Amid the flooding, a pig rescue effort
As the Midwest continues to suffer from severe flooding, many recovery efforts have focused on animals. The Associated Press reports that a rescue effort was launched Friday to save about 50 pigs stranded on a levee near Oakville, Iowa, where the Iowa River raged out of its banks. (The pig at right was trying to cross a nearby levee.)
About two dozen volunteers from four animal welfare agencies were attempting to reach the animals with feed, apples and Gatorade, said Colleen Cullen, a spokeswoman for the Massachusetts-based International Fund for Animal Welfare.
That group, the American Humane Assn., Farm Sanctuary and the Animal Rescue League of Boston have been working in Illinois to help care for abandoned animals. They kept a small staff in Illinois and sent the volunteers to Iowa to help with the pig rescue. The Iowa Department of Agriculture confirmed that it asked the volunteer groups to step in and help rescue the pigs.
Today, the IFAW reported 15 pigs have been rescued and are being transported to their new home at Farm Sanctuary in Watkins Glen, N.Y.
-- Alice Short
Photo: Sue Ogrocki/Associated Press

Accolades for the International Fund For Animal Welfare for their rescue endeavors and transport of 15 pigs who can live at the peaceful Farm Snctuary in New York.
Posted by: Brien Comerford | July 01, 2008 at 10:30 AM
We are so disgusting as a species that we would just see these poor pigs as nothing of worth, except to feed our mouths.
This is a civilization without morals, a country where the only thing that matters is we humans and how much money you have. What a sad state-of-affairs.
Being considered the most intelligent species on this earth, so we say, doesn't say much for us and the way we treat others. I am saddened to see so many animals have to die just because they are deemed not worthy!
My hat is off to all of the rescuers who did do the right thing and risked their lives to save as many of God's creatures as possible.
DO THE RIGHT THING!
Posted by: Elizabeth | July 04, 2008 at 06:58 AM
To Elizabeth who wrote on July 4. You are right on in your comments about the human species. Those are my thoughts exactly and I couldn't have said it better. Poor animals, even in 2008, are considered lowly creatures who are just here for the benefit of man. It is truly disgusting and heartbreaking.
Posted by: Marilyn Glasgow | July 19, 2008 at 05:48 PM