It makes no sense at all to stop them all going in. The local rescue organizations know their way around, they know where the animals are, and they know how to get them to safety.

It's the biggest pet rescue effort since Hurricane Katrina.

It's one at a time, and it's fairly slow work.

The number of displaced Katrina pets being brought in to our rescue center has dropped from up to 40 a day in late December to as few as five a day now, so we will be able to end trapping efforts within a week. And even though large areas are still devastated, the people of New Orleans are reclaiming their city more and more each day.

They are certainly all frightened. The most difficult ones to work with are the cats who hide under furniture. The dogs tend to be easier. You can put out a treat for them, you can generally bring them to you.

This situation is not good. The water is down, but there is still mud a foot deep, and animals are running around dehydrated and passing out.

To give a more definite number - I'd be making up a figure.