Harlequin Haven Great Dane Rescue

Harlequin Haven
Great Dane Rescue

11567 St. Rt. 774
Bethel, Ohio 45106

Open By Appointment Only
info@hhdane.org

 

Help the dogs with a tax-deductible donation today
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Katrina Dogs

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.

doncar.JPG (32319 bytes)

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.










 
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