Somewhere Out There - Lost Katrina Pets
Six months have passed since Hurricane
Katrina crippled our state, destroying our homes, taking the lives of our
people, along with thousands of pets. Sadly, most people who remained behind
with their pets, were later forced to leave them, some at gunpoint, some misled
to believe their pets would leave with them. Many of those pets who managed to
survive this disaster, were lost in the confusing massive frantic rescues; many
escaped through broken windows, doors and entire walls; many were lost in
complicated disorganized transfers to other shelters throughout the United
States; many still roam the streets of New Orleans, now reverting back to
primitive survival skills.
While some people focus on cleanup in New Orleans, others
focus on rebuilding, and others have started new lives elsewhere. While some
focus on searching for loved ones, others focus on body recovery (still
occurring today.) While some displaced residents are forced to give up their
pets, others still search for them. While millions came to the aid of the
people of our state, a few thousand came to the aid of our animals, animal
lovers from every state and many countries, they came in droves, joined as
allies, for the sake of saving animal lives. And they continue to come, six
months after the storm, although now at a trickle due to misleading reports of
"all is well in New Orleans."
Some pet owners have given up the search for their pets,
yet others continue to frantically investigate every lead in hopes their beloved
pets will be returned to them, pets who are family members, not "animals." I
can not imagine the torment, the agony these people endure. Whatever the
reasons people stayed behind, whether they had no means to leave, whether they
refused to leave their pets, or whether they did not believe the storm would
reach us. What's done, is done--there is no reversing the chain of events that
occurred.
Turn up your volume and watch the attached musical slide
show of the lost pets, terribly missed by families who still search for them.
The photos were submitted by these family members, their own personal photos,
many dug out from flooded and destroyed houses. Many of these photos I carry
with me during animal relief work, in hopes that perhaps I can one day recognize
a roaming animal in New Orleans and bring joy to a pet and his/her family.
See information on these pets, along with many more
at
www.lostkatrinapets.com.
