Hurricane Gustav
Just a little late with this months newsletter, but we had a little bump in the road called Gustav.

At 11:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 30, as Debra and I were getting ready to get in our vehicles to leave work we noticed an 18 wheeler coming up our driveway. It was the Plaquemines Parish Animal Welfare Society from Louisiana with 141 animals. Of course all our staff was long gone, which left Debra and myself to handle things. You put both of us together you still don't have a whole person, however the truck driver told us that the staff for that shelter was about 20 minutes behind him, so we just waited. It took till well after 1:00 a.m. to get all the animals unloaded and given water and food.

We have evacuation contracts with four animal agencies, Slidell, Paws, Bay Waveland and the Humane Society of South Mississippi, plus the public coming in.

Our hospital was turned into "The Cat House" housing dozens of cats and kittens. The sally port was turned into temporary housing for dogs, and we were filled to the brim, but every animal that needed shelter had a space and someone to love and care for them.

Many of the Louisiana staff slept on the floor in our lobby, on air mattresses, blankets whatever they could find. No one complained.

We had to send some of the evacuated animals to other nearby shelters, that graciously came to our assistance; the City of Jackson Animal Control, Rankin County Shelter, and the Hinds County Penal Farm. We can't thank them enough.

The animals have gone home now. But now we are stuck with the extra bills that we accrued. Don't even want to think of the electric bills with the building occupied 24/7. We spent over $1,000 before the first animals arrived, getting supplies, bottled water, disposable litter boxes, extra food and water bowls and the list goes on and on.

Hurricane Ike
Hurricane season is not over, especially with IKE churning towards the Texas coast. We had our first Texas evacuee about 12:30 p.m. today. Family came in with three dogs. We expect more anytime now. Just got two kittens.

We are really going to need your help now. Overtime, which is not allowed, was used this time. Our employees worked hour after hour after hour, non stop. We don't know how some are still standing. It was rough, but we would do it again in a heartbeat. All because of our love and concern for animals.

Many of you came and volunteered, thank you so much. Your faith in us is what keeps us going. Now our greatest need is financial, to off set all the money we spent during the hurricane. Please help. Donations can be sent to MARL, 5221 Greenway Drive Ext., Jackson, MS 39204 or go to our website at www.msarl.org and click on the Guidestar button.

Upcoming Events
Whoops! almost forgot - our Fur Ball next Thursday, September 18 at the Cedars. Going to be a fun night. Strut Your Mutt has been moved this year to Saturday, November 15 and will be held here at the shelter. Theme this year is: Strut Your Mutt at MARL's Fall Fashion Show. More information will be forthcoming, just got to get my old fingers typing faster.

Trivia question from last month
P.S. The answer to the question, what animal if totally eradicated from the earth would be back in full bloom in 20 years --- you are going to hate yourself ---- every Mississippi farmer could have told you the answer *A MULE.

Thank you for all you do for MARL and the animals in our care.

Aileene Maldonado
MARL Programs Manager
aileenem@netdoor.com
www.msarl.org