Selected News Highlights

2007

Woman in dogfight for pet lost in Katrina - Judge gives custody to adopter in Texas (November 23, 2007) -- For eight years, Shalanda Augillard lived with her black cocker spaniel, Jazz. The Kenner woman lost her dog in Katrina's aftermath but says she was reunited with it in 2006 in Hays County, Texas. The exuberant reception she received from the dog, along with some DNA evidence, are proof enough for her that the cocker spaniel is indeed her longtime pet. A Texas judge disagreed, however, granting custody of the spaniel renamed Hope to a Texas woman who adopted the dog after the storm. Yet after a legal battle of about 18 months, and at least 10 trips back and forth to Texas, Augillard said she isn't close to giving up.

Owner, dog reunited after Hurricane Katrina (August 3, 2007) -- Sheena had grown. The yellow Pit Bull-Terrier mix was twice her size since John McGee left her in a holding area at the New Orleans Dome as Hurricane Katrina crashed down.Almost two years later, a rescue group based in New York posted a number on the door of McGee's damaged house a poster with Sheena's picture and a plea to "please call."

Mine: Taken By Katrina (documentary) - Everyone suffers when animal lovers are pitted against each other, in this documentary film following Katrina victims in their struggle to get their pets back from the families that have adopted them.

Judge rules in favor of Katrina dog's new owner in Texas: New Orleans resident loses claim to dog she says is hers (July 2, 2007) -- A cocker spaniel rescued from post-Katrina New Orleans will get to stay in Austin with its adoptive owner, a Hays County district court judge has decided. The case of the 10-year-old, watermelon-sized dog named Hope sparked a bitter custody battle, a physical assault captured on court security cameras, and nearly $100,000 in legal costs.

Reunion video! Tigger and Taylor together again. (June 26, 2007)

Reunion Video! Katrina dogs Tank and Nila at Home after protracted custody dispute! (June 24, 2007)

Katrina dog gets its day in court (June 14, 2007) -- The New Orleans dog claimed by both an Austin woman who adopted her in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and a New Orleans woman who insists that the black cocker spaniel is hers has had her day in court. Two days, actually. In a hearing that spanned Tuesday and Wednesday, Tiffany Madura, the Austin woman who took in a dog she calls Hope, and Shalanda Augillard, the New Orleans woman who says she lost her beloved pet, Jazz, in the post-storm chaos in September 2005, each argued that the slightly overweight, nearly 10-year-old spaniel rightly belonged with her.

Four-legged survivor of Katrina going home after two-year absence (June 12, 2007) -- When Sandra Henry fled her New Orleans home after Hurricane Katrina, she asked God for help in making a wrenching decision. Henry, 50, prayed before leaving her dog, Tasha, while she, her daughter and six others fled from her home on a makeshift raft.

Lawsuit: Katrina Pets Executed - Investigations, Two Criminal Indictments and a Lawsuit Put the Heat on St. Bernard Parish's Sheriff's Office (June 11, 2007) -- For nearly two years, pet owners from the low-lying Louisiana parish of St. Bernard have accused sheriff's deputies of having wantonly killed dozens of dogs they forced evacuees to leave behind during Hurricane Katrina in 2005, without regard to the dogs' size or the potential threat they might pose.

Katrina victims say their pets were needlessly killed (TV report) (June 11, 2007) -- It was supposed to be temporary shelter for stranded dogs, separated from their masters by the high waters of Hurricane Katrina. But those who saw what was left behind in beauregard middle and two other schools in St. Bernard's Parish say it was nothing more than a killing field.

Pets are part of storm plans: They will be evacuated along with people (Louisiana, May 27, 2007) -- One of the lessons of Hurricane Katrina was the importance of planning for the care of pets during evacuation and other phases of a disaster. There were haunting stories of people who chose to ride out the hurricane at home rather than abandon their animal companions, in the process risking -- and in some cases losing -- their lives.

Dogged lawyer saves the case: A Louisiana family owes the return of its pets to Murray Silverstein (May 26, 2007) -- For much of Murray Silverstein's 25-year career, he's avoided the media. And even as the highest-profile case of his career drew to a close this week, the St. Petersburg attorney kept his mouth shut.Silverstein stood silently in the background behind his clients Steven and Dorreen Couture Tuesday as Hillsborough County prosecutor Pam Bondi announced she would end her fight to keep the St. Bernard she'd adopted after Hurricane Katrina.

