11/22/06: 15 Months After... Someone Still Wants To Find Me
PAST NEWSLETTERS: http://www.kinshipcircle.org/disasters/default.html

ANIMAL ISSUE OF THE WEEK: Gay Sheep Hold “Cure” For Homosexuality?
Your tax dollars pay for Oregon State University and Oregon Health & Science
University to conduct multimillion-dollar experiments on live sheep whose
hormones are mutated to make them “gay.” Experimenters hope to “fix” the gay
sheep and apply their therapy to gay people. Tell them to end these publicly
funded, homophobic and cruel experiments now...
TAKE ACTION: http://www.kinshipcircle.org/letter_library/letter.asp?LetterID=1599&seriesfirst=true

IN THIS ALERT:

1. SMALL BITES
2. Jefferson Parish Death-Row Dogs Need You
3. Bonded For Life, 2 Katrina Surrenders Need Home By 11/30
4. Day 445, Recovery of New Orleans... Dear Santa,
5. Remember HHERO In Prayers & Donations This Holiday Season
6. Searching Since Katrina / Remote Reunion Campaign
7. Katrina Dog Needs Help Out Of CT Kill Shelter
8. Holiday Heart For Gulf Coast Animals - Volunteer, Donate
9. Someone Wants To Find Me - Pittie Girl Lost in Katrina
10. A Heartfelt Thank You From Pia And Luna
11. And Then There Were Dogs

1. SMALL BITES
Send small-bite food, or cat food, when donating for GulfCoast animals.

Animal Rescue Videos, Sept-Dec. 2005
SOURCE: Pam Leavy, tundraleap@msn.com

11/22/06, From tundraleap@msn.com - I've remade three of my first videos of
New Orleans animal relief efforts, to include moving video. They can be
viewed at these links:

You'll Never Walk Alone - Filmed Sept-Oct. 2005
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kvtKcrQ-3o
 
I Want To Live - Filmed Oct.-Nov. 2005
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqVAFaCRNe4
 
Somebody's Praying - Filmed Dec. 2005
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnrAnRnGUrY
 
Or go to <http://www.youtube.com>  and search PamLeavy (without a space
between the name) where all my videos are listed. A new video, with current
Nov.-Dec. 2006 footage, will be complete in December. Thanks for watching.
Pam Leavy
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-

Video: Save The Bully Breeds
SOURCE: Cathy Nguyen, cathyn3@yahoo.com

WATCH THIS VIDEO! ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO SUPPORT BREED SPECIFIC LEGISLATION.
http://server.inalbum.com/show/jodipreis/Message_to_the_Media2.html?296033009
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-

NOLA Resource: Low-Income or Pro-Bono Attorneys
SOURCE: Peace, Love, & Pets, colleen@peacelovepets.com

11/7/06, From colleen@peacelovepets.com – 2 links to groups I remember
having attorneys available for low-income or pro-bono situations in NOLA... 

http://www.commongroundrelief.org/
Contact them, just inquire about attorney assistance. 

http://www.fromthelaketotheriver.org/
The New Orleans Coalition for Legal Aid and Disaster Relief
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-  

File Reports & Check For Missing/Found Hurricane Animals:

• Nola.com: http://www.nola.com/forums/animals/
• CraigsList: http://neworleans.craigslist.org/pet/
• Katrina's Lost Pets: http://www.lostkatrinapets.com/
• Petfinder’s Animal Emergency Response Network: http://disaster.petfinder.com/emergency/home.html
• FOUND Katrina/Rita Animals, Still Missing Their People: http://tinyurl.com/ht9c2
• Pet Harbor: http://www.petharbor.com/
• CommunityWalk Maps: Cats/Dogs Sighted in NOLA: http://www.zzcat.com/katrina/ARNO_maps/roaming_pets.htm
• Animal Sightings — Missing, Found: http://www.communitywalk.com/map/12088
• yepitsme770's photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/yepitsme770/sets/
• Remote Reunion Campaign: http://www.arches.uga.edu/~rrhudy/bfrr/

2.Jefferson Parish Death-Row Dogs Need You
SOURCE: Traci Kestler, tbkestler@cox.net

11/17/06, From tbkestler@cox.net - THESE DOGS ARE SCHEDULED FOR EUTHANASIA
AT JEFFERSON PARISH ANIMAL SHELTER NOW.  ANYONE CAN HELP LET ME KNOW. You
can also contact Erica Palmer (kennel master) info below.

