tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7043381.post3767111009811768195..comments2023-11-03T04:48:30.117-07:00Comments on themacinator: My Thoughts Exactlythemacinatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14604965394470394628noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7043381.post-68152289078977686432008-12-04T13:09:00.000-08:002008-12-04T13:09:00.000-08:00Marilyn Sue-Thank you for your response. I don't t...Marilyn Sue-<BR/>Thank you for your response. I don't think I articulated my frustration/bemusement as well as I would have liked, which always seems to be the way for me.<BR/><BR/>First of all, I'm so grateful that you were there- both for the people and the animals. I'm grateful to ALL the people that were there for the humans, and all the animals. Obviously both were and are needed. <BR/><BR/>My befuddlement came from living in California, and seeing the overwhelming emotional and financial response for the plight of the Katrina (and Gustav, and Ike) animals. Sedaris' excerpt sort of shows my bafflement. Thinking back, I'm sure I got a skewed version of it, because I'm in the animal field. People weren't going to call the shelter and say, "how can I help the human flood victims?" They were only going to call about the dogs and cats. It was everywhere my animal-oriented eyes turned. On the other hand, people who had never seemed to care before cared now, and they didn't care locally, they cared about storm victims. I care, too. I don't begrudge that they care, I just am sort of amazed- not just at this disaster, but at all disasters- that it's only in times of serious distress that we notice the problem at hand. The problem is every day, everywhere. <BR/><BR/>I'm also sort of amazed that the minute New Orleans is out of the media spotlight, communally, we've forgotten about it (I don't mean to point fingers- I can tell you haven't!). But being in New Orleans last month was a sad wakeup call. We should still be there- animal lovers and whoever, the problem is ongoing.<BR/><BR/>You're absolutely right- people wanted their money to go where was specified, and I always gave the best information that I could. It was just the same sense of "woah, all of a sudden animal welfare, 2000 miles away, matters?" The disconnect was what I was trying to articulate. <BR/><BR/>Thank you for everything you do, and for your thoughtful response.themacinatorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14604965394470394628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7043381.post-27793270154781276042008-12-04T06:40:00.000-08:002008-12-04T06:40:00.000-08:00After Katrina people saw that people were not bein...After Katrina people saw that people were not being helped properly and as a result, animals were left entirely to fend for themselves. Most could not survive.<BR/><BR/>I spent the weeks after Katrina working in a people shelter and coordinating an online effort to find missing relatives.<BR/><BR/>As that work ended I stumbled across an online database of animals with address information. I put together a group that spent a year reuniting animals with their families.<BR/><BR/>People were very angry after Katrina and tried to pick up the pieces because our government failed New Orleans and the Gulf area. Animal workers pitched in to rescue animals. That was their expertise and that job needed to be done.<BR/><BR/>The size of the animal rescue was unprecedented. The media found that story as compelling as filming interviews in evacuee shelters. It also went on after the shelters had closed.<BR/><BR/>Speaking as someone who saw firsthand what San Antonio did for evacuees, I do not think there was more concern or care for animals.<BR/><BR/>People wanted their donations to go where specified, whether to help evacuees or animals, hence the calls you got.Marilyn Litthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05557633582043608297noreply@blogger.com