Reunion brings joy, breaks heart: The return of two dogs lost after Katrina thrills a Louisiana family. An adoptive owner is heartbroken (May 23, 2007) -- Nearly two years after Hurricane Katrina ripped their lives to shreds, Steven and Dorreen Couture got the final piece of it back Tuesday.

Katrina dogs heading home (May 22, 2007) -- Two dogs that ended up in the center of a legal dispute after being stranded by Hurricane Katrina are being returned to their owners. The dogs' original owners, a woman who adopted one of the dogs and the attorneys for both sides announced the settlement in downtown Tampa Tuesday. "This is what we wanted from the beginning, our dogs to be back with us, to be back home, " said Dorreen Couture, who lives in Louisiana.

Emotional rescue: Born of post-Katrina need, Animal Rescue New Orleans continues to feed thousands of stray cats and dogs, while searching for families to give them loving homes.(May 20, 2007) -- Lisebelle lost her family and home in Hurricane Katrina. Money from FEMA or the Road Home program won't help her out. Checks could never replace the babies she lost.

Story of New Orleans pets begs for attention in film (May 15, 2007) -- Tom McPhee went to New Orleans to help rescue human victims of Hurricane Katrina. He emerged with a special interest in animals impacted by the 2005 disaster - an interest that led to a movie about the effort to save them. McPhee's new documentary, "An American Opera," will kick off the fourth annual Flint Film Festival Thursday night at the Mott Community College Regional Technology Center.

Dogs get help via lemonade stand (May 12, 2007) -- In an unusual fundraising venture, the Humane Society of Louisiana raised $1,000 Saturday to cover medical expenses of a pair of dogs ailing since Hurricane Katrina.

Senate approves plan for pet transport during disasters (May 11, 2007) -- The Texas Senate today approved a bill calling for the state to help plan the humane evacuation, transport and temporary sheltering of pets during disasters.

Bill provides for pets, service animals (May 8, 2007) -- The evacuation of pets and service animals for the disabled must be included when state and local officials come up with emergency and disaster plans. Gov. M. Jodi Rell, a Republican, signed a bill into law that prohibits the state’s emergency management and homeland security commissioner from approving a plan unless it includes such provisions.

State getting pet evacuation law (April 30, 2007) -- Connecticut legislation aimed at preventing the kind of heart-breaking scenes of abandoned pets that occurred in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina will soon be signed into law by Gov. M. Jodi Rell. The state Senate last week unanimously gave final General Assembly approval to the bill, which requires all local civil preparedness planners in the state to include evacuation of pets in their disaster plans.

Residents in Wyoming County (Pennsylvania) cite need to create emergency shelter (April 22, 2007) - A Wyoming County group concerned about caring for pets in times of disaster is on the verge of realizing a dream. Pet owner Donna Mackiw, coordinator of the Wyoming County Animal Rescue Team, said that when a dozen cats and dogs were housed temporarily beneath a carport at Tunkhannock Area High School during June’s flooding, it became clear the response was not adequate.

Katrina dog case moves from talk to a trial date (April 18, 2007) -- After more than a year of legal maneuvering, a Pinellas County judge Tuesday set the week of July 9 to start a closely watched jury trial over the ownership of two dogs brought to the Tampa Bay area after Hurricane Katrina. The central question for the jury will not be who will better care for the dogs or whom the dogs prefer, but whether the owners abandoned their dogs in a natural disaster.

California probes animal rescue group's use of Katrina funds (April 14, 2007) -- An animal rescue group that received millions of dollars in donations after Hurricane Katrina has shut down amid a state investigation into how it spent the money. Noah's Wish said it sheltered nearly 2,000 of the estimated 6,000 pets rescued after the 2005 hurricane swamped Louisiana and Mississippi.