  
Golden Mix, female, ingrown eyelashes        Black Pit Mix, no pets, 6 mo., female

  
Brown-White Pit, 3 yr.                                           Brown Pit Mix, male, no dogs

From Lise McComiskey, lmccomiskey@SHERGARNER.com - This is a gassing
shelter located in Jefferson Parish. If you are aware of ANYONE who could
possibly help these dogs survive their fate with the gas chamber, please
contact the kennel master listed below. These are truly the messages that
make me ill the rest of the day and for the life of me I will never understand why,
if it has to be a kill shelter, can't injections be administered instead?

REPLY DIRECTLY TO: TRACI KESTLER
tbkestler@cox.net or 504-975-5971

REPLY DIRECTLY TO: ERICA PALMER, Kennelmaster
Jefferson Parish Animal Shelter
504-736-6111, epalmer@jeffparish.net
#1 Humane Way * Harahan, Louisiana 70123

3. Bonded For Life, 2 Katrina Surrenders Need Home By 11/30
SOURCE: Alexandra.Kelsey@bracewellgiuliani.com,
gailwhelan@companionanimalnetwork.org

This couple was abandoned by their owner at a kill shelter after Katrina.
They are WONDERFUL dogs! They have been waiting patiently for a new home for
almost a year now. Rodney is about 5-6 years old and Lady is about 4-5 years
old. Both dogs are housetrained, obedient, quiet, and loving.  They are
fabulous with children, too! If you have enough love for two, please contact
us about meeting Rodney and Lady.

REPLY DIRECTLY TO: adoptions@companionanimalnetwork.org,
gailwhelan@companionanimalnetwork.org
214-808-3238 or 214-228-8141


11/14/06, Z. Alexandra Kelsey, Alexandra.Kelsey@bracewellgiuliani.com -  
Rodney and Lady were "Katrina" dogs who were dropped off at one of the
Dallas shelters last Fall. We pulled them from the shelter, had Lady
heartworm treated, and found a foster home. Originally, the fosters
indicated the dogs could stay "as long as needed." However, the foster
couple has now given us until NOVEMBER 30 to find a place for these dogs.
After all they've been through, we can't stand the thought of them ending up
where they started. PLEASE help us find a home for these great dogs. Surely
some family has enough love in their hearts for these two precious dogs.

Rodney is approx. 5-6 years old and Lady is 4-5. They are housebroken, do
not chew, they LOVE children, they are FINE with cats, and they are
obedient! They are extremely affectionate and only want someone to love them
back. If you know of anyone that might consider adopting these dogs, please
pass this information on.
 
REPLY DIRECTLY TO: adoptions@companionanimalnetwork.org,
gailwhelan@companionanimalnetwork.org
214-808-3238 or 214-228-8141

4. Day 445, Recovery of New Orleans... Dear Santa,
SOURCE: http://www.animalrescueneworleans.org
Gerald Pool <gpat357@yahoo.com>

 
Dear Santa,
The only thing we want for Christmas this year is for you to bring us some
help for these kittens, all the other kittens...and oh, before we forget,
Santa, no more kittens, PLEASE!

Santa, all of us at Animal Rescue New Orleans have been very good this year,
we know we have tried our best to help each litter, after litter, after
litter, that we continue to take off the streets of this city, but we are
desperate for help. So, if you think Animal Rescue New Orleans has been good
too, can you please deliver this letter to every individual, no-kill rescue,
shelter, organization and sanctuary that might be willing to help us, and
Santa, maybe you can tell them how we still need that help here so badly, we
need it so that we can continue to save the litters of the animals who never
made it off the deserted streets of New Orleans.

Santa, can you do one last thing for Animal Rescue New Orleans? Will you
give those individuals, the no-kill rescues, shelters and sanctuaries, our
wish list (maybe the pet food companies too)?

Thank you and Merry Christmas,
Animal Rescue New Orleans
271 Plauche Street
New Orleans, LA 70123
504-571-1900
http://www.animalrescueneworleans.org

A Cruelty Case Or Is Fate Just Cruel?

Howard outside of the ARNO shelter brought in by
ARNO volunteer feeder/trapper. Feeders act as ‘rescue
angels’ daily on the streets and neighborhoods left
devastated by Katrina. Nothing much in the landscape
has changed in the 14 months since the storm.

