JACKSON,
MS. RESCUE DELIVERY UPDATE
Alabama
Came Through and We DID IT!!!
On
Saturday, September10, 2005 a small band of people started out in the wee hours
(3:00 A.M. to be exact) of the morning headed for Jackson, MS. There were three
people in a truck cab pulling a 48 foot trailer that was loaded to capacity with
supplies for animals and their care giving volunteers, as well as, food and
clothing for evacuees who were left homeless by Hurricane Katrina.
Their
mission was to bring much needed supplies to a distribution center in Jackson
whereby the items would then be delivered out to the individual shelter sites
throughout MS. and LA. They had been collecting donations all week and had no
sleep and very little to eat to make sure that this mission was accomplished.
The following is just a short account of their remarkable trip.
We
loaded the trailer until 9:00 P.M. Friday night with hundreds of people coming
by our trailer with inquires of what we needed and then returning shortly with
those very things. The wonderful couple who came by and asked what was needed
most and when we told them crates they proceeded to K-marts and bought every one
that they had in stock. They brought them and many other things back to us but
discovered that none of the crates were large ones and that was what they needed
most at the shelters so off they went to Petsmart and purchased 10 large crates
and brought them back to us. These people probably spent thousands of dollars
all because we told them it was NEEDED. Many other people were bringing buggy
loads of supplies out of Sam’s there at Trussville and many other people came
by with SUV’s and trucks full of supplies.
We
had included a number of items that were purchased for people on the truck to
make sure that the truck was fully loaded to capacity for the trip to MS. What
had started out as an animal supply mission now took on even more meaning by
being able to assist humans as well.
We
headed west in the predawn light very tired but hopeful that we could make a
difference in the lives of the animals and the people who we would soon meet. We
stopped in Meridian for a break and were met by a group who had several U-haul
trucks filled with supplies that were headed to New Orleans. We also, sadly, met
a man who was trying to get to Baton Rouge where he had once lived and needed to
see if there was anything left of his home. We met another man who was headed
northward and the car he was driving was all that he had left in the world.
These were but a few of the stories we would hear on our short journey.
Our
next stop was in Jackson where we attempted to find a shelter that could use the
"people" supplies we had brought. We were directed to a former Winn
Dixie store that had been converted to a shelter and was being used as a
distribution site for getting the supplies out to the outlying areas. We met two
young ladies who were waiting to have their orders pulled and they offered to
help us unload our items. When we got into the truck we discovered that they
were taking much needed food and supplies back to Waveland, M.S. that had been
totally destroyed by the hurricane. They were out of food there and had many
small babies and children who had nothing to eat. When we told them that we had
baby food and baby diapers and children’s clothes they almost cried. We had
arrived earlier than we had expected so the chance meeting with these ladies was
in itself a miracle. And for the first time that day we were "JUST IN THE
NICK OF TIME".
After
we unloaded the supplies for the church we proceeded on to the airport area
where we unloaded the remainder of the truck (see attached photos). This
distribution area is managed by Best Friend’s Animal Sanctuary out of Kanab,
Utah. We were almost unloaded when four trucks arrived with a vet (who had
closed down her practice in order to go help) several vet techs and a fireman
from Michigan. They had driven non-stop for almost 24 hours to get to us and to
pick up supplies for transport to Gonzales, LA. where the worst animal victims
have been taken when they are brought out of New Orleans. Many animals that are
brought there are very sick due to exposure to the polluted water and the
horrible conditions with no food. These people were stopping to get supplies and
where ecstatic to find that we had brought all those crates. In Gonzales they
were dealing with 3000 sick animals lying on the bare ground. So even though we
were late getting to this warehouse we were for the 2nd time that day "JUST
IN THE NICK OF TIME".
We
desperately wanted to bring back animals to our waiting foster homes but due to
the fact that MS. Law requires that animals be held for a period of not less
than 30 days we were unable to do so on this trip.
We
are continuing to collect items and will be making another trip possibly to
Biloxi, MS. where there has been a new call for help and supplies. We want to
reassure everyone that has volunteered to help WILL get their chance soon but it
is imperative that we do what is best for the animals and to make sure that we
consider all the factors when placing an animal with someone. We also want to
make sure that these animals are going to be made available should their owners
be able to reclaim them in the future. We will send you further updates in the
days and weeks to come. Thanks so much for helping us to make this mercy mission
happen and to be a great success.
We
hope to again be "JUST IN THE NICK OF TIME" for others who may be in
need.
Sandra
Shaffer, President
2nd
Chance Animal Sanctuary
And all the People who helped to make this a reality