OVER 200 ANIMALS AT LARGEST GUSTAV ANIMAL EVAC SITE

PasadoRescue FIRST & LARGEST TRIAGE ANIMAL AID STATION OPENED FOR GUSTAV on AUG. 30 14 days, over 200 animals, on 600 acres, working with some of the best people in the world, helping animals who still need adoption... --Pasado's Safe Haven departs Louisiana. --More farms offered to PasadoRescue to help "next time". --Why PasadoRescue doesn't respond to Texas Thank you! If you missed the first 13 days, click here! TRACK IKE
	After 14 days, it's time for simple thanks, to so many, who made PasadoRescue welcome once again in the fine State of Louisiana, and honored us by allowing us to help their animals. PASADORESCUE'S TRIAGE FARM First, to the owner of the farm where a rag-tag crew of PasadoRescuers, were able to "set-up shop" and do what we never expected: to evacuate animals from shelters, assuring they were safely out of harm's way before Hurricane Gustav hit.
When Pasado's Safe Haven called the woman who owned the brand new barn, never used. The pasture, never touched. We could have heard an easy "no" to our request. But it didn't take a moment for her to open her arms wide and say, "Come on down. I'll do whatever it takes to help."

We expected that our first disaster responders would arrive in New Orleans on August 30th, touch down, and go straight to Folsom, where the farm was located. Instead, we were diverted immediately to take all the dogs and cats from the St. Bernard Shelter. And that was fine by us. It's all about helping. And our awesome crew didn't miss a step changing gears.
Our very deepest thanks to: Rita L., Jen C., Kim K., Amber c., and Joe H. - Pasado's first team deployed into Louisiana on August 30th. They worked extremely long days, in 98-degree heat and humidity, weathered a hurricane, bouts of illness, and sleeping on straw stacks amid barking dogs. On their way home on Saturday, their flights were diverted and delayed due to Hurricane Gustav causing havoc in the Midwest. And upon returning home, their luggage was lost. Now, where does karma come in we wonder?
	Within 24 hours of touchdown in New Orleans, Charlotte Bass, E.D. of ARNO, called to ask if 300 animals could come to the farm. In the end, 150 cats, and some awesome volunteers arrived, expanding our team of 2 and 4-legged barn inhabitants. Those cats would remain until the final day. And more than a few volunteers wrote to us about how much the cats loved the breezy barn. ARNO volunteer, Laura, left, with Simon.
	To the ARNO volunteers who worked their butts off not only helping their 150 cats but the animals from St. Bernard Shelter: Beth S. (left with St. Bernard dogs), Dianne Z., John V., Kristen A., Denise S., Laura L. and Chamain O' M! Especially one guy who recently moved to Louisiana and brought his own cats to our barn! He hunkered down in one of the 27 horse stalls with his babies and stayed a full week helping! As soon as this Web-Mistress gets names, we're putting them on this website. They deserve the recognition - and some sleep!

John, above, was a local who needed refuge for his cats. He stayed most of the week and slept on a straw stack with his babies. He was a lifesaver!
	MORE HERO THANKS - TO PASADORESCUE VOLUNTEERS! They came from places near and far, and managed to fly in to airports while avoiding Gustav's arrival. And thank goodness they did. We are SO deeply grateful to these awesome people like Candace, left, with Simon & Garfunkel! She drove in from South Haven, Mississippi.
	And more thank "mews" to PasadoRescuers: Amber A. – Efland, N.C. Jennifer S. – Chapel Hills, N.C. Michele K. – British Columbia Lisa R. – Baton Rouge, La. Candice S. – South Haven, Ms. Jeff Dorson – HSLA Director Travis H. – Loganville, Ga. Jessie R. – Loganville, Ga. Jeannette A. – New Orleans, La. Runway, who had been hit by a car, is given cuddles and time out of his cage. The people who gave of their hearts and time will be remembered by every one of these animals, at one point in time, here, or beyond.
PasadoRescuers and ARNO volunteers, below, shared some down time eating Chinese!

And when they were dead tired, yet had another 50 dogs to walk or cats to clean up after, there was some goofin' round time too. Below, the ARNO team gits jiggy wit it!
	Hurricane Gustav Moves In & Out As the week went on, Hurricane Ike moved in. And many volunteers had to return to their jobs (to make sure they could afford rescuing again!). Pasado's first crew returned home to Seattle, and in came Mike, left, and Kristin, to lead in Folsom. And thank goodness they were as flexible as they were. We didn't know when the St. Bernard Shelter animals would be returned, nor the ARNO animals. It was post-Gustav, and no one knew when power would be restored to the shelters or if damage occurred. Mike and Kristin just picked up and went. And got straight to work upon arrival.
	Kristin, Pasado's Special Projects Manager, can handle just about anything thrown at her. And having many cats at home, she was right "at home" with the ARNO cats.
	And of course, over days of cleaning and loving all of the charges, many people fell in love with the farm's residents. And Mike and Kristin turned out to be softees, too. Below, meet Rocky and Rambo, reported to have medical problems involving their eyes. Mike and Kristin couldn't resist and adopted them.

