Rescuing Pets in Louisiana

Randy's Story

Randy with other volunteers working in Slidell, LA.

There are many ways to describe my experience in Slidell but what comes to the forefront is just how much work it takes to run a large temporary shelter like this. When we first arrived we immediately went to work unloading supplies from trucks and hauling bags of dog food from one stack to another. Soon we found out that our group would be responsible for caring for the 200+ dogs housed inside the building. This turned out to be a job that required a non-stop, rush-rush pace with little time for reflection. It was extremely hot and very noisy what with all the generators running and dogs barking and people shouting commands over the noise. We worked very hard for long hours doing the cleaning, walking, and feeding and had only a few minutes to spend with each dog but I know that the animals were grateful for any time that we could give them.

If that wasn't enough we also had to find time to organize supplies, empty trash, refill water jugs, wash dog bowls, bathe dogs, and rearrange cages to accommodate more incoming animals. We were weary, bone tired and mentally drained at the end of each day but looking into the eyes of those beautiful four legged creatures made it all worthwhile. These animals have had a rough time and many were scared and confused so it was important for us to ensure that they were kept as comfortable as possible. It was a very rewarding experience and I would do it again in a heartbeat.

I especially want to thank the city of Slidell workers for providing meals for us and thank everyone who donated supplies such as the bottled water for the dogs and for the volunteers.

Noah's Wish is a great organization and I appreciate the work they do in disaster relief.

Randy