Happy Tales for Katrina Tails

August 29, 2005 is a day none of us will soon forget -- the day Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf coast, causing massive destruction. ARFP sent food, supplies, and trained volunteers to help save some of the littlest victims of this devastating hurricane, the pets of Slidell, LA.

Over the course of two trips, our volunteers helped rescue and care for hundreds of pets. When it was time to come home, there were some pets they just couldn't leave behind. So 49 animals -- dogs, cats, and even bunnies -- made the long drive back to Greensboro.

Instead of marking the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina with sadness, we wanted to share some of the wonderful stories of the pets ARFP rescued from Slidell, LA, and their new lives with the loving people who adopted them.

Dear Animal Rescue and Foster Program, My name is Rita and I want to thank you for giving me my new life, well, actually, saving my life, when you brought me back from Slidell, La. after Hurricane Katrina. Last year, I managed to live through the worst storm of the century, I was injured and sick but you picked me out to bring back to Greensboro. A year later I'm so happy, as you can see from the photos one of "my people" took of me this morning, napping, stretching and lounging around on my favorite chair. Thanks again for finding me a new life and home! Rita…. meow !

We fell in love with Zorro right away, and he had us trained to spoil him with love and treats in no time at all! Zorro was anxious and hated to be left alone when he first came to live with us. But with training (for us, mostly), consistency, and love, he has become the perfect pet and now we can't imagine life without him!   Zorro has also learned how to walk calmly on a leash, and he loves every walk we take! He enjoys meeting new people and fancies himself a real ladies' dog.  He also loves car rides and playing with other dogs, especially his brother Zeppelin. He loves to sunbathe on the patio and walk in his wading pool. He knows how to retrieve (oh, how he loves tennis balls!), and he knows how to go get his dad when dinner is ready.  What a smart boy!! We have never laughed as much as we have while watching him play and discover and learn!! We have enjoyed Zorro so much that our only regret is that we didn't get him sooner!!   Elizabeth Vance and Jeff Bentley, Greensboro, NC

Jason and I loved Bienville (aka B.V.) at first sight. His golden eyes gazed up at us so brightly and his meow just pulled at our heartstrings. He immediately came to the front of the cage and we just had to give him some lovings. I had actually met B.V. prior to this so I knew no one could resist his power of cuteness! And I was right! We opted to “baby-sit” him as a trial run but we knew after the first day that he wasn’t going anywhere. B.V. is such an intelligent creature and so much fun! I can’t even remember life before he came into ours. B.V. doesn’t seem to be your “average” kitty and everyone always makes comments on how handsome and smart he is. All our friends who have their own kitties tell us that B.V. is very “un-catlike” and “unique”. We both agree with this! At times it seems that he is just as much a human as we are! We can’t believe that he went through Hurricane Katrina but his personality and character are strong indicators of a “surviving spirit”. We are happy to have B.V. as part of our family and feel so grateful for the ARFP and their rescue of our cat. Monica Uyeno and Jason Butko

Zeppelin was miraculously rescued in Slidell, Louisiana while hiding under a pile of debris left by the destruction of Hurricane Katrina. He was about five weeks old when he was found by Noah’s Wish and brought to Greensboro by the Animal Rescue and Foster Program.  After adopting Zeppelin in December 2005, we quickly fell in love with this wonderful puppy. We actually fell in love with him before we adopted him! His seemingly limitless affection and unbridled enthusiasm immediately brought us immense joy.  Tragically and without any warning, Zeppelin began experiencing horrific seizures. Initially, a local emergency vet told us that having “grand mal” seizures at this young age was very likely going to result in permanent brain damage.  The next morning, we took Zeppelin to Dr. Ralph Yerex at the Brassfield Animal Hospital. Dr. Yerex set up an appointment for Zeppelin at the NC State Veterinary Hospital, and that same day he was admitted and began a battery of tests. The neurologists at NC State informed us that Zeppelin’s seizures were caused by irregular brain waves very similar to epilepsy. They are not sure whether Zeppelin’s condition is genetic or caused by a toxin he may have come across in Louisiana. Either way, they are hopeful that with the proper medication and consistent blood monitoring, he will live a full, happy, and healthy life. We will always be thankful to Dr. Yerex for immediately recommending that Zeppelin be taken to the neurologists at NC State for a more in-depth diagnosis of his affliction. Furthermore, over the past 7 months, Dr. Yerex has monitored Zeppelin’s condition religiously and compassionately opened himself to our constant barrage of questions and concerns. Soon after coming home for NC State, Zeppelin started puppy obedience school through the Carolina Dog Training Club. Since then, he has graduated from puppy class, Beginner I, and most recently Beginner II where he attained his AKC Canine Good Citizen Certification. In September, Zeppelin will begin agility classes. Also, he loves to walk the trails at Lake Brandt and constantly wants to play fetch with a Frisbee or tennis ball. Most importantly, his seizures are now almost nonexistent. Zeppelin’s journey through his first year of life is truly an amazing story. Remarkably, he has survived the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, suffered through grand mal seizures, including 15 in a 24 hour span, and all without losing his tremendous spirit. Quite simply, with his precious desire to give and receive so much love, Zeppelin has opened a door in our hearts. Moreover, we feel incredibly fortunate to have found such a special addition to our family. Having Zeppelin in our lives was made possible by the compassionate and dedicated volunteers of the ARFP. This is such an extraordinary organization whose efforts not only save these animals’ lives but also assimilate them into caring homes. Their efforts should be applauded and appreciated.  Thanks,  Gina and John Essa

Gabe is so sweet. I'm convinced he knows he was rescued from a horrible fate. He seems so appreciative of everything you do for him. When I pick him up, he will actually hug me. He loves to play, and he gets along great with all creatures great and small. He's a true blessing. Carolyn Barr

The past year with Noah has been so special and has brought such happiness into my life. When I first met Noah, the sparkles in his eyes beamed out with so much love. And the best part of it all is that he is happy, loved, and spoiled. So I'm the lucky one to have been chosen to be his mom. Thank you to all for bringing Noah home! Blessings, Joanie Baites

We had been looking for months for a small dog to adopt. We had done a few home trials with other dogs, but our greyhound, Tempo, wasn't having any of it... until she met Rowdy. We found Rowdy online and drove from Raleigh to Greensboro to meet him the next day. Within about five minutes, we knew we loved him! The first day of Rowdy's home trial, he made himself right at home by jumping from the couch to the chair to the coffee table to another chair... we learned that sitting still wasn't an option for him with his high terrier energy. Right off the bat, Tempo loved him... they are two peas in a pod, and he treats her like a big sister. Rowdy waits for Tempo to come downstairs every morning and does a sneak attack on her to coerce her into playtime. And in the backyard, believe or not, Rowdy can keep up with her greyhound speed, so they run laps together every afternoon when we get home from work. When we take them out of the house to a park or to the pet store, he stands under Tempo for protection as his bodyguard. And if Tempo is laying on our couch, Rowdy has to lay with her... he curls up inside Tempo's arm and takes a nap. Rowdy stole Kevin's heart pretty quickly... he loves to climb up on Kevin's chest when he gets tired and falls asleep at night. He burrows under the covers at bedtime, but by the middle of the night, he's found his way to a pillow and sleeps just like a human with his head on it. He is so affectionate and loves to give LOTS of kisses (to both us and Tempo), and everyone tell us how well-mannered and sweet he is. We love him so much and are so thankful to ARFP for bringing him back to NC! Jenny & Kevin Snyder

If you adopted a Katrina pet from ARFP, we'd love to hear from you. Email us at andimn@gmail.com with pictures and a couple of paragraphs about life with your new friend.