JAN/FEB 2006

Second Trip to Louisiana,
Second Chance for Pachino

By Susan Lonardelli & Jessica Jacques
As told to Cheryl Morrison

The Lonardelli’s first venture to Louisiana had been a success; the pet items that were received from the donation drive at the PetCo in Waterford had been dispersed among the shelters in need. Susan Lonardelli and her mother Marianne had volunteered at a few of the shelters doing whatever was necessary to help the many animals now homeless from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Having returned home from her first trip to Louisiana in late September, Susan found herself once again getting antsy thinking of the thousands of animals still needing help.

By mid-October more pet supplies were loaded onto a trailer and another trip was underway. This time along for the ride was Susan’s friend and co-worker from Preston Animal Hospital, Jessica Jacques and Marge Kuhl, owner of the cat rescue facility, Purrfect Companions. Susan’s first trip to Louisiana brought her to the towns of Gonzales, Leesville and Abbeville; this time around the three volunteers would find themselves in the heart of New Orleans.

Their first stop was a Winn Dixie supermarket that was situated in the center of the hardest hit section of New Orleans. The supermarket’s parking lot was now being used as a makeshift shelter for the many animals that were still being rescued daily from abandoned homes and off the streets. The accommodations of the Winn Dixie were less than ideal.

The three volunteers arrived at the site around 3am able to get into the curfewed section of the city only because of signs posted on their SUV, reading D.R.A.R. (Disaster Response Animal Rescue). They were greeted by darkness, and the overwhelming foul stench of contamination. There was no electricity or running water for showers, and the three portable toilets shared by 50+ volunteers were on the verge of overflowing. Sleeping quarters consisted of a tent held down by extra horse feed on the blacktop of the parking lot. Although unappealing, after thinking of all the animals in worse condition it seemed to them a small sacrifice to make.

The day started when the sun rose, as over 60 dogs began to bark, letting the volunteers know it was time for their morning walk. Upon check-in, the volunteers were surprised to find that they were the only medical staff on the premises. Susan and Jessica were rushed away to a makeshift medical tent to evaluate a cat that had been found on the streets that morning. The cat was suffering from severe bite wounds and a shattered pelvis after being mauled by a dog.

Meanwhile volunteers formed a line accompanied by other rescued animals in need of medical attention. Unfortunately for the volunteers, veterinary technicians are not able to diagnose or prescribe medication. With no veterinarian at the facility, they could think of only one person who would rise to the occasion, their friend and employer from Preston Animal Hospital, Dr. Craig Mcilquham. The doctor remained available for medical advice for the duration of the trip. After a few days at the New Orleans Winn Dixie a veterinarian and his technician from Massachusetts arrived to offer their services.

The new vet staff had come just in time, as that day the volunteers received word that the Humane Society of Louisiana was desperately in need of veterinary professionals to volunteer at their shelter. The three volunteers packed up their camp and headed for Tylertown, Mississippi, 3 hours away.

The Humane Society had lost everything in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and they were now operating out of a house converted into a temporary animal shelter. A security fence with a large sign reading: "Camp Katrina Providing Disaster Relief… For All Animals. A project of the Humane Society of Louisiana" marked the location of the 20+ acre facility. Little did the volunteers know, their lives were about to change forever.

With over 60 cats and 50 dogs, the volunteers had their work cut out for them. To get themselves acquainted they took a walk around the facility. While touring the area affectionately named "Dog Town" by the Humane Society staff, they came across a harlequin Great Dane. At closer inspection, what at first appeared to be the dog’s markings, turned out to be healing wounds on a Cane Corso Mastiff. His eyes were swollen shut and he was lame in one leg due to severe infection from a bite wound. Despite the obvious pain the dog was in, he licked Susan and Jessica’s hands and thumped his tail.

One of the shelter staff members approached them and told the story of the dog they had nicknamed "Scarface." Bleeding, emaciated and near death the dog had been found on the streets of New Orleans after being used as bait in a dogfight. Scarface, along with the other similar breeds, were under high surveillance due to thugs from neighboring towns cutting through the Humane Society’s fencing in order to steal them for fighting purposes. Knowing Scarface would be targeted, Jessica decided to let him sleep in the tent with them. After that night Scarface became "Pachino," and his fate was sealed. He was moving to Connecticut.

For the rest of the trip, Pachino remained by Susan and Jessica’s side. Arrangements had been made and Pachino was to temporarily stay at the Preston Animal Hospital to receive medical treatment. Also going home to Connecticut were four cats, three of which would be housed at the VCA New London Animal Hospital and one at Marge’s Purrfection Companions shelter. When it was time to leave they loaded up their gear and were about to put Pachino into his crate in the back of the SUV, when he leaped into the backseat to make himself comfortable. They decided to appease his request for a couple of miles while he adjusted. Thirty hours and 3,000 miles later they arrived in Connecticut with Pachino still in the back seat lying comfortably on Jessica’s lap, fast asleep.

Pachino has received the following treatments while staying at the Preston Animal Hospital: Two phases of heartworm treatment; radiographs for this lameness; antibiotic ointment for a severe eye infection, treatment for internal and external parasites; oral antibiotics; medicated baths for his wounds; and neutering.

Though all of these things have already been done, Pachino is still in need of donations to help pay for his very large vet bill. A benefit concert will be held in his name at the Watermark in North Stonington on Friday, January 27th from 6-10pm. Local musicians will play a variety of international music and food will be served. The cost is $20 at the door; all proceeds will be donated to the Preston Animal Hospital to help pay the cost of Pachino’s medical treatments. For directions to the Watermark please call 860-535-2529.

If you are unable to attend the benefit, but would still like to make a donation, checks can be made out to: Preston Animal Hospital and mailed to 28 Doolittle Road, Preston, CT 06365.

For serious inquiries regarding the adoption of Pachino, please call Susan or Jessica at the Preston Animal Hospital at 860-889-4763.

For information on cat adoptions please call Marge at Purrfect Compations at 860-861-0849 or email bigsky@042000@yahoo.com.