Pawprints of Katrina

by Cathy Scott

  Sitting on the porch at the former Camp Tylertown so many months later, I thought about what a tremendous place the center had been. The day before, I had gone with volunteer Mary Lichtenberger when she drove Himie, the message-in-a-bottle dog (whose tale is told in chapter 6), home to the town of Violet in St. Bernard Parish. Seeing Himie, one of the early rescues, return home to Gary Karcher was a fitting ending. Just as they had for Himie, all the pieces fell into place for so many rescued dogs and cats—even parrots, lizards, ferrets, pigs, fish, spiders, and birds.

  St. Francis, run by Pam and Heidi, is still an animal sanctuary, but now it is so much more. It stands as a symbol and a testament to the displaced pets of Katrina and Rita. Despite the odds, many animals survived and still more went home to their families. As good as Camp Tylertown was, along with a handful of other animal rescue shelters in the region, it can be even better next time because of the legislation now in place to help people’s pets and because of what we learned from Katrina.

  Camp Tylertown was indeed about the animals. I, for one, along with like-minded volunteers who converged on the region, will never forget them: Jellybean the Pit Bull, who thought he was a Toy Poodle; Big Bird the emu, who stood bravely among dogs and cats on a three-hour ride back to base camp; and Itty Bitty, the two-and-a-half-pound Chihuahua who walked tall.

  Today, when I think of New Orleans, I think of them.

  Appendix

  Pet Disaster Preparedness

  • Evacuate early. If you wait until there’s a forced evacuation, transportation for your pets may not be available and you may have no choice but to leave them behind.

  • If you have to leave or you are evacuated out, take your pets with you, even if you think you may be gone only a few hours. You may not be able to go back for them later.

  • Keep leashes, collars, harnesses, carriers, and kennels on hand so you can easily and quickly transport your pets out of the danger area.

  • Plan in advance where you will go. Make a list of pet-friendly hotels and boarding facilities with their addresses and phone numbers.

  • Keep up-to-date identification tags on your pets’ collars, with current phone numbers and addresses. Without these tags, there is no way for rescuers to know where the pets belong. Additionally, you can get your pets microchipped, with implanted ID numbers, as another form of identification. Keep a copy of the ID numbers so that you can report your missing pets to the ID companies.

  • Keep current photos and descriptions (for example, “white paws,” “one floppy ear,” “clear” or “dark toenails,” “white tip on tail,” or “dark muzzle”) of your pets with you, in case you’re separated from them. As mundane as these descriptions may seem, they can be used as identifiers to later claim your pet.

  • If you do become separated from your pets, immediately post a lost-and-found notice on Internet sites, such as Petfinder (www.petfinder.org) and Craig’s List (www.craigslist.org).

  • Have enough pet food and fresh water on hand to last at least five days. If you have to leave your pets, make sure they have access to the food. Leave the toilet lid open in case the bowl is their only source of water.

  • Keep your pets’ medical records and medications on hand in a waterproof plastic envelope.

  • Never tie up your pets or leave them in crates. During a flood, they may drown because you left them confined. During a fire, they won’t be able to escape. Even in the absence of these two catastrophes, they may injure themselves. Those who rescued pets on the Gulf Coast tell stories about animals who could have lived had they not been tied to a porch or a fence, because the water was higher than their leashes could reach.

  • For horses, have a planned evacuation route for every stall in your barn. Keep a can of spray paint on hand. You can use it to paint your phone number, preferably including a working cell number, on the horses’ sides in case you have to let them loose in a field (safely out of the barn, so they’re not trapped inside) or even on a street.

  Acknowledgments

  It often takes a village, and, in the case of saving the pets stranded in the wake of hurricanes Katrina and Rita, it took a selfless community of animal lovers from across the United States and Canada to pull off the largest animal rescue the world has ever seen.

  I owe enormous gratitude to Pam Perez and Heidi Krupp, who opened not only their sanctuary gates but also their hearts to the pets of Katrina. Without them there never would have been a Camp Tylertown. Their property was a home away from home for hundreds of volunteers, including me, and for that I am grateful. To Kandra Mahé, also with St. Francis Animal Sanctuary, who made my day each morning when, no matter how tired she was, would say, “Good mornin’, Miss Cathy.” To this Californian, and I know to others, too, she was a daily reminder of the friendly Southern way.

