Reaching out to stranded animals
Two Laguna Beach animal lovers headed east Monday in a U-Haul truck
loaded with donated pet supplies and food.
Laguna Beach Senior Animal Control Officer Joy Falk and Critter
Catchers owner Brynne Van Putten will spend two weeks helping to
rescue and care for animals left stranded by Hurricane Katrina and
its aftermath.
Their trip is fueled by donations and personal sacrifice. Van
Putten has closed her business of capturing and relocating wild
animals and caring for domestic pets for the duration of the rescue
mission.
Falk was recovering from a bad reaction -- a fever of 102 degrees,
nausea and chills -- to the precautionary tetanus and hepatitis A
shots she was given Sunday.
Falk and Van Putten arrived in Louisiana early Wednesday. They met
that morning with Laguna Beach registered veterinary technician Susan
Hamil, who spent 10 grueling days working in the intensive care unit
of the Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine in
Baton Rouge.
“Susan waited for them so she could acquaint them with people they
should know,” said her husband, John Hamil of Laguna Canyon Animal
Hospital.
Hamil said he expects his wife home tonight.
Besides the animals in ICU, there are about 1,000 dogs and cats
being sheltered, fed and groomed at the school.
On the trip, Van Putten and Falk stopped off in Houston, Texas,
where many animals from New Orleans shelters were relocated, and were
prepared to drop off their load of pet supplies and food there.
But officials in Houston urged them to head for Louisiana, where
supplies were critically short. They pushed on for Lake Charles, La.,
arriving at the animal shelter at about midnight Tuesday.
“The shelter just grabbed at the supplies, taking about half the
load and then urging them to take the rest to New Iberia, because
they didn’t have anything there,” said Laguna Beach shelter director
Nancy Goodwin, who spoke with Van Putten and Falk Wednesday morning.
Although the volunteers took camping supplies and food to be
self-sufficient on the trip, they had beds to sleep in Tuesday night.
Van Putten’s father, Peter, lives in Lake Charles, and they had
planned to stop at his home to pick up waders, which will provide
them some protection from poisonous reptiles.
“We are definitely going to see water moccasins,” Falk said.
Next stop: Baton Rouge.
Falk, a horse trainer for 10 years before she joined the Laguna
Beach Police Department 20 years ago, will be sent to the horse
rescue area.
“They are trying to get the horses to Houston shelter, which has
stables,” Goodwin said.
Van Putten, who worked at the animal shelter for five years before
she opened her business, armored herself with traps, nets, catch
poles, gauntlets and respirators.
“Brynne is very experienced with wild animals, including feral
cats, and she has all the right equipment,” Goodwin said.
“We got every cat back after the landslide because of her skills.
“They are just starting to find cats there. That’s the big push
now. Her experience is critical.”
Rescued animals are being housed at the Lamar Dixson Exhibition
Center in Gonzales, La., near Baton Rouge, where Van Putten expected
to be assigned.
Funding for the supplies, medication and expenses were all
donated.
The Pet Responsibility Committee Inc., the Laguna shelter’s
volunteer organization, is paying for the truck rental, gas and some
expenses. Van Putten named the trip’s mascot -- a Beanie Baby
dalmatian in a firefighter hat -- Marty, in honor of Marty Kane, head
of the committee.
“People have been wonderful,” Van Putten said. “My mom and her
husband gave me $1,000, and two members of my ice hockey team donated
$1,000. Other checks are in the mail to defray personal expenses.”
Van Putten’s landlords -- work and home -- have waived her rent
for the two weeks she will be gone.
“It’s been amazing,” Van Putten said.
Veterinarian Jim Rich of Crown Valley Animal Hospital donated
cages, towels, medical supplies, food and shampoo and contributed
$500 toward gasoline. Friends of the Sea Lions also helped.
Stephanie Marshall, owner of the Dog Ranch Bed & Biscuit, has
offered to pay the airfare for dogs that Van Putten and Falk bring
home.
Local stores donated goods or sold items at discount rates. Packed
into the truck were cases of food, bottled water, drugs and cages.
Donations for the project will be greatly appreciated. For more
information, call (949) 497-3552.
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