(10/25/06) Why is ARNO is still feeding in the 650 square miles of Orleans,
St. Bernard and Plaquemines Parishes that were devastated by the storm?
After all, residents are returning albeit at a very low percentage in most
areas... the areas that were relatively affluent before Katrina have a
higher rate of returning residents. But even in neighborhoods that are being
repopulated our feeders are still feeding the street animals and acting as
rescue agents — or should we say 'rescue angels' — and save little lives
every day. This puppy is proof that those life-saving efforts must go on...
I don't even like to consider where this pup would be without ARNO.

This beautiful little guy was rescued in uptown New Orleans by one of our
feeder/trappers and just in the nick of time. The leg had been cleanly
'hacked off' at the hock and needed further amputation before a bone
infection would become fatally systemic.

5. Hopeful Haven Loses 52-Acre Dream For Horses
Remember HHERO In Prayers & Donations This Holiday Season
10/4/06 - Extreme Dream: Horse Edition 
9/20/06 - 52 Acres For Hopeful Haven Equine Rescue!

Hopeful Haven Equine Rescue (HHERO) were true heroes to horses, cows and
other farmed animals in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. In
weekend convoys that lasted until March 4, they brought hay and hope to
rural areas where pasture lands had been ravaged in a hurricane surge 28
miles inland. Some spots became watery graves for animals, but HHERO convoys
came with supplies to keep surviving animals alive...

SOURCE: HHERO, hopefulhaven@yahoo.com

11/20/06, From Debra Barlow, hopefulhaven@yahoo.com - This Hopeful Haven is
about "rebuilding broken spirits." That is for horses and people. Please
remember us in your prayers this Thanksgiving as we look to find another
facility for the horses! Also, I am grateful for the opportunities I have
had serving as President the last four years and finding homes for all the
horses and saving all the ones we have. My life couldn't be more perfect in
it's imperfect way. Everything is a learning experience and I for one am so
grateful for the blessings bestowed upon us!

All donations are tax deductible / TAX ID # 91-2093844
HOPEFUL HAVEN EQUINE RESCUE ORGANIZATION, INC.
P.O. BOX 17763
SHREVEPORT, LA 71138`
318-286-3116, hopefulhaven@yahoo.com
DONATE ONLINE - http://www.hopefulhaven.com/contact.html

Debra Barlow, President & Animal Cruelty Investigator
P.O. Box 17763 * Shreveport, La 71138
http://www.HopefulHaven.com
cell: 318-286-3116; hm: 318-925-4272; fax: 318-797-6043 fax wk (M-TH 8-4, F 8-1) 318-797-7464
If ever a horse needs a helping hand, Please God, Let it be ours

6. Searching Since Katrina / Remote Reunion Campaign
SOURCE: http://rrhudy.myweb.uga.edu/bfrr/index.html

GRETCHEN – FOUND

BREED: Domestic Shorthair - Grey tabby & white
GENDER: Female (altered) / AGE: Approx 2 yrs
Petfinder ID: PF63430
Petfinder Link: http://disaster.petfinder.com/emergency/rescue/reportDetail.cgi?id=63430

DESCRIPTION: Gretchen is a full-figured grey and white tabby with short hair
who is about two years old. She is a Hurricane Katrina victim, in excellent
health and has been spayed. Gretchen is shy around other cats but loves to
love on humans. Her foster people are amazed at how well she has adjusted
considering all that she has been through. Poor Gretchen is still sneaking
out from under the bed to eat and use the box. She does not like the other
animals. Gretchen went from the animal shelter in Tangipahoa Parish (near
Hammond, LA) on either 9/15 or 9/19 to Houston to Austin. She currently
resides at the Cedar Forest Cat Ranch, Inc. in Austin, TX.

CONTACT: Cedar Forest Cat Ranch
512-791-9731 or cedarforestcatranch@yahoo.com
———————————————————————————————————————————————————-

ROXIE — LOST IN THE SYSTEM
     
BREED: Chocolate Labrador Retriever
GENDER: Female (spayed) / AGE: 12 yrs / WEIGHT: 65 lbs
Lost IDs: PF59982, PF52371
Petfinder Lost Links: http://disaster.petfinder.com/emergency/rescue/reportDetail.cgi?id=59982
http://disaster.petfinder.com/emergency/rescue/reportDetail.cgi?id=52371

DESCRIPTION: Roxie is chocolate brown with some gray on her face and several
old age spots. She has been spayed but has had one litter of pups in the
past. She has dewclaws on her front paws and long black nails with a little
bit of white in between the toes. The only distinctive mark is a little
growth at the base of her nose where the hairline starts; it looks like a
tick, which could have come off. She is a slow walker and it might be hard
for her to get up if she lies down for too long. Roxie was wearing a choker
chain collar with rabies and ID tag. The rabies tag was from Paris Rd Animal
Clinic. The ID tag had the owner's address, 3312 Corinne Ave., on it. Since
leather or cloth would give her a rash, any leather or cloth collar placed
on her by rescue people would probably be off by now.