Dogs home at last thanks to a caring spirit (April 9, 2007) -- As the 20-foot surge from Hurricane Katrina soaked Pearlington, Miss., in 2005, Georgia Wilburn, her two teenage granddaughters and a friend rode out the storm in the cab of a pickup truck. When the waters receded, Wilburn's mobile home and all her possessions had disappeared, including her three dogs - a pit bullterrier-Labrador mix, a Chihuahua and a dachshund mix. "I didn't think we would ever see them again," said Wilburn, 65...

State plans on saving pets with people in disasters: Animal groups, governments re-evaluate after Katrina (March 30, 2007) -- Not even forecasts of a hurricane would separate Sally Smith from her cats and dogs. "I would send my family away and I probably would stay with my animals," the Laurel resident said. If a disaster hit Delaware causing an evacuation, Smith, 35, says she has too many pets to fit comfortably into a car. But she may soon have a new option: emergency shelters that would accept her as well as her pets.

Pablo's Trial: A Spectator's View (March 15, 2007) -- I was in the courtroom throughout the trial over who should have possession of Pablo, the dog.

When pet's past comes calling (March 14, 2007) -- If your pet's pre-Katrina family turned up now, what would you do?

Katrina Dog Ruling (March 13, 2007) -- An Arizona court has ruled a dog displaced by Hurricane Katrina should be returned to his original owner.

Katrina Tails (March, 2007) -- Katrina Tails follows a disparate group of New Orleans residents in their efforts to be reunited with their pets in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. We view the events from both sides of the fence: the pet owners‚ searches and the rescue workers‚ efforts to save pets that have been trapped in the flooded city. This feature-length documentary provides insight into the human/animal bond, couched in a narrative to which eveyone can relate: the search for a loved one.

Don't ever give up (March 01, 2007) -- This is Jenna LaFuentes' message to pet lovers still searching for Katrina cats and dogs: Don't stop trying to find them. Her cat Elsa is the living proof.

Documentary tackles plight of Katrina pets (February 28, 2007) -- Tom McPhee didn't know what he was going to do once he got to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina in September 2005. All he knew was he had to go.

Katrina Pet Reunion, 18 Months Later (February 20, 2007) -- Eighteen months after Katrina the reunions are still going on (video).

Parted by storm, reunited (February 18, 2007) -- Althea Tanner's FEMA trailer in eastern New Orleans is more crowded this week, but she's happy about it. Her big caramel-colored Lab-mix came home last Sunday.

Virginia Groups Collaborate to Protect Pets in Emergencies (February 21, 2007) -- Virginia emergency managers, veterinarians and animal advocacy groups have developed a set of guidelines to provide assistance to pet owners and pet-friendly shelters during an evacuation. The organizations will build and maintain databases of pet-friendly shelters, services, supplies and trained volunteers to call upon during an emergency.

Former N.O. residents, Junior reunited (February 13, 2007) -- Junior used to be a mean dog. But when former Lower 9th Ward residents Helen and Warren Cheneau were reunited with Junior on Monday after more than a year apart, it became clear Junior lost some of his bark.

Dogs & Cats Forever gives Hurricane Katrina victim, pet 'storybook ending' (February 28, 2007) -- "Jill" is "Elsa" once again. Shortly after noon Tuesday, Jenna LaFuentes, who lost her New Orleans home in Hurricane Katrina, was reunited with her cat Elsa, who has been known as Jill at the Dogs & Cats Forever shelter in Port St. Lucie for the past 1 1/2 years. When she saw the cat in its carrier at the Delta Air Lines counter in Orlando International Airport, LaFuentes broke into tears.

Two plead innocent in dog shootings: They were deputies in Katrina aftermath (February 15, 2007) -- A current St. Bernard Parish sheriff's deputy and a former deputy pleaded innocent Wednesday to felony charges of aggravated cruelty to animals, stemming from dog shootings captured on video in the chaotic days after Hurricane Katrina. Michael Minton, 43, who has since left the Sheriff's Office, and Clifford "Chip" Englande, 35, a sergeant currently assigned to administrative duties, did not appear in state District Court in Chalmette. Their attorneys entered their pleas before state District Judge Wayne Cresap.

It's a tail-wagging, tearful reunion as rescue dog returns (February 12, 2007) -- Pamela Mitchell and her Katrina-rescued dog Whoadie hadn't seen each other in 17 months, and the dog was visibly nervous at all the attention and rigors of travel as it sat in a travel crate at Louis Armstrong International Airport Monday night.

