I've seen many reports on the animal rescue efforts in NOLA -- this is the only report I've seen that accurately describes what is going on. To sum: the LA state vet wants pets properly processed before they are allowed out of the central shelter. This process is slow and is hindering rescue efforts because there is no place for rescuers to take the animals.
http://news.bestfriends.org/index.cfm?page=specialreports&mode=cat&catid=04061773-BDB9-396E-9001EF6EC01318A4&stid=1Sept. 11. Red tape stymies rescue efforts as rescuers can't drop animals off; authorities slow to allow animals to be transferred to other shelters
Report after report is coming in of rescuers who are being turned away from the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales, Louisiana, which has been used as the central drop-off point for animals being taken out of New Orleans.
Now housing somewhere from 1,300 to 2,800 animals, the shelter has been pronounced "full" by state authorities, who are refusing to let more animals in and slow to let any go out.
"It is a fact that rescuers are being turned away," said one source. "I know of one animal control officer who showed up with 16 animals last night and was refused entry. He took care of the animals overnight, but because he has nowhere to put them, he can't go rescue more."
The Lamar-Dixon facility is now being managed by the state Department of Health and the authorities in Ascension Parish, and the Louisiana state veterinarians office has placed a mandatory hold on the animals housed there.
The state veterinarian is reportedly concerned that the animals have been properly decontaminated before they are released, and that they be tracked adequately so that they can be eventually reunited with their families. Once animals are properly "Processed," then the state veterinarian is allowing some to be transported to other shelters.
However, the holding period is hindering efforts to save the lives of animals still trapped in New Orleans, because rescuers have no place to put them.
And meanwhile, the clock continues to tick, leaving many wondering: "Where is the state's concern for the pets still trapped in the city?"
Until they have a place to put the rescued animals, many groups have put their efforts to retrieve pets from the New Orleans area on hold. Instead, they are trying to get food and water to the animals on the streets and trapped in homes, so they can survive until they have a place to take them.
Animal rescue groups have been working together to try to resolve this issue with state and parish authorities, and there are other shelters within Louisiana and surrounding states with room to take animals from Lamar-Dixon once they are released. In addition, thousands of people have been put on waiting lists after offering to provide foster homes for rescued animals.
But the rescue groups are limited as to the action they can take -- the final authority rests with state and local authorities, and they can decide to suspend an organization's rescue efforts at any time.
However, some groups are not holding back in their criticism of state officials. Rescuers with Pasados Safe Haven (
http://www.pasadosafehaven.org) traveled from Washington State to rescue animals from New Orleans, and they are clearly running out of patience; they have contacted major media outlets and posted the following plea for help on the Internet:
9/10 6:47pm PST
ASCENSION PARISH SHERIFF STOPS RESCUERS FROM SHELTER - ARMED GUARDS OUTSIDE WON'T LET US IN!
Because the Louisiana State Veterinarian refuses to lift the 15 day quarantine hold period, the Gonzales state-designated shelter, is now considered full by the local sheriff. The Parish Sheriff is holding Pasado Rescuers back with loaded guns, despite the fact we have full vans, loaded with animals - the result of a 19-hour-day of rescue. We need to raise hell - call local media, whoever you can, the state vet needs to cut the bureaucracy and allow foster families, from around the country, to take these animals!
On edit:
Contact the Governor.
Governor of Louisiana:
http://www.gov.state.la.us/govemail.asp 
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