LAST SEEN: Left on dry ground at Judge Perez Drive next to Jubilee grocery
in Chalmette, LA (St. Bernard Parish) and was probably rescued on September
16 or September 22, 2005. The owner THINKS she was sent to Lamar-Dixon
because her littermate was taken there and then sent to LSU.

The upper picture at left is of Roxie; the 2 middle and right pictures are of 2 dogs
rescued after Katrina that MAY be Roxie.
Potential Match Found IDs:
PF4821 (also listed as PF34756 & 160047) and PF4545 (also listed as shelter ID 511)

Petfinder Potential Match Found Links:
http://disaster.petfinder.com/emergency/rescue/reportDetail.cgi?id=4821
http://disaster.petfinder.com/emergency/rescue/reportDetail.cgi?id=34756
http://disaster.petfinder.com/emergency/rescue/reportDetail.cgi?id=4545

CONTACT: Eileen Shellman, 920-499-7475 or rogershell@netnet.net
Owner contact info available: http://www.lostkatrinapets.com/roxielab/index.html
———————————————————————————————————————————————————-

MERCY — LOST IN THE SYSTEM

BREED: Domestic Shorthair - Tabby/Tortoiseshell/Torbie
GENDER: Female (spayed) / AGE: 3 yrs / Weight: medium size
Found IDs: PF30304, PF4670, 0001-1088
Lost ID: PF63091
Petfinder Found Links: http://disaster.petfinder.com/emergency/rescue/reportDetail.cgi?id=30304
http://disaster.petfinder.com/emergency/rescue/reportDetail.cgi?id=4670
Petfinder Lost Link: http://disaster.petfinder.com/emergency/rescue/reportDetail.cgi?id=63091

DESCRIPTION: Mercy is a brown tabby/torti with a white neck and muzzle. She
has green eyes and is a very sweet cat.

LAST SEEN: Mercy was last seen at Lamar Dixon on September 7 where her
family left her for temporary shelter after they evacuated their home in
Metairie (Jefferson Parish, East Bank). They believe she was sent to another
shelter between September 13 and September 20. Mercy’s Shelter ID number
from Lamar Dixon is 0001-1088.

CONTACT: Eileen Shellman, 920-499-7475 or rogershell@netnet.net
———————————————————————————————————————————————————-

NEVIE — MISSING

BREED: German Shepherd mix
GENDER: Female (spayed) / AGE: 10 yrs / WEIGHT: 70 lbs
Lost ID: PF41008
Petfinder Lost Link: http://disaster.petfinder.com/emergency/rescue/reportDetail.cgi?id=41008

DESCRIPTION: Nevie has hip dysplasia and cropped ears. She also has a medium
length coat.

LAST SEEN: Inside fenced yard at 4744 Pecan Street, New Orleans, LA 70126
(Orleans Parish); cross streets are Selma and Dreaux.

CONTACT: Heather Schooler, 585-586-9169 or together4animals@cs.com

Remote Reunion Campaign: http://www.arches.uga.edu/~rrhudy/bfrr/
Some are confirmed Katrina rescues. But the paperwork is hazy. Or missing.
So these animals are “lost in the system.” Others could be in the care of
unknown individuals or groups. ANIMAL RESCUE GROUPS & INDIVIDUALS: Please
look at these companion animals. Their humans have been searching for them
since the devastation of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita...

If you have ANY leads, please contact specific volunteers listed on Remote
Reunion Campaign’s website or in this alert. Check Remote Reunion’s website
at regular intervals to view additional lost/missing pets.