Katrina reunion, long overdue (February 12, 2007) -- It had been a long 17 months for Whoadie, a slight rhottie-something mix from the heart of New Orleans.

Katrina dog reunited with owner - New Orleans woman sued Humane Society of Central Illinois (February 2, 2007) -- A New Orleans resident and her dog, separated since Hurricane Katrina, were reunited Thursday. Deborah Marks sued the Humane Society of Central Illinois for taking her dog, a golden retriever mix named Goldie, whom they found wandering the Big Easy after Hurricane Katrina struck.

Judge rules against Katrina dogs' new owners: The judge's ruling means that the case over the dogs’ ownership now heads to a trial scheduled for April 16. (February 1, 2007) -- A Pinellas County judge Thursday denied a motion that would have allowed two Tampa Bay women to keep dogs abandoned in Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina.

Police power key to Katrina dog case: If Humane Society has it, a Louisiana couple loses. (January 30, 2007) -- The long and twisted saga over two dogs rescued after Hurricane Katrina may boil down to one simple question: Does the Humane Society of Pinellas have “police power?’’

Katrina dogs case back to court (January 29, 2007) -- The legal saga over ownership of two dogs rescued and adopted out after Hurricane Katrina returned to court Monday, with the sides trying to resolve several issues before the scheduled April trial.

State to provide plan for pets in emergency (January 25, 2007) -- Tens of thousands of pets were left behind after the destruction and evacuations caused by Hurricane Katrina's assault on the Gulf Coast. Taking note of that, Illinois lawmakers recently passed a measure directing the state's Emergency Management Agency to include household pets during rescue operations and emergency evacuations.

Fairfax County to seek funds to develop pet evacuation plan (January 14, 2007) -- Fairfax County officials will ask for $200,000 in grant money from the Department of Homeland Security so they can develop a better plan to evacuate and care for pets in the event of a major disaster.

Katrina canine dispute trial set (January 13, 2007) -- The high-profile dispute over the ownership of two dogs rescued after Hurricane Katrina and adopted by two Tampa Bay residents will go to trial the week of April 16, Pinellas County Judge Henry Andringa decided Friday.

Provisions for people, pets: Va. creating network to help pet owners, animals in an emergency (March 6, 2007) --
Helen Green's voice choked when she talked about choosing between her life and her four dogs in an emergency.

Dogs Off the Leash (January 4, 2007) Another new California law, AB 450, requires the Office of Emergency Services to include pets into state disaster plans. This legislation was enacted in order to prevent issues similar to those following Hurricane Katrina from occurring again, according to Brzezinski.

'I'm never giving up' dogs (January 30, 2007) -- The legal saga over ownership of two dogs that were rescued after Hurricane Katrina and adopted returned to court Monday, with the sides trying to resolve several issues before the scheduled April trial.

Preparing for a Disaster (January 27, 2007) -- The New York State P.E.T.S. Act became a law in September. This new legislation provides for state and local disaster preparedness plans to meet the needs of people with household pets and service animals after a disaster. This law was passed to avoid another tragic loss of pets like what happened during Hurricane Katrina.

New law makes pets included in evacuation process (January 19, 2007) - Pets are getting a place next to humans when it comes to making plans for statewide emergencies. In a new law that was spawned by the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the needs of dogs, cats and other household pets are now required to be included in official state evacuation plans.

2006

Max: Lost in the System (December, 2006) -- Like so many others living on the Gulf Coast, Glenda Smith originally planned on riding out Hurricane Katrina at home.

New State Laws Are Earmarked for Safety (December 28, 2006) -- Former state Rep. Art Tenhouse, R-Liberty, also sponsored a bill that was approved by the Senate during the recent veto session after passing in the House earlier in the year. HB4804 amends the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act to require emergency operations plans to include the needs of people with pets and the care of animals.

Burzichelli backs up bark with legal bite (December 26, 2006) -- "Pets are family members, too," said Burzichelli, D-Gloucester, Salem, Cumberland. Losing them in any situation is dreadful. Having measures to protect animals is important, not only to owners of homebound pets, but animal-friendly people everywhere.Burzichelli introduced the concept shortly after Hurricane Katrina, when emergency responders had to react on the fly to people who evacuated flood-ravaged neighborhoods with pets in tow. It was signed into law earlier this year.

