Who We Are
August
Who We Are and About This Site
Guerrilla Animal Rescue was born out of necessity, as the co-founders hit New Orleans just days after America's biggest natural disaster. Melanie Good and Michael Lohr felt they could help. They didn't realize they would wind up being a driving force and one of two groups to hit the water in the immediate time of need.
Michael Lohr continued for one month personally tearing through buildings, authorized by owners, and saved more than 250 animals. Soon we had our own vets, boat, and volunteers. Jennifer Lohr joined the mission and helped to organize pet reunions with the owners with a success rate of 95%!
Today, we continue our goal of changing the world one animal at a time. September brought a new challenge. We discovered many parts of the world don't know how to spay and neuter animals. We began in Baku, Azerbaijan with the help of Kristine Herman ,a human rights lawyer with the American Bar Association.. We coaxed two Irish Veterinarians to join GAR as the first world team to teach local vets, government of Azerbaijan Vets, and PAWS volunteers how to spay, neuter, sterilize instruments, humanely euthanize and care for sick animals.
GAR's vets spayed more than 200 animals! More importantly, they taught local vets how to do it themselves. GAR went into the countryside and captured, spayed, and released cats in an effort to stop the extreme overpopulation problem existing there. Animals are starving, scared, cold, homeless, and sick. The problem is monumental. The government had nowhere to turn. We are thankful to have helped. With a new vet clinic freshly opened, t hey are striving to continue the work we began.
Melanie Good is an experienced rescuer , and with Guerrilla Animal Rescue she is now able to do more than ever before. GAR is supporting the spaying and neutering of feral cat colonies in North Carolina. Volunteers daily feed the colonies. The cats survive without reproduction. The goal is to end the pain, fear, starvation, and allow them to live peacefully; stopping the cycle.
GAR has rescued in Dublin, Ireland as well. Mother cats and babies, homeless and hungry, given homes where possible; spayed and released where they are beyond being house pets.
Salt Lake City is another hot spot for GAR. We have given support for abandoned mother cats and their babies. Providing homes until the kittens can be weaned, then spaying the mother and finding homes for all. More than 100 cats have successfully been placed!
Los Angeles is the home of GAR and where Ms. Good has already made an indelible mark. She has rescued houndreds of animals. Hard to handle, scared, and feral animals are her speciality. Making abused animals trust again so they can be placed is key.
Guerrilla Animal Reascue is actively looking for a home to call it's own. An animal rescue facility to handle all animals, allow for boarding, rescue, and placement. Please help to make our dream a reality.
We are changing the world. We will not give up or give in and we thank you for your support.
The lessons learned in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina have forced GAR to take a long hard look at exactly how an animal rescue operation needs to be run and to what end.
Domesticated animals cannot survive without the help of humans. Therefore it is GAR's responsibility to NOT make an enemy of man and pit him against nature, but to help him help save the creatures we all love so dearly.
- Education and Empowerment: It is our goal to turn animal lovers into animal advocates on a local level. Whether it is instruction on how to rescue a traumatized cat from under a porch, or come to the aid of a stray pregnant dog. We want people to act passionately yet responsibly. GAR will also provide basic instruction on the day-to-day care of household pets for those in need of guidance.
- Fundraising: Enough funds must be raised to enable us to take the next step with our newly educated animal advocates, to create a nationally recognized Certification Program, giving GAR access to disaster zones under the auspice of FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security. (Note: both agencies have officially stated that no uncertified person will be allowed to access the ground zero of any national disaster, therefore, it is imperative that we achieve this goal!)
- Communication: In the event of another large disaster, there must be a system in place for ALL animal rescue agencies to coordinate and communicate with one another to maximize efficiencies in each of our independent efforts.
- Ground Power: In anticipation of the 2008 Hurricane Season, it is our goal to procure and set up a mobile triage 4x4 unit, fully stocked with medical equipment and qualified vets, that can drive anywhere within a disaster zone. In addition, RVs will serve as base camps and contain additional surgical supplies, transport cages, generators, solar powered back up and satellite phones, in addition to provide overnight accommodations and supplies such as tents and sleeping bags for volunteers.
The biggest lesson of all, we learned, is that you can never be over-prepared. The list above are some first steps to assure that GAR is a valuable asset on the ground in any disaster situation whether it’s fire, flood, earthquake or hurricane. REMINDER: The 2088 Hurricane Season will be here before we know it. Please help us prepare so that we caught in a Katrina quagmire! Donate Now.