kinship Circle – kinshipcircle [at] accessus.net
Date: Mon, Oct 27, 2008 at 3:35 PM
Subject: Few Ike Reunions, Dog Survives Surge, Animal Relief…

www.kinshipcircle.org/disasters

KINSHIP CIRCLE ANIMAL DISASTER AID NETWORK

PLEASE SUPPORT KINSHIP CIRCLE:
ONLINE: www.kinshipcircle.org/donation/
BY MAIL: Kinship Circle / 7380 Kingsbury Blvd. / St. Louis, MO 63130

GULF COAST
10/27/08: Few Ike Reunions, Dog Survives Surge, Continuing Animal Relief

IN THIS ALERT:

1. A 10-Day Limit Meant Few Reunions After Ike
2. Hope Is A Mutt Named Ranger
3. Ike, Gustav & Katrina Continuing Animal Relief

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———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Kinship Circle – kinshipcircle [at] accessus.net
Date: Sat, Oct 18, 2008 at 4:20 PM
Subject: Emergency Overload: St. Bernard Parish Shelter

DO NOT REPLY TO KINSHIP CIRCLE. TIME IS OF ESSENCE.
IF YOU CAN HELP REPLY TO ST. BERNARD PARISH SHELTER.

10/18/08: EMERGENCY OVERLOAD: St. Bernard Parish Animal Shelter
Help pull animals in hard-hit area – Katrina, Gustav…

Animal Shelter Waives Fees To Reduce Overcrowding
‘No Fee’ Adoptions Open To Anyone

www.wdsu.com/news/17739846/detail.html#-

NEW ORLEANS — A Southeast Louisiana animal shelter facing severe overcrowding is waiving adoption fees to encourage area residents to consider adopting a new pet. The St. Bernard Parish Animal Shelter said it urgently needs to reduce its dog and cat population. The “no fee” adoption is open to anyone — not just parish residents — and will continue through Monday, Oct. 20.

St. Bernard Parish Animal Shelter

www.flickr.com/photos/sbpshelter/sets/72157603921945483/

St. Bernard Parish Animal Shelter is experiencing severe overcrowding. In an effort to find homes for these animals rather than euthanize them, the parish is waiving all adoption fees for anyone who adopts an animal today through Monday (10/20/08). There is a never fee charged to senior citizens.

115 W. Agriculture Rd
Chalmette, LA 70043 (Off Paris Road)
CALL SHELTER: 504-228-1093
OR A VOLUNTEER: 914-720-6888 or tisme [at] mindspring.com

OUT OF STATE TRANSPORT CAN BE ARRANGED.

SPECIAL SHELTER HOURS:
8 a.m. to 4 p.m. today, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday

SEE ADOPTABLE ANIMALS:

www.flickr.com/photos/sbpshelter/sets/72157603921945483/

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———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Kinship Circle – kinshipcircle [at] accessus.net
Date: Tue, Oct 14, 2008 at 2:01 PM
Subject: Piglets Of The Flood – Iowa Rescues Give Birth

KINSHIP CIRCLE PRIMARY – PERMISSION TO CROSS-POST

10/14/08: UPDATE: Piglets Of The Flood – Iowa Rescues Give Birth

DATE: 7/28/08…9/9/08
SOURCE: Midwest Flood Pig Rescue Blog, floodrescue2008.blogspot.com/
Images From A Flood, www.kinshipcircle.org/disasters/relief/08-07-03.html

PHOTOS COURTESY OF FARM SANCTUARY, www.farmsanctuary.org

FROM KINSHIP CIRCLE

When Iowa floods saturated nearly 80% of the state this summer, Iowa’s Veterinary Response Coordinator enlisted Kinship Circle Animal Disaster Aid Network to staff staging areas at Johnson County Fairgrounds in Iowa City and Lee County Fairgrounds in Donnellson, Iowa. By June 14, 2008 we were in daily conference calls with the state EOC (Emergency Operations Center). We contacted Best Friends Rapid Response Team and asked Iowa officials to form an agreement with them (MOU) for water rescue in Louisa, Des Moines, Lee, Johnson or Linn counties…. Over June and July, Kinship Circle volunteers traveled to Iowa for emergency pet sheltering, transport and rescue operations.