Judge gives visitation rights to former Katrina dog owners (December 26, 2006) -- Noah was at obedience school Tuesday learning how to control his temper. The St. Bernard that Hillsborough County prosecutor Pam Bondi adopted after Hurricane Katrina has become so possessive that he is aggressive if someone comes too close to Bondi, her attorney told a judge Tuesday. Nevertheless, Pinellas County Judge Henry Andringa ordered Bondi on Tuesday to make the St. Bernard available so Steven and Doreen Couture of Louisiana can visit with him. Andringa issued the same order to Rhonda Rineker, who adopted the Couture’s other dog, a shepherd mix.

Groups Advocate Help For Animals In Disasters (December 25, 2006) -- Nine states have passed laws to help animals in emergencies or major disasters. Now two organizations are pushing for Illinois to become the tenth.

Katrina Dog Rocky Goes Home (December, 2006) -- Sixteen months after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast, many of the 8,000 rescued pets remain in shelters, their owners unknown or unreachable. Rocky was one of those animals, until the work of a dedicated group of people led to a heartwarming reunion.

Unique Legislation Urges Safe Pet Evacuation, Parish Augments With Training Program (December, 2006) -- ...Parallel with the passage of state legislation, St. Tammany Parish President Kevin Davis announced today that he is sending the parish’s Department of Animal Services to a training program focused on disasters and animal rescues from July 10-12 at LSU in Baton Rouge.

A miracle on Short Street (December 17, 2006) -- At Tarpon Joe's Bar & Grill in Metairie, customers call the big black Lab "Michelob, the wonder dog." But Victor and Susan LaBorde call him their miracle. "We thought he was gone forever," Susan said.

District of Columbia Includes Pets in Disaster Planning (December 14, 2006) -- Emergency management and health officials signed a plan that puts the District of Columbia in an elite field among jurisdictions across the country -- cities and counties that have formally adopted plans to include pets in disaster planning. The District of Columbia Department of Health led the effort, working with the DC Emergency Management Agency and The Humane Society of the United States, which applauded the District's plan. The signing comes two months after President Bush signed legislation that requires states and local governments to draw up plans to include pets in disaster planning.

Pets could have place in evacuation (Dec. 10, 2006) -- Dogs, cats and other pets could soon have a place in the state’s emergency response plans. In response to problems that surfaced in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, lawmakers approved a proposal last week requiring the state to have a plan in place that addresses the needs of household pets.

Katrina Dog Reunited With La. Owners (December 8, 2006) -- Rocket, a dog that survived Hurricane Katrina and ended up in a Pennsylvania home, is back with its owner in New Orleans after a custody fight that went to court.

Pets Crossing the Line From Property to Family Member (Dec. 7, 2006) -- Himie the Rottweiler stood stranded in a boat floating in the rising floodwaters of Hurricane Katrina with a bottle of medicine and a note of instructions tied around his neck: "My name is Himie and I need these eye drops." Owner Gary Karcher, a disabled Vietnam vet, was forced to leave his dog behind when authorities ordered all residents to leave their property in New Orleans last year. But even though Himie wasn't a refrigerator or a car, that's the way the Federal Emergency Management Agency treated Karcher's beloved dog.

Owners allege ‘gruesome’ pet slayings (December 4, 2006) -- "It was a massacre," said Mark Steinway, co-founder of Pasado’s Safe Haven, an animal welfare refuge in Sultan, Wash.

Hunter: More Than Just a Dog (November, 2006) -- When Hurricane Katrina struck St. Bernard Parish in Louisiana, Fay was stranded at home. She had no transportation and parish officials did not provide evacuation services for her and Hunter, even though she is disabled and he is her service dog.

Bondi tries to hang on to Katrina dog by a toenail (October 28, 2006) -- The St. Bernard that Pam Bondi adopted last year is not the same dog that a Louisiana couple lost after Hurricane Katrina, Pam Bondi's attorney said Friday.

