Agencies try to reunite pets, owners separated by Katrina

Hurricane Katrina flooded homes and separated families, not just human family members from each other, but from furry family members as well.

The Humane Society of Southeast Missouri is asking for cash donations to help pay for vaccinations and deworming of any animals that come through its shelter, director Sue Sample said.

"When the animals go into foster homes we have to make sure their vaccinations are current, and because we have no way of knowing, we want to vaccinate them to be sure," she said

Pet carriers are also needed to transport pets.

In addition to donations any person willing to be a foster parent for a pet is asked to call to call the Humane Society at 334-5837.

A dog belonging to a woman from the affected area was not allowed inside the Target store in Cape Girardeau. After she tied it to a bicycle rack someone untied the dog and brought it to the Humane Society, Sample said.

"We hope to reunite them," she said.

The Humane Society of Missouri in St. Louis has set up an Emergency Foster Animal Clearinghouse to help match people who need a temporary boarding place for their pets with people who have space in their homes to care for the pets.

The Disaster Animal Response Teams from the Humane Society of the United States headed to Mississippi on Aug. 30 with a 38-foot Disaster Response Unit to work with local officials to evacuate animals out of the most affected areas.

An emergency facility at the Coliseum in Baton Rouge is asking that people bring stray animals there for evaluation and transportation to a temporary shelter.

ameyer@semissourian.com 335-6611 extension 127