Well, my mom has been involved with a parrot rescue orginazation for several years. Generally their efforts are focused on voluntary relinquishments from neglectful and/or abusive homes. They then arrange foster homes and (hopefully) permanant homes for these birds. They also conduct a education and training classes. It's a great non profit orginazation.

Anyway, my mom called me yesterday to tell me she was thinking about joining a different orginazation down in Baton Rouge and helping to resue all the displaced (pet) parrots.

My instant reaction was "I think thats a very bad idea".

First of all, I know that the lead organizations (Humane Society, VetMed, Red Cross, etc.) definitely don't want volunteers to self-deploy. I believe the vounteers should be channeled through the lead orginizations.

She wasn't able to tell me very much about the organization down there or whether they were connected to official channels.

Second, I believe there are some serious health risks involved. Although I don't believe she would be allowed in any of the hardest hit areas anyway, there are reports of several communicable diseases which can be spread by the refugees. Add to that the risk of West Nile which can be passed from mosquitoes to birds (which she may be trying to save), this is a concern.

Third, she said that she would be in a 100% camping situation. My mom is 61 years old and hasn't been camping for even a single day in 30 years. She's in pretty good shape since she moved out into the country, but I think she is overestimating her abilities.

Fourth, she wants to borrow my camping stuff! Everything I've read says don't bring anything down there that you expect to take back. Now my stuff is far from top of the line, but I really don't want my Marmot tent or my sleeping bag (eeeew) getting abused, diseased, destroyed, or donated.

On the other hand, she is very dedicated to this cause. She has a great network of friends. And her heart is definitely in the right place.

So what do you guys think? Should I offer her my stuff and give her a crash course in camping? (OMG I just rememebered trying to teach her computers...). Or should I try to talk her out of going and try to re-direct her energy in another direction?

Off the top of my head...

Those pets have to go somewhere. I would imagine (don't know for sure) once they're rounded up there, they'll be sent all over the country. She could offer to accept a batch or three and find good homes locally. That will be almost as hard as rescuing them in the first place, without traveling to New Orleans and camping out.

Second, there are always fund raisers. Sounds lame, but she could help raise money to support this specific cause.

After disasters the general response of saving people soon filters into pets, cultural treasures , business interests etc. The New Orleons zoo was destroyed. I believe one sea otter and a few marine birds survived and are recovering at our marine center in Monterey. These disasters often wreak havoc on entire ecosystems and rare domesticated breeds. Your mom AND her group would be more effective, and honestly less of a hindrance by organizing a support infrastructure outside of the impacted region. Those Coast Guard helicopter crews will all receive a crash helmet full of air medals, and deservedly so. Back at base there are a lot of other rates who got those guys airborne, from a cook with a pot of hot coffee and omelets to the barracks MAA who has clean sheets to crawl into. It's that organization that saves lives- and parrots.

It's good that you've done your research on this subject. Now how much of it has your mother read? Seems like that would be the first, and most important, step to take in something like this, especially since it doesn't even sound like the organization is complete legitimate. A lot of decent people get scammed by false charities.

It's nice to see that her compassion makes her want to give herself entirely to the cause, but she must not ignore the fact that she is ill-equipped and inexperienced. I commend her desire to help and its a brave thing for her to want to put herself in a situation like that to help an animal. I share her sentiments, believe me.

Encourage her to keep up or increase her efforts with her local rescue program. Just because she's not in New Orleans doesn't mean that every bit of help she gives from home is for naught. Her heart is in the right place, but right now the professionals in the field of animal rescue are the best to do the job in New Orleans.

I agree, its a bad idea.

Firstly if she/they are inexperienced, they might end up being the one who need the rescue.
Secondly she is using her emotions to think that it is a good idea, and where the emotions kick in judgement and common sense goes out the window and she might put herself in a bad situation . Especially when dealing with a hurt or stressed animal. They dont know you are trying to help, and when cornered they will fight back.
I know how much damage my parrot can do, and if there is a risk of other infections and help is a long way away, she can be in real danger.
Talk her into picking a support roll. Even build some cages etc ready to except displaced and injured animals and contact the authorities so they know you are ready or preparing.
If they know you can back them up they will be greatful.

I do know how she feels. I spent a number of years doing rescue work, mostly car accidents. The one I remember are the unusual, the really bad ones and every accident that involved a pet or an animal.
That usually nice and quiet pet doesn't act anything like a pet, more like a wild animal. Expect injuries, and bad ones. Leave it to the experienced, and let them get some local support happening first.

Also, this probable wont sound right, but sometimes well meaning inexperienced people can do more harm.
I have seen someone give a car accident victim who wasn't hurt bad a cigarette, while standing 2 feet away from a fuel spill leaking out of the back of the car. That put about 20 people in danger.
My brother had an old couple stop at an accident and offer a cup of tea to a lady who was sitting in a car and told not to move until the ambulance arrived. They (first rescuers on the seen) calmed her and was attending to the other car assessing the situation.
When she reached to grab the cup, she instantly died because her neck was broken. The ambulance and the second response crue arrived a few minutes later.
So question her and make her question herself if she can realy help, or will she possibly hinder.

I think there is a lesson here for the people who do the after-action reports on the mess in N.O. Many of the hold-outs I've seen being rescued said the reason they didn't leave was because they didn't want to leave their dog, cat, or in this case, bird. I know I would have had a hard time abandoning my dog.

It probably would have sounded silly before the fact, but if the authorities had made provision for people to evacuate their pets, there would have been many fewer hold-outs who now require a much higher level of resources to rescue.

I come from a large family of animal lovers. Both my parents have worked in shelters, and my father went on to do 7 years of veterinary school to become a veterinary ophthalmologist. My aunt and uncle who lived in NO evacuated on time and drove out just before the storm with nothing but one spare set of clothes each and their golden lab on the laps of my cousins in the back. They had trouble finding a hotel in Houston that would allow the dog, but they did manage to get out of town in a Camry with a large dog. Not sure why having a pet would be such a huge deterrant to leaving your house.

The people who are being evacuated are being made to leave their pets behind. In addition, pets are not allowed at shelters. Obviously this is less of a problem for people, like your Aunt and Uncle, who were able to get out on their own.

Regards, Vince

Thanks for all the comments guys. My mom is on her way down to Baton Rouge now.

I feel a lot better about her going since I found out that the organization where she's helping IS now working directly with the LSU Veterinary School and the ASPCA.

I understand they had over 100 birds last Friday, were expecting another 100 over the weekend, and may have up to 500 by the end of the week.

She'll be staying on someones property with a bunch of other volunteers. They have electricity and clean water. Also she'll have a van to sleep in. So I'm not too worried.

Plus she has the EDC kit I made for her a while back. and I gave her a couple of my good flashlights to borrow. No she didn't get my sleeping bag <img src="/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

If anyone is interested in getting involved with this, and has experience with parrots. Or have cages / supplies that they'd like to donate, send me a PM and I'll get you more information.