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NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- The staff and animals of the Humane Society of Louisiana safely weathered Hurricane Gustav, along with volunteers, evacuees, and more than 150 pets, at Tylertown, Mississippi. The agency is increasingly concerned, however, about reports it has been receiving about impacted animals and shelters in the disaster zone.

HSL has established a GUSTAV RELIEF FUND and is requesting urgently needed support for the hurricane's animal victims. They are also helping to coordinate volunteers, particularly those with transport vehicles, who are willing to work in a supportive role to local animal control agencies and shelters requesting help.

HSL's needs are being regularly updated on the group's web site at HumaneLA.org. Monetary gifts are particularly needed, so contributions can be used to address specific needs as they arise. Donations can be sent to: Humane Society of Louisiana, PO Box 740321, New Orleans, LA 70174. Donations of supplies can also be sent to the organization's emergency shelter at 115 Obed Magee Road, in Tylertown, MS 39667. Animal carriers, folding crates, pet food, medical supplies, gas cards and gift cards for supplies are needed.

The group's small emergency shelter in Tylertown, two hours north of New Orleans, sustained minor damage, and one portable building was destroyed by Gustav. Their volunteer chapter in Acadia parish, however, lost the roof of its dog housing area, along with fencing, kennels, and supplies. Other small shelters in the region, many still without electricity, are contacting HSL, to express their urgent need for supplies and support.

Founded in New Orleans in 1988, the Humane Society of Louisiana's shelter was destroyed during Katrina in 2005. Since then, the local agency, which is not affiliated with any national animal protection charity, has been running its statewide programs from its emergency shelter in Tylertown. HSL evacuated to the site with 157 animals before Katrina, and they have since cared for and sheltered more than 2500 animals onsite. The group plans to return its headquarters to the city.

"It's hard to believe that we just held the unveiling of the National Katrina Animal Memorial statue in the New Orleans City Council chambers last Friday," says HSL Executive Director, Jeff Dorson, "And now, here we are coping with the aftermath of another hurricane."

As a statewide, nonprofit organization founded in New Orleans 20 years ago, HSL is in a unique position to distribute needed resources to small shelters and rescue groups in need. The grassroots group has little administrative overhead, so donors can be assured their contributions will go a long way towards directly helping impacted animals and humane organizations in Louisiana.

Source: Humane Society of Louisiana