AP Photo Archive
Dogs wait for their owners to return as they sit on top a car in New Orleans.

Programs help save pets orphaned by hurricanes Katrina and Rita

Julia Jacobson JAC03001@BYUI.EDU Scroll Staff

Without a voice to call for help, thousands of animals were left behind to fend for themselves in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. 

Vincent Caruso, a Gulf Coast pet owner  was reunited with his white terrier, Savannah, on CBS’ The Early Show, on Oct. 4 thanks to animal protection programs. 

Robin Hicks-Connors, the woman who rescued and cared for Savannah, was there with the dog to show Caruso the happy ending. 

Caruso couldn’t have been more elated.  

“I can’t tell her in words how grateful I am,” Caruso said.

Caruso, who had evacuated from St. Bernard Parish, La., had no choice but to leave his two dogs with the SPCA. He thought he would never see them again.

This sort of reunion story is not uncommon in the month after the two hurricanes devastated the Gulf Coast region. 

Various organizations throughout the country are trying to help. 

The Humane Society, The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Web sites, such as petfinder.com, and even local TV stations have been helping get the word out about the displaced pets. 

KSL, the Salt Lake City-based TV and radio stations, made it possible for hundreds of pets to be adopted into the Utah Valley area. KLAS, the CBS Las Vegas affiliate, did the same. 

Without food and with only contaminated floodwaters to drink, household pets used to being taken care of had to fend for themselves.   

Monetary donations can be made at various pet/owner reunion Web sites.