Isaac forces evacuation of pets from St. John the Baptist, other ...

BATON ROUGE -- Three tractor trailer loads of pets were moved from Isaac-flooded St. John the Baptist Parish to animal shelters in north Louisiana and more will be on their way there Friday, state officials said.

Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry Mike Strain said that 145 pets -- from dogs and cats to birds, guinea pigs and turtles -- were evacuated with their owners from the flooded parish.

Strain said the influx brings the overall number of evacuated animals to 195 since Isaac unleashed winds and rains on the state Tuesday.

Strain said the total is expected to swell as animals and owners are evacuated from flooded parishes in south Louisiana.

He said 179 pets have been taken to the state's "mega- evacuation center" in Alexandria and another 16 have been transported to Haughton, near Shreveport.

Strain said the idea is to keep the pets and owners together.

He said the Alexandria shelter has room so "owners are co-habitated with their pets" in different areas.

The Haughton facility houses animals and their owners are housed in a separated facility nearby.

"The idea is to keep the owners and the pets together so people?can take their dogs for a walk" and be with their animals in a stressful time, Strain said.

Ed Anderson can be reached at eanderson@timespicayune.com or 225.342.5810.

Source: http://www.nola.com/hurricane/index.ssf/2012/08/isaac_forces_evacuation_of_pet.html

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