Project Hope, a project of the international animal protection organization, In Defense of Animals (IDA), is calling on state officials to allow animal protection groups permission to enter disaster stricken areas of Mississippi. The group, which has set up a rescue and recovery effort at the County Fairgrounds in Jackson along with Mississippi Emergency Response for Animals (MEPA) and the Disaster Animal Response Team (DART) to help animals affected by Hurricane Katrina, is prepared to venture into areas affected by the storm and deliver medical assistance and supplies, yet is being halted by the Emergency Operations Center (EOC).

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