New Orleans woman sues couple that adopted her mutt (October 9, 2006) -- A New Orleans woman who lost her dog during Hurricane Katrina is suing the suburban Philadelphia family that adopted it and two kennels that processed the animal. Sheila Combs said in the lawsuit that she wants Rocket, her 10-year-old son's pet, returned home.

Lost but still loved: Owners still looking for Katrina displaced pets (October, 2006) -- Over a year after the storm that ravaged the Gulf Coast came ashore, most of those affected by Hurricane Katrina are still feeling its wrath. They are slowly clearing the debris from what had been their lives, looking for lost loved ones and building back what had been taken away from them that fateful day in August 2005. It is a daunting task and one that will take years to recover from.

Plan for evacuating pets is mandated: FEMA gets authority to finance shelters (September 21, 2006) -- Congress ordered the nation's disaster planners Wednesday to make sure that pets don't get left behind in the next catastrophe.

For the Love of a Pet (September 19, 2006) -- After Hurricane Katrina hit in late August 2005, thousands of animals were left stranded or dead in the water-covered streets of New Orleans. Following the flooding caused by El Nino in the 1990s, thousands of dead cattle lay strewn across the South Valley's rural areas. The Croy fire of 2002 killed domestic animals that were left behind by families who didn't have enough time to find their pets a safe place to ride out the danger. But new legislation will help prevent heartbreaking stories of natural disasters causing the death and desertion of beloved pets.

Dog, master separated by Katrina: Who rightfully owns Ah Boo? (September 08, 2006) -- For Terry Leichty, the worst part of Hurricane Katrina wasn't the water seeping into her New Orleans apartment. It wasn't the intermittent phone service or the lack of running water. It was the fact that several days after the storm swept the city, authorities forced Leichty, who is in her early 70s, to leave her dog behind. One year later, the two are hundreds of miles apart.

Paw-abiding Bandit is home, a refugee no longer: Dog's storm odyssey just one custody battle (September 1, 2006) -- On four paws and with tail wagging, one more New Orleans evacuee came home Thursday night. One year after an animal rescue group carried him from an evacuation shelter on a sojourn that ended outside of Pittsburgh, a shaggy white poodle named Bandit returned to the 9th Ward and into the arms of his original owner.

Katrina leading to better pet rescue efforts (August 21, 2006) -- One year later, new laws are aimed at protecting animals in disasters. After Katrina, an estimated 250,000 pets were left behind and drowned or faced starvation, forced to fend for themselves in an abandoned city.

Fangs Are Bared Over Md. Group's Katrina Dog Rescues (August 14, 2006) -- It started as a dispute over the custody of Sandy Marie and Coco Ree, two dogs brought to Montgomery County last year after being rescued from a suburb of New Orleans ravaged by Hurricane Katrina. But the attorneys involved in the spiraling fight are dueling about more than ownership of the female shepherds. It has become a battle over the legal complexities of rescuing pets in disaster zones, disparities in social class and the incendiary effect grass-root campaigns waged on the Internet can have on people's lives.

Senate Passes Measure To Safeguard Pets In Emergency Planning (August 4, 2006) -- In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and haunting images of pets left behind in flooded New Orleans, the U.S. Senate passed a bill on Friday requiring local and state disaster agencies to take pets and service animals into account in their emergency planning.

Another Katrina survivor wants his dog back (July 27, 2006) -- In the chaotic aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the Humane Society of Pinellas brought 288 displaced animals to its Clearwater shelter and found new homes for many of them. But it turned out that not all of them had been abandoned by their owners.

A Chow Chow goes home! (July 26, 2006) -- Hip, a refugee pet from New Orleans, has been returned to his family almost a year after Katrina.

Lost in Katrina and in new homes - whose pet now? (July 21, 2006) -- There's a spot on Army Lt. Jay Johnson's bed that is heavy with emptiness, he says, and it can only be filled with his beloved Missy. He was in Iraq when his family broke the news to him that volunteer rescuers who scoured New Orleans after hurricane Katrina had taken away his furry Shih Tzu.

Law a little fuzzy (July 16, 2006) -- Courts aren't inclined to consider what's best for the animal when ownership is at issue. Legally, that lovable sack of fur is just a piece of property. Some new cases will test that.