PHOTO: Molly Wald, Best Friends, www.bestfriends.org

IN THE MEANTIME, PIGS WERE EVERYWHERE…Adrift from flooded hog farms, some still encased in crates. While 40,000 were pre-evacuated, an estimated 4,000 (or more) pigs died. Some who’d scrambled atop levees were shot dead by officials concerned they’d ruin sandbags. Many more drowned. Kinship Circle contacted Farm Sanctuary to ask their Emergency Rescue Team to come to Iowa. KC volunteers Cheri Deatsch, Bob Rude, David Halperin and Craig Hill assisted Farm Sanctuary in initial pig rescues. Eventually “Operation Pig” grew so large, a coalition of Farm Sanctuary, International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), American Humane Association (AHA), and Animal Rescue League of Boston recovered pigs from levee systems and treated many for severe sunburn, dehydration, etc. at a triage site in Iowa.

IOWA FLOOD RESCUE PHOTOS & TALES:

www.kinshipcircle.org/disasters/relief/08-07-03.html

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———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Kinship Circle – kinshipcircle [at] accessus.net
Date: Mon, Oct 13, 2008 at 2:02 PM
Subject: STANDBY ALERT: Wild Fires In Los Angeles Area

KINSHIP CIRCLE ANIMAL DISASTER AID NETWORK

www.kinshipcircle.org/disasters

10/13/08: Wild Fires In Los Angeles Area
THIS IS NOT A DEPLOYMENT.
This is a pre-alert to find out who in the Los Angeles or nearby areas would be able to volunteer IF OUTSIDE AID IS NEEDED. Brenda Shoss, Kinship Circle

=================

PRELIMINARY HEAD COUNT: Who Might Be Available?

=================

FIRES BURNING NORTH OF DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES

This is a PRE-ALERT to find out how many volunteers would be available to help with animal aid for fires primarily on the north side of the 210 Freeway in Los Angeles area.

THIS IS NOT A DEPLOYMENT.

Register with Kinship Circle to be on standby for this disaster response:

Send requested info to (one or other, NOT both):
Brenda Shoss, Kinship Circle: kinshipcircle [at] accessus.net
Terri Kelly, Kinship Circle: pawsitivedirections [at] yahoo.com

1. Your First/Last Name:
2. Street Address:
3. City, State, Zip Code:
4. Phone Numbers (cell & land):
5. Email:
6. Driver’s License ID#:
7. YOUR ARRIVE & DEPART DATES:
8. ARE YOU SUBSCRIBED TO KINSHIP CIRCLE’S DISASTER AID EMAIL LIST?
9. TYPE IN SUBJECT LINE: Calif. Fires

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———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Kinship Circle – kinshipcircle [at] accessus.net
Date: Thu, Sep 25, 2008 at 7:19 PM
Subject: Horse/Cow Convoy; Displaced By Ike; Denham Springs Snapshot

KINSHIP CIRCLE ANIMAL DISASTER AID NETWORK

www.kinshipcircle.org/disasters

GULF COAST HURRICANES 2008
9/25/08: Horse/Cow Convoy; Displaced By Ike; Denham Springs Snapshot

IN THIS ALERT:

1. 9/26 Convoy To Aid Horses And Cows After Ike
2. Galveston Area: Help The Doghouse Stay Open
3. Negligent “Caregivers” Look For Animals Left In Ike
4. Thank You! Denham Springs, LA Animal Shelter

=======================

1. 9/26 Convoy To Aid Horses And Cows After Ike

=======================

As happened during Katrina, Ike’s wrath has saturated pastures with saltwater. Cows were stranded on levees. Help and supplies are urgently needed to save these animals.

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———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Kinship Circle – kinshipcircle [at] accessus.net
Date: Mon, Sep 22, 2008 at 7:18 PM
Subject: SOS From Texas: Animals After Ike

KINSHIP CIRCLE ANIMAL DISASTER AID NETWORK

www.kinshipcircle.org/disasters

9/22/08: SOS From Texas, Animals After Ike

IN THIS ALERT:

1. A Texan Talks About Where Animals May Need Help
2. Can This Be True? 10 Days To Reclaim Pets…
3. Give Them Shelter: Help For Ike’s Animal Victims
4. Caught On Camera In Galveston Island
5. More Photos From Houston SPCA & ASPCA
6. Rescuer Near Galveston Pleads For Help
7. Dogs, Cats Spared In Montgomery County, TX
8. Do Their Lives Matter? Cows Cling To Life In Texas

In post-Ike Texas, large groups (such as HSUS) have reportedly invalidated the MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) smaller groups (such as MuttShack) had formed with local authorities to work in Beaumont, Texas. Such alleged hostility made it increasingly difficult to obtain a realistic snapshot of the animal situation in Ike-ravaged areas. There was concern about the amount of time some large groups devoted to removing other emergency rescue groups, rather than helping animals in the field. Below is some of what we know — straightforward, without a “public relations” angle.