CONTACT: Valerie Sharma, psharma@austin.rr.com

To add pets to “FOUND” section or website-related issues,
CONTACT: Halle Amick, amick@med.unc.edu

VIEW MORE DOGS LOST IN THE SYSTEM:
http://www.arches.uga.edu/~rrhudy/bfrr/dogs.html

VIEW MORE CATS LOST IN THE SYSTEM:
http://www.arches.uga.edu/~rrhudy/bfrr/cats.html

VIEW MORE FOUND PETS:
http://rrhudy.myweb.uga.edu/bfrr/found.html

7. Katrina Dog Needs Help Out Of CT Kill Shelter
SOURCE: karensrescuelist@yahoogroups.com,
Shirley Mondeaux <shirley_mondeaux@msn.com>

11/20/06, From shirley_mondeaux@msn.com -  Posted on Nola.com. No shelter
listed but she is up to be PTS before long.

http://www.hotwaterrescue.com/dogs21a.html
Xena is a Hurricane Katrina dog and is URGENT! No phone number listed but
here is an email and street address:
SaveNabandonDog@aol.com or robluvsmolossers@aol.com
Hot Water Rescue
P.O. Box 304
Collinsville, CT 06022

XENA
  
BREED: APBT(?)/Labrador Retriever mix
COLOR: Black
AGE: 2 years
SEX: Female (spayed)

Wow, has Xena had quite a journey. This loving girl was fighting for
survival on the streets of new orleans, pregnant, not knowing where to turn.
After roaming the flooded, destroyed streets with a pack of dogs, a new
journey of transport throughout the US began. She ended up in CT. All of her
puppies were adopted and this poor mother, who had struggled for so long,
was left behind... only to be adopted by a home that didn't see how amazing
she was and didn't give her the chance she deserved.... she was then
abandoned at a kennel...

Xena is an extremely loving dog. She is very happy, very outgoing, and
energetic. She would love a family who loves to hike, play in the yard, and
enjoy other fun activities... I think she would even love doing agility if
it were something her new parents were interested in! She would love to go
on car rides, play a nice game of frisbee, go for a nice boatride, or just
curl up on the couch after a long day of play and snuggle with her new mommy
or daddy.

This girl has not gotten a break for even a minute, and now her situation,
as a dog abandoned at a kennel, is just as urgent as ever. No one has ever
invested time or love into this girl that she deserves. It is a miracle that
she survived Katrina, that she kept herself and her puppies alive, and was
able to still keep all trust in people and have faith that one day someone
will come along and truly love her.

If you are looking for a fun, happy, playful, eager to please girl who
seriously needs to be rescued, Xena is your girl...and her time is running
out because we have no idea how long this girl has before the kennel will no
longer house her. If you would be interested in adopting this awesome girl,
please visit our website and submit an application!

REPLY DIRECTLY TO:
SaveNabandonDog@aol.com or robluvsmolossers@aol.com

8. Holiday Heart For Gulf Coast Animals - Volunteer, Donate

Humane Society of Louisiana (HSL)
115 Obed Magee Road; Tylertown, MS 39667
http://www.humanela.org/
   * CONTACT: 304-231-4954, 601-876-2781
    humanesocietyla@gmail.com, info@humanela.org

    * WANT TO HELP IN YOUR OWN LOUISIANA COMMUNITY?
    Contact HSL founder, Jeff Dorson: info@humanela.org.

    * Please address questions about volunteering to Board member,
    Tanya O'Reilly: info@humanela.org

    HELP OUT IN THE NEW ORLEANS METRO AREA:
    Foster care * Animal transport (to vet appointments, adoptive homes, etc.) *
    Adoption days * Administrative/clerical support * Rescue/trapping * Special
    events and fundraisers

    VOLUNTEER AT OUR SANCTUARY:
    Volunteers are needed to provide hands on animal care at our Tylertown,
    Mississippi facility. Our facility, the former "Camp Katrina," is located
    north of Abita Springs, about two hours from New Orleans.

Animal Rescue New Orleans
271 Plauche St.; New Orleans, LA 70123       
ARNO Main Line: 504-571-1900; email: ar-no@cox.net
   * CONTACT: arnovolunteer@yahoo.com
    * VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR: Robin Beaulieu, ARNewOrleans@cox.net, 504-913-2328
    * Submit a volunteer application: http://www.animalrescueneworleans.com/
    * FOOD WATER PROGRAM COORDINATOR: arnofoodwater@yahoo.com

    - FEED: Drive to feeding stations, replenish food/water, collect field data.
    - ANIMAL CARE/WAREHOUSE ASSISTANT: Walk/feed animals, clean kennels, etc.
    - FOSTER A PET: Temporary housing for animals awaiting transport/adoption.
    - DATA: Manage field data, make phone calls, generate recruitment materials...
    - TRAP: Humane trapping - lost, homeless, injured, newborn, pregnant animals.