  I am indebted to Best Friends Animal Society, and Michael Mountain in particular, for agreeing to send me to the Gulf Coast in the first place; I am forever thankful for having had the opportunity to report from the front lines. And to Paul Berry, who got the first boat into the storm water in record time (and Ken Ray for driving home to retrieve it), for making Best Friends the first in the water to save stranded and drowning pets.

  To my boss, Carla Davis, for her unwavering faith in my reporting abilities. To Anne and Cyrus Mejia for their good humor as they held things together from the command center. To Sherry Woodard, our in-house animal whisperer, who with her soft touch was—and still is—a stellar example for us all. To Clay Myers for capturing the heartfelt moments from behind his camera. To Sean Scherer for his calm, gentle demeanor on even the most harrowing of days at base camp. To Mary Lichtenberger, Beth Montes, and Katherine Glover—the four of us girls worked elbow to elbow for four weeks in that tiny makeshift office, sharing laughter and tears; they are days I will always cherish. To Francis and Silva Battista for shaping up base camp and making it a well-oiled machine. To Faith Maloney for her steadfast moral support. To Pat Donoho, Kirsten Muthreich, Heidi Zogg, and Dr. Roger Knighton for watching over my dogs in my absence.

  A special nod to Leigh and Terry Breland and Joy and Billy Woods for their Southern hospitality and for making me feel a part of their Mississippi family.

  To Ali MacGraw for her beautiful words in the foreword to this book and her love for all living beings.

  I am grateful to Susan Lee Cohen, my agent, for believing in the project; fellow author Norine Dresser for referring me to Susan; Pam Mourouzis, acquisitions editor at Wiley Publishing, for taking the manuscript under her wing; Lesa Grant and Susie Dempsey with Howell Book House for their enthusiasm and expertise; freelance editor Tere Stouffer, who massaged the manuscript with skill and care; Vicki Kilmer-Rinker with Best Friends for her marketing strategy; and artist, fellow biographer, and friend Paulette Frankl for suggesting that the word pawprints be added to the title.

  To my family and friends, who provided sage counsel and friendship, including my twin sister, Cordelia Mendoza; big brother, Dr. J. Michael Scott; son, Raymond Somers Jr.; daughter-in-law, Karen Somers; grandchildren, Claire and Jake; stepsister, Nancy Whitlock; stepmother, Helen Scott; and friends Andrea Dresser, Myram Borders, Vickie Pynchon, Carolyn Oberlander, Linda and Roger Ballantyne, Chip Mosher, Matt O’Brien, Lora Shaner, Barb Davis, Candy Greene, Kristi Littrell, Fran Farrell, Lynn Tharp, Amy Wagner, Elizabeth Doyle, Karen Finklestein, Helene Silverstein, Claire Davis, Nancy Paris, Steve Miller, Charlene “Charlie” Fern, Stacie Hummell, Jim and Kathleen Kelley-Markum, Sandy and Joe Smith, Betty and Tom Kuffel, Andy Rathbone, Laura Rethoret, Wendy Burgoyne, Gloria Hill, Ellen Gilmore, Sandy Miller, Amy Abern, Christine McKellar, Charlene Rogers, Susie Duttge, Lezlie Sage, Jana de Peyer, and Denise Jenkins, who, no matter how over the top I am as an animal lover, continue to back me.

  To the many volunteers and Best Friends staffers too numerous to name whose paths I crossed along the journey, your dedication was awe-inspiring.

  We have a bond, those of us who helped, whether it was behind
the scenes, at base camp, on the ground, or from the command center. It is a bond held together by our innate love of animals, no matter how big or small, no matter the breed or species. You are my heroes, one and all. May we never forget the pets of Katrina and strive to ensure that they’re never again left behind.

