Hurricane Katrina Rescue Diary

	September 19, 2005

Monday, September 19, 2005
From Brett Huff, Rescues & Investigations Officer

Tim and I are very busy in New Orleans. We apologize for not sending more photos, but there's only two of us, and if our hands our full pulling some dogs out of the water, I'm going to concentrate on grabbing the dogs and not on grabbing the camera.

The mayor announced that residents were allowed back in the city to check on the conditions of their homes and businesses. There are so few clear streets that the influx of people slowed us down a bit, but we're okay with that. We want people back in their homes and taking care of their animals.

We were notified by a human search and rescue team of a home with a two dogs inside.  We gained entry and found the home in a shambles.  The high water mark was at the roof, but the water had receded to porch-level when we got there.  Upstairs there were two dogs, a male poodle and a male Chihuahua hemmed up on a mattress in the corner.  They both were extremely thin and covered in this oily, sludge-mud that’s all over.  It’s actually the consistency of tar.  We were able to get the dogs outside and immediately tried to decontaminate them by pouring several gallons of water all over them, and then hustled them to the triage center.  

The army and U.S. marshals have been extremely helpful in letting us know when they find pets inside flooded houses.  When they check on a house and spray paint the outside with the entry date, they note if there are any animals inside.  We’re stopped by them several times a day.  The army guys have even started carrying dog crates in the back of their HUM-Vs.