by Gil Valo

Created on: January 09, 2010   Last Updated: January 10, 2010

Rescue workers try to save pets when it doesn’t endanger themselves or the people that they are saving. Animals should not just be abandoned. Everyone should make an effort to protect domestic animals and wild animals as much as possible. But rescue workers in itself is a general term. Fortunately, for animals, there are rescue workers that specialize in saving them from natural disasters. In some cases, animal rescue workers are unfairly criticized. In other cases, the public is justified in criticizing animal shelters for unethical practices.

There are many outstanding animal rescue teams. They make a tremendous effort to create a volunteer support program, collect donations, transport animals to safety, and provide temporary shelter from natural wild fires and rising floods among many other natural disasters. Sometimes the rescue workers are unable to act, because a blazing fire makes it too dangerous for them to enter certain areas. Some animals are caught in the horrendous blaze and perish. It isn’t the rescue workers fault.

The Louisiana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) discovered some incriminating evidence against veterinarian doctors that worked at Jefferson Parish’s animal shelters at Elmwood facility. August 13, 2009, Dr. Marci Miranov and her colleague, Dr. John Edwards euthanized 51 cats and dogs in order to control over-crowding at the shelter.

Lee Ann Matherne resigned as the director of the shelter one day before the animals were euthanized. The shelter was governed by bad record keeping and poor policy management. Ana Zorrilla, chief executive officer of the state SPCA, discovered that veterinarians based euthanasia practices from four different written policies. Certain administration people were supposed to approve appropriate decisions. This policy was never followed or implemented, and no laws were broken. The shelter received angry protests of animal cruelty. Zorrilla thinks the incident will improve shelter operations. She reported that many of the animals were adoptable. Parish President, Aaron Broussard, asked that his parish hire the American SPCA to govern the shelter for 90 days until the Marrero shelter could be transferred to West Jefferson Medical Center clinic.

It is important that people plan ahead for natural disasters. Professional rescue workers should not be expected to shoulder the entire responsibility. People make choices to reside in areas where forest fires are likely to occur,

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