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———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Kinship Circle
Date: Fri, Sep 19, 2008 at 5:59 PM
Subject: After Ike: Animals Need You In SE Louisiana

KINSHIP CIRCLE ANIMAL DISASTER AID NETWORK

www.kinshipcircle.org/disasters

9/18/08: Animals Need You In Lafourche, LA — Seriously

FEW VOLUNTEERS HAVE RESPONDED.
Who else can go to Lafourche, LA? IF WE’VE ALREADY SPOKEN TO YOU DIRECTLY, NO NEED TO REPLY AGAIN. Brenda Shoss, Kinship Circle

Animals remain in distress. Volunteers may be needed for assessment, food/water drops, animal transports — in addition to shelter needs. As assessments are made, you may move from Lafourche into other areas in neighboring Terrebonne, etc.

======================

Send Us Your Arrive/Depart Dates

======================

Register with Kinship Circle so ground coordinators know how many volunteers to schedule. If already registered, just send your arrive/depart dates…

1. REGISTER WITH KINSHIP CIRCLE:

NO ONE SHOULD SELF-DEPLOY. All volunteers must register before deployment.

Send requested info to (one or other, NOT both):
Brenda Shoss, Kinship Circle: kinshipcircle [at] accessus.net
Terri Kelly, Kinship Circle: pawsitivedirections [at] yahoo.com

1. Your First/Last Name:
2. Street Address:
3. City, State, Zip Code:
4. Phone Numbers (cell & land):
5. Email:
6. Driver’s License ID#:
7. YOUR ARRIVE & DEPART DATES:
8. ARE YOU SUBSCRIBED TO KINSHIP CIRCLE’S DISASTER AID EMAIL LIST?
9. TYPE IN SUBJECT LINE: IKE VOLUNTEER

2. IN LOUISIANA, REPORT TO:

The home of Joe Dubois, COLAA and MuttShack Disaster Response Coordinator for LaFourche and Terrebonne Parishes

Joe and Mary Dubois, 985-804-6186
113 Leighton Loop / Houma, LA 70360

Joe Dubois will find homes for volunteers to stay in. You don’t need a tent, but should bring a sleeping bag. Showers, bathroom and food for volunteers.

** New Orleans or Baton Rouge airports are closest **

3. THEN REPORT TO MUTTSHACK INCIDENT COMMAND:

Lafourche Animal Shelter / 934 Highway 3185 / Thibodaux, Louisiana 70302
Shelter: 985-446-3532

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED NOW FOR:

* Shelter care
* Animal handlers
* Construction experience**
* Admin (including organizers)
* Animal adoption and transport coordinators
* Animal transport (experience with animal care during transport)
* Runners (to pick up/deliver supplies)
* Assessments
* Food/Water Drops

**Construction experience, including: Carpentry (rough and finished), masonry (foundation), drywall, electrical, HVAC, etc.

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———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Kinship Circle – kinshipcircle [at] accessus.net
Date: Fri, Sep 19, 2008 at 12:17 PM
Subject: Gustav/Ike Survivors Need Transports Now

KINSHIP CIRCLE ANIMAL DISASTER AID NETWORK

www.kinshipcircle.org/disasters

9/18/08: Transporters – Give Storm Survivors A Second Chance

Denham Springs Animal Shelter is a Louisiana no-kill with a huge influx of animals due to Gustav and Ike. Hurricane survivors and pre-storm animals MUST find a way out, if this shelter is to maintain its no-kill status. Animals must leave Denham Springs, Louisiana for foster/adoptive homes, so new rescues can move in.

TRANSPORTERS NEEDED AS SOON AS MON., 9/22/08, FOR ROUND TRIP:

* Excellent drivers who can walk and handle animals.
* Drivers come to Denham Springs Animal Shelter.
* Transport: About 40 dogs + unknown number of cats through Arizona to San Francisco area.
* MuttShack using 3 cargo vans for trip and needs 6 drivers.
* 5 drivers return cargo vans to Denham Springs.

CAN YOU HELP MOVE THESE DOGS & CATS TO A BETTER LIFE?

CONTACT IMMEDIATELY: MARY KARR, 206-947-3374

PLEASE HELP GIVE STORM SURVIVORS A SECOND CHANCE:

* Can you transport from/to elsewhere in U.S.?
* Can you help coordinate foster homes or no-kill sheltering?
* Can you transport animals in your own roomy vehicle?

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