To get past disaster, they want their dogs (July 12, 2006) -- A lot of things have hurt the Coutures recently. Add to the list: not getting their dogs back after Katrina.

Katrina victim, 86, sues to have his rescued poodle returned: New Orleans man just wants his dog back (June 25, 2006) -- When Malvin Cavalier fled to the Superdome as Hurricane Katrina bore down on his home in the 9th Ward of New Orleans, he left a bucket of food and pail of water on the front porch for his poodle, Bandit."I figured, 'I'll be in the Superdome, the storm hits, I'll be back in a couple of days, go back home and Bandit'll be there and everything will be normal again,' " Mr. Cavalier said.

Pet bill passes (June 17, 2006) -- The Louisiana House's 91 to 0 approval Thursday night of the "pet evacuation" bill has state and Teche Area animal lovers in doggie bliss and kitty nirvana. The senator who pushed it said the bill should be heading to the governor's office for her signature this weekend. Gov. Kathleen Blanco has said she would sign the bill.

Legislation Welcomes Pets in Evacuation Shelters (June 16, 2006) -- New York residents in a disaster situation may no longer have to choose between saving themselves and saving their pets now that the New York State Senate has approved legislation to allow pets in shelters. The Pet Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act of 2006 would require local and state governments to have a plan for pets as well as people included in the preparations for hurricane season so that pets are not left behind, according to State Sen. Michael Balboni (R-East Williston), who sponsored the bill in conjunction with State Sen. Deborah Glick (D-Manhattan).

AKC Endorses Federal PETS Act (June 6, 2006) AKC Endorses and Supports S. 2548, The "Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act of 2006" (PETS). With predictions for another above-average hurricane season in 2006, and AKC survey results showing that an overwhelming majority of pet owners will refuse evacuation orders unless they can take their pets with them, the AKC is pleased to endorse and support the recently introduced S. 2548, the "Pet Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act of 2006", known as "PETS".

Are People Still Looking for Their Lost ‘Katrina’ Pets? (May 26, 2006) -- True or False: It is not possible that anyone could be still looking for a pet at this point in New Orleans, eight months after Hurricane Katrina. "Bigtime FALSE!", says Pee Wee, who was recently reunited with the Pelas family.

Who are pets' real owners after Katrina left them homeless? (May 20, 2006) -- Hurricane Katrina destroyed Steven and Dorreen Couture's Louisiana home in August, forcing them to leave their two dogs at a makeshift animal shelter. In September, Tampa resident Pam Bondi was watching the local news and saw a St. Bernard had been rescued from New Orleans and needed a new home. Just weeks earlier, Bondi had lost her own beloved St. Bernard, Donovan, to cancer. Bondi made her way to Clearwater's Pinellas Humane Society and left with the St. Bernard from New Orleans. She fostered him for 30 days and then adopted him in October.

Students drawing on the pain of hurricanes: EBR school programs working to help displaced students deal with disasters (Apr 9, 2006) -- "Many post-disaster studies place great emphasis on the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder. Schonfeld, however, cautions that adults also need to be alert to lesser but lingering issues such as sadness, concerns about safety and increased anxiety. .. Catchings said that eight months after Katrina, the displaced children her social workers have screened remain fixated on the cherished things they lost in the storm, especially their pets."

Animal rescuers to demonstrate for evacuation inclusion (April 17, 2006) -- "For Katrina, I was helping answer the phone for the national SPCA. I spent time on the phone with people who went to hell and back. They had their animals in carrying cases and had to leave them. They will have guilt for the rest of their lives," Joelle Rupert said."For a lot of people, pets are not like family, they are family," she said. "It is completely ridiculous that people cannot take their animals with them. Besides, animals are therapy." (excerpt from article, no longer available at website)

Owners, rescuers remember animals killed in Katrina (April 5, 2006) From ferrets to pigs, dogs to cows, the countless animals who perished in Hurricane Katrina were remembered in a memorial service where Louisiana animal rights activists urged better protection for pets.

