K9 Rescue
On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina roared in from the Gulf of Mexico and hit Louisiana and the Mississippi Gulf Coast. It was a Category 5 hurricane, the strongest of them all. Katrina was the most costly hurricane in US history and the damage spread from the Florida Panhandle to Louisiana, with the City of New Orleans suffering from major flooding and widespread destruction. The human death toll as of December 12, 2005 stood at 1362.
Unfortunately, many pets lost their lives to the devastation and an estimated 50,000+ more were left trapped and abandoned. People were forced to evacuate and were not allowed to take their family pets with them. These desperate pets were forced to survive on their own in the disaster area dealing with trauma, starvation, inadequate water supply, and no stability or companionship.
Tracie Nielson (of Clever Canines), a Canine Behaviourist and Instructor, joined a group and volunteered her time to help. In early September 2005, she headed south to New Orleans to unite with The Best Friends Animal Society and the Louisiana Humane Society to assist in animal rescues.
This experience has given Tracie a rare look at how trauma and devastation affect canine mentality, behavior and psyche, as well as their ability to recover given a stable environment. Tracie’s time in New Orleans was eye opening and both heart-warming and heart-breaking. During her two-week stay, Tracie impacted the lives of 220 dogs.
Here are some of her photos: |
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