Volunteers work to find homes for animals

Local volunteers returned to Richmond last week from Hattiesburg, Miss., after helping the Humane Society of the United States care for surviving animals of Hurricane Katrina.

Volunteers from Cat’s Cradle of Greater Richmond and Veterinarian Technicians from Betty Baugh’s Animal Clinic arrived in Mississippi hoping to help. Along with them, the volunteers brought two truckloads filled with animal food, crates, medicine and other supplies donated by Richmond citizens.

Richmond volunteer Russell Bernabo, President of Cat’s Cradle of Greater Richmond, said he was eager to help when he arrived at the Hattiesburg shelter.

“There were far, far more animals there than there were volunteers and they needed help very badly,” Bernabo said.

He said only 60 volunteers were in Mississippi helping approximately 960 animals.

Vet technician Mindy McGhee of Betty Baugh’s Animal Clinic said the shelter contains dogs, cats, horses, pigs and goats that have been surrendered by their owners or found roaming the devastated streets of Louisiana and Mississippi. Other animals were found by the body of their deceased owner, according to McGhee. The groups’ rescue efforts are much needed.

“It’s something I’ll remember for the rest of my life . . . I helped take care of those dogs. I had my part in helping somebody reunite with their animal.”

– Mindy McGhee, local veterinary technician

Stephanie Wahlund, another vet technician from Betty Baugh’s animal clinic, wanted to immediately help the animals. Wahlund said she assisted veterinarians in medicating, vaccinating and inspecting the newly arriving animals.

“I felt that I made a contribution. It felt like an insignificant contribution quite honestly…there are so many animals there and they need people to be there,” Wahlund said. “They are desperately hurting for technicians.”

McGhee left Hattiesburg with heavy impressions still lingering in her mind. Although she learned of sad and unfortunate stories, she also remembers some rewarding ones. McGhee recalls an old man and his granddaughter coming into the animal shelter searching for their two dogs. As the pair reached the last stall in the shelter, they found their two dogs together.

Like the other powerful images, McGhee said she will never forget their faces.

“The smile on his face. It’s something I’ll remember for the rest of my life,” McGhee said. “I helped take care of those dogs. I had my part in helping somebody reunite with their animal.”

Bernabo contributed to the cause as well.

“I said I would go work with the cats. So I spent all my working days taking them clean water, cleaning cages, taking them out and trying to give them a little cuddle and trying to get them the care they very much needed,” Bernabo said.

Bernabo said the approval process to bring animals out of the state is difficult.

He was able to reduce the number of animals in the Hattiesburg shelter by returning to Richmond with 29 cats where they will be monitored for 40 days before being adopted out. Still, Bernabo said not just anyone can go get abandoned animals, but anyone can help by contacting the Humane Society of the United States. People can volunteer or donate money through HSUS, an organization that he said will use the money properly.

Regardless, McGhee fears donations will decrease as the media coverage of Hurricane Katrina decreases.

“It’s not over yet,” she said. “This is going to help but there is now no telling how much more is to come; how many more animals are to be found. More help is going to be needed. We’ve made a dent in it, but there’s a long road ahead of us.”

A truck filled with more animal supplies still sits outside Betty Baugh’s Animal Clinic waiting to return to Mississippi. Meanwhile, volunteers are asking for cash donations to HSUS and Cat’s Cradle of Greater Richmond.