This page is for the
15 homeless Katrina dogs that were housed at HHGDR and the dedicated volunteers that
went to save the animals in New Orleans.
Click here for
the Katrina dogs that found their owners.
HHGDR and Labrador Retriever
Rescue of Cincinnati volunteers decided they could not sit around and
not do anything. So on September 14th, Don and Jim headed to New Orleans
to deliver much needed supplies and help find homeless animals. After
driving all night they immediately went to work finding the animals left
behind and getting them medical care, food and water. Three grueling
days later they again drove all night to come home with the 7 Katrina
dogs now being housed at the rescue.
Don left again Monday
(September 19) and arrived on Tuesday to again start saving more
animals. Jim will follow on Friday. This time they plan to stay till at
least October 1st. The threat of Rita is not stopping these young men in
there quest to save more animals.
Update 9/22:
Unfortunately Don was forced to leave New Orleans, with the fear of the
levee's breaking. A mandatory evacuation of all rescue personal was
enforced. Jim & Don plan on going back as soon as Rita has
passed.
Update 9/23: Don and
Jim are headed back down in the morning.
Update 9/25: Don, Jim
and Cindy have arrived and are hard at work saving as many animals as
they can. Cindy is staying at the base camp caring for the animals that
Don and Jim are rescuing. Today they even saved a chicken that was
starving. We are very proud of these young rescuers.
Update 10/1: They
have returned after a long hard week of rescuing everything from kittens
to pigs. This time they brought back 4 dogs, 1 cocker spaniel that has
an owner waiting in VA to be reunited with her dog.
Update 10/9: Don has
informed us he is heading back to help continue the rescue effort. It
was hoped that when the city of New Orleans was opened up to the
residents that they would come back and save their dogs. It is now
apparent that is not happening, many we are sure are unable to return
home. Don will be leaving tomorrow afternoon.
Update 10/11: Don has arrived in New Orleans and is again helping
to save animals. Unfortunately now many that were locked in homes have
now died and the ones running as strays are harder to catch.
Update 10/20: Don
continues rescuing animals almost 2 months later.
Update 10/28: Don
has arrived home and with him comes 4 more Katrina dogs. Don and the
dogs are all exhausted and in need of rest. After giving over a month of
his life to saving abandoned animals he must face weeks of trying to get
his life back in order. He will never forget this experience and even if
he tries he will have the many scars where he was bitten by frightened
dogs to remind him.
Updated
11/09: Well much to our surprise Don has decided to go back.
There are more animals needing his help, many are starving because no
one is feeding them, others are still being found alive in homes.
Unfortunately many people have moved on with their lives and the Katrina
animals are now forgotten, the animals are lucky to have a friend like
Don who again is stopping his life to go save them.
We at HHGDR want to Thank
Don and all the volunteers that went to the aid of the animals after
Katrina, Rita and Wilma. Without these volunteers many animals would
have died. Of course we cannot thank all the donors enough that made
their help possible.
We have added pictures of New
Orleans and the rescue efforts:
Page 1 - Page
2 - Page 3
- The animals and
their rescuers
If
you would like to make a tax deductible donation for the care of these
dogs, please click on the PayPay logo and in comments write "Katrina dogs."
Katrina Dogs that we were able to
locate the owners are listed below.
Males
| Name |
Age |
Comments |
| Fluffy |
2-3 yrs |
Golden Retriever Owner
located - Updated |
| Pogie |
1 yr |
Rhodesian Ridgeback -
Dane Mix Reunited with owner |
Females
| Name |
Age |
Comments |
| Baby |
|
Cocker Reunited
with owner |
She Cannot Say Good-bye
It is a comfortable little place -- their home
and it is paid for, cozy, and theirs alone
Just the two of them, therein, reside
... an older lady and the aging canine
Listening to the radio, as the storm grew
tears well in her eyes, upon hearing the news
She gazes at her friend, and he regards her, too
Reporters are saying everyone must now go...
she was to pack only what she needed from home.
She shakes her head and wonders, Didn't they know?
that folks like her had no means to get away
and no car of their own.
But officials called to say public transport would stop by;
they'd take her and her things, but her beloved friend could not ride
Tears fall as thunder and lightning rent the damp air
Her friend pads over, then leans against her, there in her chair
Sensing her sadness, the old dog wags his tail
As the wind past their porch swells to a wail
he reaches up and reassuringly licks her hand
And as he has always, by her side, he will stand!
She sobs at his sweet, loyal gesture, for he does not know
that on this journey, her dearest friend will not go
They had weathered life's storms and both had grown gray
She worries as they were never long, from the other, away
She rises slowly when she hears the knock on the door
a man takes her bags, saying, "I'm sorry, ma'am, it's
now or never -- we can wait no more."
When the old dog follows her, she says "No, go inside where it's
safe."
his _expression is one of bewilderment and hurt, as rain pelts his
face
When she steps into the bus, she hears him whimper and cry
She cannot turn around to him. She cannot say good-bye
She studies the man who holds her bags, then she steps off the bus
When she reaches her friend, she says, "No future is as important
as the gift that is us."
She bends down and, happily crying, embraces her furry soul mate
"The worst storm ever is near, but alone, you will not have to
wait."
Later, as the night explodes 'round them,
and she draws him snug to her side,
he lifts his fuzzy head, stares lovingly at her
and she contentedly sighs.
For on this, their last journey,
the two would be together
always . . .
. . . now . . . and forever
~~*~*~~
Dedicated to a future where, in a disaster,
we will not be torn apart from our furry kin!
Copyright 2005 by Kathy Pippig Harris
All images and text on this site Copyright © 1998-2024 Harlequin Haven Great Dane Rescue, Inc. unless otherwise credited. Use of any image or text without written permission is expressly forbidden. All rights reserved.