  Index

  Acosta, Christopher and Crystal

  Alexander, Nydia

  Alley Cat Allies

  Althans, Jeanette and Emily

  American Can Company

  American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

  Animal Ark

  Animal Haven

  Animal Hospital on Mount Lookout Square

  Animal Rescue New Orleans (ARNO)

  Archer, Fiona

  Ark (artwork)

  Arnold, Don

  Ashtabula Animal Protective League

  Bailey, Melanie

  Bartholomew, Diane and Preston

  Battista, Francis

  Battista, Silva

  Bauer, Kit

  Bear Search and Rescue Foundation

  Beauregard Middle School

  Bell, Anne

  Berry, Paul

  Best Friends Animal Society

  American Can Company rescues

  Camp Tylertown, creation of

  database

  ground rescues

  identification and tracking of animals

  interactions with government and other rescue organizations

  pet-guardian reunions

  Utah headquarters

  volunteers

  water rescues

  Web site

  Best Friends magazine

  Big Bird (emu)

  Biggerstaff, Scott and Teresa

  Blanco, Kathleen

  Boggio, Kit

  Booker, Sarah

  Bordeaux, Connie

  Bowmer, Rick

  Bradley, Cheryl

  Breland, Leigh and Terry

  Burns-Carruthers, Karen

  Bush, President George W.

  Bzdewka, Mike

  Cakir, Cem

  Campbell, Laneka

  Camp Tylertown

  as base camp

  creation of

  layout of

  volunteers

  Carruthers, David

  Carter, Robert

  cats

  Bubba and Bugsy

  Cici and Fifi

  Mr. Jezebel (Himalayan)

  Nola Vie (kitten)

  Petey (tabby)

  William Tell

  Celebration Station, setup of

  Childers, Micci

  Colorado Humane Society

  Congressional Caucus for Animals

  Cooper, Anderson

  Corrigan, Tasha

  Cosse, Karen and Walter

  Cosse, Tommy

  Cox, Tom

  Craig’s List

  Crook, Rich

  Crowe, Peter

  Dashfield, Karen

  Daub, Mary Ellen

  Daugaard, Bill

  David, John

  Davis, Barb

  Davis, Jennifer

  Davis, Kelle

  Davis, Lyle

  Dennis, Jill

  Deutsch, Cliff

  DeVito, Chuck

  disaster preparedness

  dogs

  Angel (Pit Bull)

  Benji

  Bright Eyes (Pit Bull mix)

  Bunker (American Staffordshire Terrier)

  Buttons

  Cheesecake (Pit Bull mix)

  Chopper (Rottweiler)

  Cobi and Bella

  Covoo (Yorkshire Terrier)

  Cujo (terrier/Poodle mix)

  Diesel (Pit Bull)

  Domino (Pit Bull mix)

  Ebony (Chihuahua-Dachshund mix)

  Ginger (Chihuahua)

  Gracie (Great Dane)

  Haley (German Shepherd mix)

  Himie (Rottweiler)

  Hobo Mississippi (Husky-mix)

  Itty Bitty (Chihuahua)

  Jellybean (Pit Bull)

  Kanal Girl (Vizsla mix)

  Ketel (Maltese)

  Lois Lane (Chihuahua)

  Marina (Poodle)

  Mia (Chihuahua)

  Morgan LeFay (Standard Poodle)

  Munchie (Pomeranian)

  Piglet (Pit Bull)

  Precious and Pudgy (Dachshunds)

  Red (Staffordshire Terrier)

  Rex (Chihuahua)

  Ripper (Pit Bull mix)

  Sadie (Chow)

  Sadie (Labrador Retriever)

  Schmoo (Boxer/Pit Bull mix)

  Scotty (terrier mix)

  Tenderfoot (Labrador Retriever)

  Tripod (Staffordshire Terrier)

  Zoey (German Shepherd mix)

  Domino, Sal and Joan

  Donoho, Pat and Larry

  door-to-door searches

  Downs, Lisa

  ducks, rescue of

  Dunsmore, Barbara

  Duttge, Susie

  emu, rescue of

  Englande, Clifford “Chip,”

