Updated by Victor via phone from Cathy:

First of all thank you to everyone who has supported me and all your donations. The good news is that I went to the Lamar Dixon expo center today and the good news is they are NOT turning away volunteers as rumors have stated. I got in very easily, I just had to sign up at a volunteer table, sign a release form, and they put a name tag on me, and I have free access to roam anywhere. I videotaped many images that will be on the internet later this week.  The condition the animals are in is  not the best of conditions, but they are the best that everyone can do right now.  There are between 2500-3000 animals there, maybe 100 or 200  volunteers, but not nearly enough to keep the animals walked and their cages sanitary. I met volunteers who traveled as far as Canada, Washington state, San Diego, Nebraska, New York, as well as many locals who are helping.  I spoke to a vet technician who says there are only 30 vets and technicians there, and today alone they had to see over 500 animals who needed medical attention.  If you can volunteer, this is the place to go.  They need help cleaning cages,  feeding the dogs, and giving them water.  If you cant volunteer but you can donate anything, they need many more air  fans, its over 90 degreees here and many of the dogs are already sick and dehydrated. They need to be cooled down. 

Many of the dogs I have seen today were obviously peoples pets with collars on. What's so alarming are so many of these pets have no ID tags on. When the animals get processed  at Lamar Dixon, 2 polaroid pictures are taken. One goes on the animals chart/cage with an ID #, the 2nd picture has the ID # on it and goes into a big box that is sent away to be put onto Petfinder.  I was told it can take up to 3 days who arrive to get their picture posted on Petfinder.   I also noticed many of the animals charts have notes saying "no Petfinder picture."  This seems to be an area that someone needs to take charge of.

The area is well protected by national guard. It has established air conditioned tents for the volunteers to sleep in. There are public restrooms and rumor that there is a shower somewhere on the property.  If you can get yourself to Lamar Dixon to volunteer, It appears to be safe, but maybe travel in pairs, there's a place to sleep and we could really use your help. 

I spoke to someone who is on a search and rescue team, which they are still sending out daily. They told me that 40% of the animals they are finding are now dead. But the good news is that 60% have survived 22 days so far.  I will call in more as I learn more during the week.

Thank you to anyone who can help out in anyway they can.

For the people who have been waiting on planes to arrive with animals that need shelter, i suggest checking the monday update at http://rescueforruffugees.blogspot.com/.

The planes are due to arrive either on Wed. or Thurs. and Kim needs a solid count of the people volunteering for those days. 

The update is as follows(Plugged in from Rescue for Ruffugees):

"Sept. 19th a.m. Update

All is progressing more or less smoothly at this point. Planes are scheduled to fly out on Wed. and Thurs. It is still looking like Wed. is our day. Janet with Broken Down Dog Rescue in Alexandria, Louisiana is working with her vet to get rabies vaccines done so they the animals are prepped to fly. She has one vet she is working with and has a large number of animals to process so they are working fast and hard. Janet has transportation lined up to get the animals from her facility to the Baton Rouge Airport so all is moving forward.

We are looking into Burbank and Van Nuys Airport as a possible alternative to LAX - LAX is a large airport with ALOT of security and from what I am being told, they are being a bit difficult in terms of getting approval for the planes to land there.

To the rescue groups, THANK YOU, you have all stayed committed to the Rescue for Ruffugee Effort and I think you for your patience and flexibility.

To those who have offered to volunteer, THANK YOU, everyday more and more folks email me to volunteer their time and donate supplies for these poor animals. What I need from you now is a count of who is available on Wed. and who is not and who is available on Thurs and who is not. I want to ensure that whichever day our animals arrive, we will be ready with volunteers on hand.

PLEASE remember to email me at Kim_Finger@yahoo.com as my gmail account is now inactive.

Warm regards,

Kim
Coordinator, Rescue for Ruffugees
Much Love Animal Rescue
www.muchlove.org"

Like many of you, I have been following the events of the pet rescuers down in New Orleans and in the last two days - I decided I needed to do something more than just donating money.  I am leaving in a few minutes to go catch a plane to New Orleans.  My plan is somewhat rough, but I am meeting two girls at the Atlanta airport who are going to be traveling with me (they are from NYC).  We will be renting a Mini Van and we are prepared to sleep in it (if we get much sleep at all).   Originally, my idea was just to show up and help, in any way possible - clean out cages, walk dogs, bath dogs, help feed them/give them water.  In the last 24 hours, my plan has changed.  I've been asked by Kim at Much Love Animal Rescue in Los Angeles to please try to get videotaped footage of what is happening down there.  Eye witness accounts are reporting horrific things and we desperately need proof of this to supply to the news stations.

Late in the day yesterday, a wonderful animal lover whom I've never met before, met to loan me his broadcast quality video camera.  I am going to do my best to get whatever I can on tape and I'll be fedexing it to him so that he can post it online & also get it to Kim (who is going to try to get it to the news).

I've been sick to my stomach, thinking about all of the forgotten animals down there, and the thought of the inhumane suffering that is continuing to go on now - 21 days later!

This scrappy trip has been thrown together on a shoestring budget - I want to say Thank You to the following:

Kim at Much Love for all of her efforts putting together the rescue groups and foster homes waiting in Los Angeles

Ted for so generously loaning me the video camera and driving in massive freeway traffic to meet me yesterday (and also for slipping $20 in to the camera bag, just in case)

My neighbors Susan and Dave for donating $100 to me (I plan to use it to buy lots of water, dog and cat food at the Walmart when I arrive)

My employee Marypat who has donated her dogsitting services this week, so that I could leave town.

To all of my employees for coming together to do a great job running things for me in my absence.

To all of my dog loving friends!  WOOF and hugs to all of those that you love!

And lastly, to my dogs Sam, Sugar & Baby - who are the lights of my live.  They have inspired me to do whatever I can to help other animals who are not as fortunate as them.

 If I can get cell reception, I will be calling in updates to my employees to post here.

Since Sunday 9/11/05 - Kim Finger with Much Love Animal Rescue in Los Angeles, has been spearheading efforts to bring refugee animals from Louisiana to Los Angeles. The Los Angeles rescue community has banded together as well as many many private citizens who are just wishing to foster and help in any way they can.

This ongoing effort is still in the works, please check out their blog at:

Rescue for Ruffugees