helping katrina's animal victims.

like everyone else, i am trying to wrap my mind around what's happening (or not happening really) in the gulf states right now. watching bush back-pat his fellow republican governors this morning made my stomach turn. everything about his visit was truly a miscalculation. these victims do not need to think about how rebuilding will occur. they require the most basic of all human needs: food, water, safety, housing, medical and psychological care.

like everyone else, i'm overwhelmed. i can't imagine what our fellow citizens are going through and how they must feel. abandoned. hopeless. sick. the situation reminds me of "war of the worlds" of all things. how humanity just crumbles in times of panic.

i've been reflecting a lot about how this could happen here in earthquake country at any moment and how horrible it would be on so many levels. we will reach out to those in need, but i don't want us to neglect our other companions. to lose our pets in a natural disaster like katrina would be devastating. sure, i've taken every precaution: id implants, id tags, cat carriers at the ready. but you just never know.

here are a couple of organizations that will be helping the animal victims of katrina. apparently, compared with the humane society and aspca, the first two non-profits dedicate a higher percentage to actual aid than to administrative costs.

• best friends. 100% of the funds raised will go toward relief efforts for the animals.

• emergency animal rescue services, united animal nations. "uan receives no government funds nor investment interest. uan is wholly supported by its members and volunteers and  in 2004, spent approximately 81 percent of every dollar on programs directly benefiting animals."

• noah's wish. after the jump, you'll find a nice list of items they need. also, see this page to see what they're doing in the area now.

• american veterinary medical association. read how they are helping.

and before you give to any charity, check out their rating at charity navigator.