  Ezell, Jane

  Farr, Alex

  Fitch, Connie and Dwight

  Fleeger, Corolla

  Ford, Momi

  Forte, Marcello

  Fourcade, Jenny

  Fox, Cherie

  Fraser, Rochelle

  Gabrel, Catherine “Cat,”

  Gabrel, Gary

  Gallagher, Maura

  Garcia, Jill

  Garcia, John

  Garcia, Mckenzie

  Garrison, Jane

  Garvey, Kris

  Gerson, Elana

  Gillespie, Lucy

  Gilligan, Annette

  Glazier, Lee and Sheila

  Glover, Jeremy

  Glover, Katherine

  Golston, Molly goose, rescue of

  Graham, Angenette

  Grimshaw, Gallee

  Guldseth, Brandon

  Gurney, Ethan

  Guzy, Carol

  Halperin, David

  Hamm, Carol and family

  Hartill, Ross

  Herman, Dana

  High, Tara

  Hileman, Eric

  Hill, Craig

  Hoenemeier, John

  Holmes, Samantha

  HOPE Safehouse

  Huffman, Joe

  Humane Society of Louisiana

  Humane Society of South Mississippi

  Humane Society of the United States

  Hunley, Mimi

  Hurricane Rita

  identification

  importance of

  microchip

  iguana

  Ikenberry, Sandy and Lane

  In Defense of Animals Ireland, Andrew

  Jefferson Parish Animal Control

  Jefferson Parish Animal Shelter

  Jenkins, Denise

  Jennings, Carla

  Jo Dawn Farms

  Johnson, Annie

  Johnson, Emma

  Jones, Elissa

  Jones, Jackie

  Jones, Jodie and Clay June bugs

  Karcher, Ethel

  Karcher, Gary

  Kilmer, Virginia

  Kimball, Amy

  Klein, Doug

  Knierim, Christine

  Knox, Dan

  Krupp, Heidi

  Lamar-Dixon shelter

  Laskowski, Rachel

  Lauer, Kimberlee

  LeBlanc, Kelli

  Leeson, David

  Lemarie, Rose

  Levitas, Paul

  Ley, Laurel

  Lichtenberger, Mary

  Littrell, Kristi

  Longwood Animal Hospital and Pet Resort

  Louisiana Pet Evacuation Bill

  Louisiana SPCA

  Louviere, Alice

  Magnum, Will

  Magyar, Mike

  Mallu, Pema

  Maloney, Faith

  Martin, Jan

  Martin, Lisa

  McCleese, Mike

  McDermott, Diane

 
Mead, Russ

  Mejia, Anne

  Mejia, Cyrus

  Michalsi, Karen

  microchip

  Mikelonis, Mark

  Minton, Mike

  Mintun, Jan

  Montes, Beth

  Moore, Kim

  Morgan, William

  Mountain, Michael

  Murphy, Pat

  Mutt Shack shelter

  Myers, Clay

  National Animal Rescue and Sheltering Coalition (NARSC)

  Noah’s Wish

  Norkus, Rose

  Norton, Susan

  Not Left Behind (Snow)

  Nunez, Maxey

  Odom, Daryl

  Ohrtman, Kelli

  O’Neill, Suzanne

  Orleans Parish

  Out of the Pitts (rescue group)

  Park, Anne

  Parker, Angel

  Parker Coliseum, shelter at

  Pasado Rescue

  People Finder (search engine)

  Pepine, Janine

  Perez, Pam

  Petfinder

  Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards (PETS) Act

  photos, of lost pets

  pig, rescue of

  Plaquemines Parish

  police wrongdoing

  Popowich, Jeff

  Purcell, Leah

  Pyle, Mike

  pythons, rescue of

  Racine Zoo

  Raisin (pig)

  Ramsey, Cathy

  Rankin, Virginia

  Ratleff, Latasha (Tasha)

  Ray, Ken

  reunions. See also specific people and pets

  Rice, Mark

  Rizzuto, Dennis

  Robinson, Rob

  Rodriguez, Robert

  Rude, Bob

  Rykoff, Debbie

  Salter, Mary