When Hurricane Katrina devastated the gulf coast in August, Americans did what they always do in times of disaster; they rushed to help. For most of us, the best way to help was with financial contributions; at first to organizations such as the Red Cross, that are best able to provide immediate disaster relief, and later to groups that will help with the rebuilding of the area. More than a billion dollars has been donated already, and contributions continue to come in.

As the enormity of the disaster became known, from the small towns in Mississippi that were basically erased from the map to the flooding in New Orleans, it was obvious that this area would need a lot of help. And not just the human inhabitants. Thousands of displaced animals were left behind when their owners evacuated before the storm hit. Some of them had to be left because the shelters the owners were going to did not allow pets. For others it was a case of “Good luck, you're on your own now.” Many people left thinking they would only be gone for a day or two, and left the animals enough food and water to last until they returned. Most haven't returned yet and many never will.

Animal rescue organizations from across the country responded to the situation and sent volunteers to help save these four-legged victims of the storm. Most metro Atlanta rescue groups helped, in a variety of ways. Some sent staff and volunteers to help with rescue efforts and to care for the animals after they were rescued. Others set about acquiring items that would be needed to care for these animals, including food, crates, bedding, food and water dishes, litter and litter boxes, leashes and collars, medicine and much more. Still others worked to prepare shelter for animals that would be coming to stay in the area or were just passing through on the way to a shelter in another state. Kelly Stone's articles in this issue discuss the rescue efforts and focus on a number of local groups that joined in the rescue effort. Unfortunately we couldn't include everyone, and there are many others who did a lot of good work. The experiences of the people who went and their reactions to what they saw make interesting reading.

One group that deserves a mention is Our Pal's Place, a relatively new group in Marietta, made up of dedicated people who care and want to help. They knew that they wanted to go to the gulf to help but they were short a few things, transportation, supplies, such as crates, bedding dishes and the usual other stuff, and cash to finance the trip. They sent an e-mail to everyone they knew asking for donations and asked that the e-mail be forwarded by those who received it to everyone they knew. What they really needed was the loan of an RV to travel in. The next day they had two RV's, plenty of donated supplies and cash for the trip. They kept a diary of their experiences from start to finish, and it can be viewed on their website, www.ourpalsplace. net. It is interesting reading.

Dani Silverman is a local businesswoman and a serious animal lover. Among other things she teaches the Red Cross Pet First Aid Course, which we highly recommend. When Katrina hit, she knew their would be a rescue operation, and she wanted to be a art continued on page 4 of it. Through her contacts at HSUS, she knew that they would be coordinating much of the animal rescue activities. She set aside her business to volunteer at a shelter that was set up in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, a town that had been battered by the hurricane as well as tornadoes that were spun off by it. From before dawn until late at night, the volunteers cared for the animals. Every dog got a bath on arrival. Dog walks began at 7am and continued throughout the day. Each dog's cage was cleaned whenever he was out of it. Vets and techs were on hand to check out each animal and treat it for any problems. Fleas and intestinal worms were common, and sadly many of the dogs had heartworms. Each animal was documented, micro-chipped and photographed to help re-connect it with its owner. When they were ready to travel, they were transported to rescue groups across the country where they would stay while waiting to see if their owners would reclaim them. All rescued pets are placed on a number of websites devoted to helping the pet owner find a missing pet. If, after 30 days, a pet is not claimed, it is placed up for adoption.

Another group that got involved is Dog Pack Rescue. Members of the group made three trips to Mississippi and Louisiana and returned with 75 dogs. The group is based in Woodstock, with a shelter in Kingston. After the 30 day waiting period, they will be available for adoption every Sunday from noon to 5pm. Dog Pack Rescue is a state licensed non-profit organization, and donations, which are always needed, are tax-deductible. Checks can be sent to P.O. Box 411, Kingston, Ga. 30145 or you can donate online at www.dogpackrescue.us.

A lot of Gulf dogs and cats will be available for adoption soon. Unfortunately, metro Atlanta has its own problem with too many dogs and cats, and it will be difficult to find homes for these animals here without denying a local homeless pet an opportunity to be adopted. Fortunately, many northern states have solved the over-population problems there and they can absorb a lot of these dogs and cats into good homes. Sadly, it doesn't seem as if this region will ever figure it out. As hard as the people in rescue and adoption groups work to find homes for these animals and encourage spaying and neutering, there are always more coming along. The supply never ends.