Dear Animal Rescuers and Humane Organizations,

Here is why I am writing to you.  Everyone has a television!

The Katrina/Rita animals are not getting to their owners at the levels we as rescuers would hope.  Everyone, owners and pets alike are displaced throughout the nation.

Some have no internet access, some no internet literacy. Even I was overwhelmed and intimidated at petfinder.com with the thousands of animals listed. WE all have TV access!

After Hurricane Dennis I believe the facts were 90% of all the animals were returned to owners in a 3 month period.  Of course this was a disaster on a much smaller scale than Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and the ensuing geographical problems including levee failures.  This is exactly why we need to have new ideas in reuniting the pets and their owners.  Especially in a country that already puts over 7 million animals down every year for lack of homes.  The rescue and shelter worlds are obviously overwhelmed by this Gulf Coast Rescue.

We must also remember that both the owners and their pets will heal from this devastating disaster much better if they are together.

So many of the rescue groups etc. who pulled dogs out of the Gulf Coast have as yet to post their fosters etc. on petfinder.com .  EVeryone has TV access.

 Everyone has TV - one cannot get away from the things.

Camera phones, dvd's, webcams, blackberry.  This is a video driven world. 

My vision is to have all the groups with rescued pets video tape or photograph the Katrina animals and then play the video tapes throughout a time period of 2 days or more 24 -7 on a telethon. (Whatever it takes)  Even copies could be made and distributed.  I will be putting this idea forth in some different arenas in the next week.  I have no claim or ownership on this idea.  I don't care who is the first to put it in action or how it comes about.  I just want to see reuniting.  We all know this is the best way for these pets to rehabilitate from their trauma.  So many people are looking and cannot find their animals.  I'm afraid they will give up hope and stop.  In a country already overwhelmed by homeless animals adding all the Katrina animals is surely a burden.  However, a burden so many of us rescuers stepped up to accept.  For the animals, but also for their owners.  Except for G-d's grace there could walk I.  The rescuers did this for the animals and their owners, not so that the previously owned animals could find new homes, of which we all know there is not enough.  Such fateful days should not bring judgment of victims human or animal.  And by this judgment I mean cruel endings for the animals also.

I understand this would require no small effort.  I believe there are enough animals lovers in every arena that this could really happen.  I am more than willing to help and am in fact getting the ball rolling by sending out this message.  Please join me by putting this out to your organization and anyone who will listen.  As I stated, I care not a lick if I receive credit for this.  All Glory goes to G-d any way.  If you have any ideas on expansion of this or specifics I could work on please let me know.  I generously thank you for your time.

Mary Jo Nieson

9917 Marie ST.

Livonia, Mi. 48150

313-330-7546