NOLA Volunteer Food/Water Program for Animals
   * CONTACT: Traci Kestler, tbkestler@cox.net or 504-975-5971  

    Feeders * Warehouse Workers * Phone Workers * Computer Workers * TNR Trappers
    - A minimum ONE DAY PER MONTH.
    - Feeding and watering animals is PRIORITY.
    - If you don’t want to do food/water stations, we NEED YOU somewhere.

Southern Animal Foundation
1823 Magazine Street; New Orleans, LA 70130
http://www.southernanimalfoundation.org
   * CONTACT: 504-671-8235, animallover@southernanimalfoundation.org

    FOSTER FAMILIES: <http://www.southernanimalfoundation.org> CLICK ON “ADOPTION”
    If you are interested in fostering, please download application. Once
    completed, please fax or mail the application to our office.

Louisiana SPCA
701 Thayer Street; New Orleans, Louisiana 70114
504-368-5191; fax: 504-368-3710
http://www.la-spca.org/
   * CONTACT: LA/SPCA Volunteer Coordinator, 504-368-5191
    * Volunteer Programs Coordinator, 504-368-5191, ext. 142 or Ginger@la-spca.org
    * Submit Volunteer Application: http://www.la-spca.org/forms/ap_volunteer.htm

9. Someone Wants To Find Me - Pittie Girl Lost in Katrina
SOURCE: Sarah Lotten, clrsee@aol.com

From Sarah Lotten, clrsee@aol.com - For the past year I have been working as
a volunteer with Best Friends, <http://www.bestfriends.org/> trying to
reunite the animal victims of Katrina with their humans. This is my last
ditch effort to find Jasmine. I have looked at tens of thousands of photos
of animals rescued from the hurricanes in Louisiana in 2005. I have scoured
the web sites of shelters in every state near and far. I have spoken to
wonderful people all over the country. I am sending this letter to everyone
in my address book. I am hoping each of you will then send it to everyone in
your address book.

Remember, the rescued animals were sent all over the USA and Canada to
wherever there was room to take them in. Who knows? Maybe someone,
somewhere, will know someone who knows someone that adopted a Katrina
rescue, or helped in the effort, or knows someone who helped. And maybe
someone will recognize Jasmine and be able to provide closure for her human
by telling her she is safe and loved.I f this happens, please let me know...

REPLY DIRECTLY TO: Sarah Lotten, clrsee@aol.com


Jasmine is now 6 yrs old. She has a surgical scar on her right shoulder  and
a white tip on her tail. She was intact at time of disaster but may have
been spayed since then. She is a pure bred Pit Bull that loves people
and animals. She is originally from Sulphur, LA near Lake Charles.

REPLY DIRECTLY TO: Sarah Lotten, clrsee@aol.com

10. A Heartfelt Thank You From Pia And Luna
10/4/06 - UPDATE: Luna’s Homecoming
9/29/06 - UPDATE: Pia & Luna, Katrina Dog Struck By Car
9/20/06 - HELP Pia & Luna: ARNO Cofounder’s Katrina Dog Struck By Car

SOURCE: Pia Salk, piapia@adelphia.net


11/18/06, from piapia@adelphia.net -  My father’s favorite quote was, “When
it gets dark enough you can see the stars.”
 
I never fully grasped the meaning of these words, but having lived through
this terrifying ordeal with Luna, I now know what they mean. When times get
really dark and nothing seems to bring light, it is then that light finds
its way to you and you are able to see it. Perhaps it is light that has
always been there but has gone unseen for the distraction of every day life.  
And perhaps it is new light that has found you in your darkness.  

Each of you is that light.
 
Your support, well wishes, cards, photos…have come from far and wide and
left me speechless- and if you know me, this is quite an accomplishment on
your part. Many say ‘animal people’ are crazy…and don’t get me wrong, we
are…but in many ways we are also the most sane.  We are able to see past the
messages that society tries to feed us about our animal companions.


We cannot imagine considering them anything but full members of our
families. We would never dream of casting them aside if they became ill,
costly or burdensome. That to us is crazy. In so many ways they take us out
of ourselves and refocus us in needed ways. Needless to say Luna’s accident
reminded me of this in spades.  
 
I have found in life that when you do what you believe - when you let that
guide you without hesitation - it is what empowers you and fills you with
strength. It is a feeling hard to explain but it is void of any ambiguity or
guilt - it is pure - and begins what my friend refers to as ‘one’s own march
to the sea.’  
 