Red Cross, Humane Society Under Investigation (March 26, 2006) -- The Louisiana attorney general has launched inquiries into two of the country's best-known charities -- the American Red Cross and the Humane Society of the United States -- after receiving complaints that they misused some of the millions of dollars they raised in the fall to help the human and non-human victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Woman finds cat lost during Katrina (February 23, 2006) -- When Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans, Tristan Carter thought she had lost everything -- her home, a grandfather, two dogs, a cat and a rabbit.But Cupcake the cat was alive and well after six months of living as a stray in her hurricane-ravaged neighborhood. On Wednesday, animal rescue volunteers reunited the lithe, 7-pound black cat with Carter, who now lives in Atlanta.

Katrina pet turns up alive in Q-C (February 11, 2006) -- Daisy, a dog rescued from Louisiana in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, has a knack for running away. "She got away from me one time, and I had to get in the car and go up the street looking her up," said foster owner Lisa Taylor of Port Byron, Ill. "When she heard the car coming, she stopped, turned around and looked. I jumped out of the car and got her to come to me." The desire of the 5-year-old dachshund-chihuahua mix for escaping likely saved her during and after the hurricane.

Woman fetches her dog, with help of N.J. court (January 26, 2006) -- Hurricane Katrina couldn’t permanently separate Chopper the Great Dane from owner Annabelle Arguello of Kenner. And neither could a New Jersey couple, who battled in court Thursday for permanent custody of the big, friendly dog and lost. Chopper was immediately reunited with Arguello and will return home on Saturday — nearly five months after the hurricane.

Katrina Orphaned Dog Reunited With Owner (January 5, 2006) -- Four months after Hurricane Katrina ripped him apart from his family, a beloved pet will be reunited with his owner on Friday, the Monterey County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals announced. Koy, a small black and white spaniel, has been separated from his family for more than three months, the SPCA reported. He came to the SPCA of Monterey County on Sept. 21 along with 31 other dogs orphaned by Hurricane Katrina.

2005

Hanging on: Katrina victim building new life in Mankato (December 30, 2005) -- Days after being injured by floating debris and tossed on the street by Hurricane Katrina, Brian Heckler was forced to abandon his best friends under a causeway ramp. Heckler, 35, is still furious he wasn’t allowed to bring any of his six dogs, who he calls "family," from the floodwaters of New Orleans.

Threat of euthanasia for dog bite divides animal shelter world (December, 2005) -- Until Hurricane Katrina hit, Buster hung out in the back yard of his owner's New Orleans home, occasionally barking at passing cars and being a best friend to his 80-year-old owner. Now the 60-pound German shepherd mix has become the center of a question dividing the animal shelter world: How much of a break should a Katrina survivor like Buster get after biting the director of the Colorado Animal Rescue shelter?

San Antonian helps reunite man and his best friend (November 4, 2005) -- Lionel Sims nervously slapped two tightly rolled pieces of paper against his leg Thursday afternoon while he waited at the Delta cargo gate of San Antonio International Airport. In just minutes, he would be reunited with the dog he had to leave behind in his New Orleans home as the floodwaters rose around him and his wife, Gloria.

Deaths of dogs leave owners angry and hurt: Animals were found in St. Bernard schools (October 4, 2005) -- With Hurricane Katrina moving toward south Louisiana, Carol Hamm said, her husband left their name and address on the wall of a former St. Bernard Parish school building where they placed four family pets, urging rescuers to save the animals. But the request was not answered. In fact, Hamm said, she later learned that the pets had been shot and killed.

He'll Never Let Go of Sassy Again: Volunteer, Animal Rescue Team Reunite Evacuee With Dog (September 30, 2005) -- The last time he had seen Sassy, his 11-year-old Lhasa apso, Craig Peel was fleeing flood-ravaged New Orleans, a journey that included a plane ride to Washington, where he took up shelter at the D.C. Armory. For nearly a month, Peel, 76, has yearned for the dog he left with a friend in his old neighborhood. He told anyone and everyone he met at the armory that Sassy was his only relative.

Reuniting Pets and Owners After Katrina: Rescuers Scramble to Save Pets in New Orleans, Gulf Coast States (September 5, 2005) -- Calls to pet shelters from animal lovers have prompted the rescue of thousands of pets left behind in Katrina's wake. In New Orleans, teams are going house to house in search of marooned animals. But uniting this growing city of beloved pets with their owners is another matter.

News list compiled by Lost Katrina Pets (www.lostkatrinapets.com)