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In November 2005, two WSSI employees, Dan Fisk and Larry Brissing, volunteered their time
(with WSSI staff working extra to cover their responsibilities at the office) with the
Louisiana Humane Society to assist with rescuing and
caring for animals, repairing damaged shelters, and building new shelters to house
the thousands of misplaced animals as the result of Hurricane Katrina. With the loan of WSSI Suburban #29, Dan and Larry began their trek on November 7, 2005 (Monday), driving over
a thousand miles to Tylertown, Mississippi. The next three days were devoted to working
with the Louisiana Humane Society at their make-shift shelter where over a hundred dogs
currently live, as well as a host of other animals (chickens, rabbits, and cats). Dan and
Larry helped with converting a house into a veterinary clinic, walking and feeding the
animals, cleaning cages, and a variety of other tasks.
Initially, approximately 50 volunteers were on hand to help out at the animal shelter on
a daily basis; however, the numbers have since dwindled to sometimes as few as four or five
volunteers a day to assist with this massive mission. Many of these volunteers have sold
their personal belongings and left jobs and family behind to work 14-24 hour days with
little food to eat and oftentimes sleeping in their cars.
On Thursday, Larry and Dan traveled to New Orleans to offer their assistance with the
Grass Roots Animal Rescue, an organization that
rescues domestic animals in times of disaster, crisis, or conflict throughout the United
States. Volunteers with the Grass Roots Animal Rescue have been responsible for rescuing
thousands of dogs and cats from the houses and streets of New Orleans. The organization’s
remaining work involves rescuing the animals surviving on the streets that are terrified and
hiding under houses or that have gathered in packs and become feral.A staging area was set up in the parking lot of a deserted Winn Dixie to hold dogs and
cats prior to their transport from the area, often to the Tylertown location. Upon Larry
and Dan’s arrival, they were provided with a listing of addresses, a map of the city, and a
leash. A typical address listing would read “1924 Esperande Ave. 2 pit bulls often seen
under porch.” If a dog’s bark was heard, Larry and Dan would take off running, jumping
fences, climbing trees, crawling over trash and cars, and even crawling under houses,
since they are built on cinder block piers, to try and locate the animal.
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| Larry and Dan will never forget their memories of mile after mile of uninhabited houses
with not a soul in sight, the cars and boats covered in dust, debris, and silt from the
receding water, and the homes completely destroyed with personal belongings strewn
everywhere. A cloud of mold is visible above the city as is the smog above Los Angeles.
However, they both say the true heroes are the volunteers that are without house or car and
live at the Camp just to help the animals. No television or radio or newspaper is available
at the Camp and you won’t hear any discussion on politics or sports or hunting. Until the
last animal is taken care of, the volunteers are only focused on being available to
assist.
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