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Animals still in need of help following Katrina

  • Published
  • By Mike Wallace
  • 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
Four weeks ago and several weeks after Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast areas with high winds and severe floods, Joyce Kahl went to New Orleans to rescue dogs.

An anesthesiology technician at the Wright-Patterson Medical Center, Ms. Kahl is also a volunteer for Purebred Rescue of Ohio, an organization that attempts to find responsible owners and provides foster homes for purebred dogs. Wright-Patterson Air Force Base is part of Air Force Materiel Command, which provides the Air Force with war-fighting capabilities on time and on cost. AFMC is headquartered at Wright-Patterson AFB.

"When I heard the news of the flooding in New Orleans, I knew there would be animals needing rescue," she said. "The Humane Society was asking for volunteers, so I and my friend, Lori Blackburn, drove down there."

The two were there for a week in October, and slept on cots in a large Federal Emergency Management Agency tent.

"There was space for 300 people in the tent, and it was air-conditioned, which was great because it was 94 degrees and very humid outside," Ms. Kahl said. "We welcomed the A/C because it was a good break. We worked from 5 a.m. to 11 or 12 at night in the heat."

By the time the two arrived in New Orleans, the floodwaters in the city were almost gone, and the Humane Society already had rescued 8,000 animals. There were 500 to 600 dogs in the Humane Society shelter with no room for any additions. The dogs Ms. Kahl helped rescue went to a shelter in Gonzalez, La.

"The first two days we were there, we walked dogs," Ms. Kahl said. "Ninety percent of them were pit bulls. They were very people-friendly, but not dog-friendly. Whenever they got too close to another dog, they would attack. We had two pit bulls that got into a fight, and it took eight people to separate them.

"The Humane Society then needed help in search-and-rescue missions. There had been anarchy in the city, and we only went out in pairs for these missions. The city was closed when we were there, and there were lots of National Guards patrolling the streets.

"Many of the dogs we saw were loose dogs. We looked for pets primarily, but a Rottweiler ran up to us and begged us to save him."

As a member of one of the 50 to 60 search-and-rescue teams, Ms. Kahl helped rescue several dogs. Some were in shock, dehydrated, starving and in need of medical attention. In some places, Ms. Kahl and her rescue partner often located dogs in houses, but they were unable to catch them. In those cases, the two would spray-paint messages advising people that pets were there, and they'd leave quantities of food and water for the animals.

The inhabitants of New Orleans had been ordered to evacuate and to leave their pets behind.

"The first week after the hurricane, no one was allowed into New Orleans who wasn't rescuing humans," she said. "I hope that people will change the laws to allow people to take their pets. They could've immediately rescued animals. We saw numerous dead dogs and cats, and the stories from evacuees were tragic."

Complicating operations for rescuers was the level of destruction left by Hurricane Katrina.

"I've never seen anything like it," Ms. Kahl said. "I've been to areas struck by tornadoes, but they were nothing compared to this. Power lines were down, and poles lay across streets. All the electricity was off, but you couldn't drive down many streets because of all the obstacles. Sometimes you had to go on foot."

She recalled seeing houses that had been swept off their foundations. She saw one house atop a car, and many others completely destroyed. She also recalled black molds becoming more and more visible on the walls of houses.

"On one building, somebody had painted a sign that said, 'Katrina Café,' so at least someone kept his sense of humor throughout the ordeal," Ms. Kahl said. "The destruction was incredible. It was gratifying that we could save five dogs."

Ms. Kahl said that the next step in the pet rescue story would be the reuniting of pets with their owners. She recalled that the Humane Society shelter got long lists of people wanting to find their pets.

"It's going to take several weeks for this to happen," she said.

A Dayton resident, Ms. Kahl is a dog enthusiast who has five dogs of her own and often provides foster care for dogs awaiting homes.

"I've always loved animals, and I read an article about Purebred Rescue," she said. "I've been a volunteer for it ever since. She added that there wouldn't be nearly so many animals euthanized if people would spay or neuter their pets.

"I could never volunteer at a shelter where they euthanize animals," Ms. Kahl said. "I understand the rationale for it, but I can't be a part of it. I don't ever want to get to the point where I don't care. I especially love dogs because they love you unconditionally."