| Southold Animal Shelter News |
From The Suffolk Times 11/15/07 Katrina dogs meet up again There's more than a little irony in the fact that a planned reunion of dogs rescued from the Gulf Coast by North Fork Animal Welfare League workers and volunteers in the wake of Hurricane Katrina had to be postponed because the remnants of another storm struck the North Fork last month. The Katrina dogs, many of whom were born in the wake of the storm two years ago, were able to reunite at the Peconic Lane dog park Sunday afternoon, after the effects of the remnants of Hurricane Noel had subsided. Two years ago, shelter director Gillian Wood Pultz and Maril Sawastynowicz traveled to Mississippi with the Humane Society of the United States, and then Ms. Sawastynowicz made three more trips to New Orleans with Leslie Esposito, Al LaFrance and Bethany Clark, bringing back a total of 37 puppies and dogs who quickly found homes in this area. At one adoption gathering, 15 of the Katrina dogs found new homes in just 35 minutes, according to Ms. Wood Pultz. Adoptive families were as excited to see some of the other dogs, now fully grown, as to show off their own pets. The day was particularly poignant for Venetia Hands of Orient, whose adopted dog Sasha had been rescued just moments before the dog was to be euthanized, she said. While Sasha is still a bit skittish, she's doing well, Ms. Hands said. Bob and Sue Friend of Hampton Bays brought Blue back for a reunion with his sister, Katia, who was adopted by Diane Mitchell of Greenport. While Blue, once named Zydego by his rescuers, had grown into a handsome Lab dog, sister Katia, the runt of the litter, resembles a Lab in body type only, but is a tiny 35 pounds. Katia had been named Jazzy by the rescuers, but her new owner preferred a Katrina-sounding name. Iko, named for the New Orleans song about a parade collision between two "tribes" of Mardi Gras Indians and made famous in 1965 by the musical group the Dixie Cups, was an appropriate name for Barbara and Chris Kelsch's dog. Iko joined 4-year-old Belle at the Kelsches' home in Hampton Bays, and Belle has kept Iko "in line" since his arrival, Ms. Kelsch said. "I just think it was a good cause," Marina Gress of East Moriches said about her decision to adopt Parker. Her son Jonathan agreed, and Parker has become his shadow. Gary Gillanders of Southold adopted Dixie, his first rescue puppy, who was estimated to be 10 to 12 weeks old at the time of the adoption. With plenty of refreshments on hand for both pets and their families, and a blessing of the pets and owners by the the Rev. Asher Lee, other planned activities gave way to conversation and an exchange of stories about how well the animals have taken to their new surroundings. |