	The biggest thanks of all... In the remaining days, as volunteers dwindled, Kristin and Mike got a call from their cat sitter: one of their babies was sick. Kristin had to return home immediately (we hear all is better now). But that left Mike with one ARNO volunteer and 150 cats to care for. For three days those two (and we'll get the name of that volunteer ASAP and post!) toiled to keep the cats happy, fed, clean, and loved. On Thursday evening, the ARNO cats, and the last volunteer departed. Mike, remained to clean up the barn. After 14 days, over 200 animals, and dozens of volunteers sleeping and eating, it wasn't a small task. And when PasadoRescue is lucky enough to be given such a gift as a rescue site like this farm, we leave it cleaner than we found it. Mike worked late into the night to make sure we left things right. Thank you Mike, for being the one to close a chapter on a job well done.
PARISH THANKS From Donna and Angelique to Dave and Craig in St. Bernard Parish government administration, we are so grateful for your willingness to act and act quickly for the animals of St. Bernard Parish. We hold an MOU (Memo of Understanding) with St. Bernard Parish to continue disaster relief animal aid and we'll stand by that with honor. Melissa and Erin in St. Tammany Parish, your hospitality and gracious welcome of PasadoRescue was so appreciated. We hope we never need to work with you again but if we must, we truly look forward to it. Judi McG., what can we say? You loaned us your home to welcome Kristin and Mike in to shower, download photos, send e-mails, and just rest. Your hospitality made us weep!

Above, PasadoRescue's location - a one stoplight town: Folsom, Louisiana. It faired well in the hurricane. We chose the location because it has had a history of being just far enough away from the water so the hurricane dissipates enough to assure safety. We simply cannot say enough about the hospitality of all the folks who have helped us so much.
Lastly, to Jenny, Barb, and Karin, Pasado staff back at the sanctuary in Washington State, who worked tirelessly for two weeks - non-stop. They put all things personal aside to make sure PasadoRescue responded in any way asked of them. And to all the volunteers (FAR too numerous to name) who came out to tend to our animals, the office, the phones, who ran errands - you are the lifeblood of this organization!
A final note: As Hurricane Ike storms its way to Texas, we are asked why we wouldn't move operations there. Frankly, some states are very well prepared for animals in the wake of disaster. Florida and Texas are among them. When Ike was forecasted to travel up the Eastern Seaboard, PasadoRescue was in touch with our contacts for possible triage sites and with Departments of Emergency Management in North and South Carolina, in preparation to assist. We would like to offer large animal evacuation in Texas but are told that ranchers choose not to remove their livestock. And, of course, federal government subsidies pay to replace any livestock killed by weather (ice, snow) or disaster. Your tax dollars at work.
Missed what PasadoRescue did during Hurricane Katrina? Click here!

History of PasadoRescue in New Orleans - responding first to Hurricane Gustav with "boots on the ground" on Aug. 30th Right, one of the over 200 shelter animals PasadoRescue helped to evacuate from New Orleans shelters before Gustav hit. Meet all the cuties from the St. Bernard Shelter here. And spread the word - THEY NEED HOMES! See CNN blog here about PasadoRescue...
One of 1200 animals Pasado's rescued in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina - now living a safe and happy life! Missed what PasadoRescue did during Hurricane Katrina? Click here!	Disaster Rescue isn't cheap: PASADORESCUE EXPENSES FIRST WEEK: Airfare: $3520.00 (for initial crew; coach; R/T) Transport vans rented at airport to use for animals:$2975 (for one week; doesn't count gasoline) Cash sent for crews to use: $1500 (during natural disasters, credit cards can't be processed for gas, food, etc. - we must send cash. Please- any donation helps. DONATE HERE.
Volunteer at Pasado's sanctuary Volunteer for disaster response

Pasado’s Safe Haven has been rated a 4-Star Charity for a record four years in a row. According to Charity Navigator, the nation’s premiere independent evaluator of charities: “Only 10% of all charities in the U.S. have received at least 3 consecutive 4-Star evaluations. This indicates that Pasado’s Safe Haven outperforms most charities in America in its efforts to operate in the most fiscally-responsible way possible. This “exceptional” designation from Charity Navigator differentiates Pasado’s Safe Haven from its peers and demonstrates to the public it is worthy of their trust.” Michael Smith, Chief Operating Officer, Charity Navigator