I have found when you follow that path; the world embraces you and takes
care of you in ways you could not command in any other way. It is our
actions that define us - the big ones and the small ones. And your actions
in response to Luna’s accident did just that.
 
You responded with kindness, needed assistance, compassion, words of
comfort, and so much more. I cannot explain the depth of my gratitude. And
it restores a faith in the human animals that at times we might lose sight
of. There is good in our species - you have evidenced this.

As Luna was in the ICU for so many days, I would visit her twice daily and
just pray that she would again be home and throwing her head back playfully
as she had come to do. That I could watch her and Sweetie (her pit
counterpart also from NOLA) gum each other for hours on the couch. I just
wanted her to have more of these moments, more days like these that she
seemed never to have had pre-Katrina.  
 

Luna is an amazing little girl.  Living a feral life in treacherous
surroundings, surviving the hurricane, mistakenly loaded on a semi to Iowa
and then later flown to California. As you know, she was then hit by that
car on September 18th and saved by kind strangers who saw it happen. Her
injuries were very serious and so many complications arose. But she
weathered each one and even opened up to her caretakers and agreed to stop
biting them.  
 
Then home for weeks of tube feedings, a satellite around her head, crated
and in pain. She would pant and whine occasionally sending her neurotic
human mother into a tizzy trying to figure out what she needed. Then back to
the ICU for a few days with an unexplainable serious allergic reaction. Note
that by this time we had essentially bought them a new wing to the hospital
- which better be named after Luna!
 
But I digress; we then headed home again only to have a bout of kennel cough
that she and Sweetie shared over the past couple of weeks. But she was
bright and happy and loving through it all.

She has taught me volumes. I love this little girl more than I can ever
articulate. I love them all.
 
So while I am trained as a psychologist, I have now become a nurse of
sorts-running an infirmary - it seems that Luna prefers that to talking
about her feelings. None of my animals seem to want to explore their
feelings or talk about their mothers…. weird I know. They’d rather sharpen
their claws on the therapists couch then lay on it and reflect. Curious….
 
Ok so that was a very long winded way of simply saying thank you - many of
you I know well, some I’ve only recently met and others I have never met at
all but only spoken with over email- but in a sense I know you and you know
me - this is heartening. Many of you organized others and asked for
donations to help Luna - through your offices or websites - I can’t thank
you enough.
 
When Luna was in the hospital I often told her the names of those who sent
well wishes- I am certain that this, coupled with Luna’s fortitude, is the
reason she is alive today! And your assistance also helped take the
financial and emotional stress off of me enough that I could be more
available to her - I personally thank you for that.  
 
Luna is doing well - using her back legs and rebuilding that muscle mass.
She walks like a little lamb and is now kind of pigeon toed in the back but
it’s quite cute.  She is less timid and loves to have her belly rubbed. She
greets people and allows them to pet her- something I never thought would
happen. It fills me with joy.

You are good people and the animals of this world are lucky to have you - as
we are lucky to have them. I feel proud to count myself as one of you - the
crazy animal people who are strong and outspoken when needed, and silently
supportive and compassionate when that is what is called for.

Many of you know I have always believed in Margaret Mead’s words, “Never
doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the
world.“ Well you certainly changed Luna’s and my world for the better, and
in so doing you are modeling this compassion and commitment for those around
you to learn from.

Luna and I, along with her sisters and brothers, thank you more than you can
imagine. In Kinship, Pia


Pictures of Luna, Sweetie, Pickles and myself. Above, Sweetie sits on Luna
to assure her safety. I tried to get the kitties to participate but they
just yawned and gave me the finger- but they secretly thank you too. Meow.

11.And Then There Were Dogs
SOURCE: http://www.fromtheheartpostcards.com/ICQ/DogCreation.html

When God had made the earth and sky,
the flowers and the trees,
He then made all the animals
the fish, the birds and bees.

And when at last He'd finished
not one was quite the same.
He said I'll walk this world of mine
and give each one a name.

And so He traveled far and wide
and everywhere He went,
a little creature followed Him
until its strength was spent.

When all were named upon the earth
and in the sky and sea,
the little creature said "Dear Lord,
there's no name left for me."

Kindly the Father said to him,
"I've left you to the end.
I've turned my own name back to front
and called you DOG, my friend."

Author Unknown

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