Please thank Senator Ensign (202) 224-6244

 

FOR YOUR INFORMATION!

Subject: Please thank Senator Ensign for Getting Nat'l Guard involved in
animal rescue

See story on Senator Ensign's actions to get National Guard invovled in
pet rescue efforts:  See story below.

ACTION ITEM:

I suggest we all contact Senator Ensign to thank him for doing what NO
OTHER POLITICIAN else has done, and to encourage him to keep advocating
for these animals and the rescue teams.


Yes it is late. But there is no one else that I am aware of bothering to
use their influence to help. The Senator should receive a groundswell of
support from all of us so he understands there is a
huge constitutency for his efforts.


I surely hope that his agreement about the National Guard won't be
undermined by the wretched State Vet, etc, but if it is we want him to
stay in the fight and keep pushing for government action.


So please thank and encourage him.


Please contact him!


Senator John Ensign
Washington Office
356 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington,  District of Columbia • 20510

Phone: (202) 224-6244 •


Fax: (202) 228-2193


To email use this link:


http://ensign.senate.gov/contact/email_form.cfm
 

Ensign says National Guard will aid animal rescue crews


By SAMANTHA YOUNG
STEPHENS WASHINGTON BUREAU


WASHINGTON -- The National Guard will begin escorting animal rescue
crews into abandoned homes to retrieve pets left behind by people who
evacuated from Gulf Coast hurricanes, Sen. John Ensign said Wednesday
after returning from the region.


The Nevada Republican, a licensed veterinarian, said he secured the
arrangement while visiting Louisiana and meeting with rescue leaders.


Coast Guard Vice Admiral Thad Allen, head of the hurricane recovery
efforts, plans to name a point person this week to coordinate animal
rescue efforts, Ensign said.


"There has not been somebody to coordinate the effort to go in and get
the animals," he said.


Ensign met with Allen and also toured an emergency animal shelter set up
by Louisiana State University.


Animal welfare groups estimate thousands of pets remain locked in homes.


At least 3,500 pet owners have asked for help finding their animals,
Ensign said.


In many cases, Louisianans refused to heed evacuation orders because
pets were not allowed in shelters. Ensign said local and federal
governments should change their policy to prevent widespread disease
among animals left behind.


"While I think the animals are important, there's a public health
concern as well," Ensign said.


Aside from animal care efforts, Ensign toured parts of Louisiana on a
Cessna plane owned by the state of Louisiana. He flew over coastal towns
demolished by hurricanes Katrina and Rita.


"There was one little beach town and all that was left were concrete
pads," Ensign said.


After meeting with disaster response personnel whom he declined to
identify citing privacy reasons, the Nevadan said many workers are
concerned about how the Federal Emergency Management Agency is spending
money.


Ensign said he learned that "there's a huge amount of money and very
little accounting." He plans to raise the issue at Senate hearings.


Ensign said he chartered a corporate jet to fly him and several members
of his staff to New Orleans. He said he paid for the trip from his
congressional account because Senate rules prevented him from accepting
a free flight.


Ensign's staff did not immediately respond to queries about the cost of
the trip and the identity of the jet's owner.