Katrina Dogs

You see them on your TV screen and their pictures in the newspaper: dogs standing on window ledges or roof tops; cats clinging to tree branches; waiting and pleading to be rescued. They are the left behind victims of Hurricane Katrina and they break your heart.

Animal rescuers are there to help, bringing some of these pets to Northern Virginia. Currently we are housing the following dogs rescued from the devastated area:

They were dehydrated and their haunted eyes reflected the trauma they had endured. One foxhound (Faith) is seriously ill and Pearl, Roxie, Miz Pea  and Pepe have tested positive for canine heartworm disease, and will require treatment to resolve this life-threatening condition. Fecal matter revealed that they had ingested paper, stones, and other trash to survive.

Funds are desperately needed for vet care and housing for these dogs and others that we will be taking in. When healthy, they will be fostered for a minimum of three months, while efforts are made to locate their owners.

If you can help with a financial contribution to defray their medical expenses and cost of housing these dogs, it will be greatly appreciated. Please make a donation using: (put "Katrina Rescue" in the designation field)
Or...



Or mail us a check, made out to the SPCA of Northern Virginia with "Katrina Rescue" in the memo field. The address is at the bottom of this page.

 The first six dogs that we  took in will remain with the SPCA, but we are looking for foster homes for any future dogs we rescue from Katrina's wrath, as well as for our own SPCA dogs in order to make more room for our southern canine buddies. If you can help, please call 703-799-9390 and leave a message on the dog line with your name and phone number.

We will be most grateful, and you know the dogs will be too!

UPDATE 9/16/2005 - The dogs were bought back to this area by our colleagues at A Forever Home.

 Here is a picture of Angel (see the angel with outspread wings on her side) and Minnie (can you see the black Mickey Mouse head and ears on her side?). Both are now safe and secure and relaxing in the Virginia countryside.

 


Update 9/21/2005 - Here are some photos of the dogs being checked out at the vets. Poor Faith was very dehydrated and sick when she arrived with us. Unfortunately, Pearl was positive for heartworm - she had her initial treatment and is now recuperating.


Dr. Clark and his assistant Vicky draw
blood from Faith for a heartworm test.
Dr. C & Vicky check Faith over.


Dr Clark checks Pearl for a micro-chip


Update 9/22/2005 - We now have 2 more dogs from Mississippi/Louisiana. They are Roxie, the Rottweiler (currently underweight by about 20-30 lbs, poor girl) and Miz Pea, a Catahoula mix. Here are their pictures:

Update 9/28/2005 - Bad news - both Miz Pea and Roxie are heartworm positive. They have started their treatment today.

Update 10/3/2005 - We have more "Katrina dogs."  Dixie and Pepe are Basenji mixes, and both are under 30 lbs. Pepe is heartworm positive and will be undergoing treatment. Dixie is available for adoption - for more information, click here.

Update 10/8/2005 - Wonderful news!! Angel and Minnie have been tracked down by their original family  in Pearlington, Mississippi.

Update 10/22/2005 - Lisa Reid, who runs the kennels where the SPCA dogs live, and SPCA volunteer Barb Deathe traveled to Tylertown, Mississippi and the surrounding area, to help out in any way they could. They were there from October 12 -16. While there, they visited with Angel and Minnie's family, who lost their home and are not ready to take their dogs back yet. Lisa and Barb brought back two dogs who had been given up by their owners;  Magnolia and Lilly  are 8 month old shepherd/husky siblings. Click here to read Barb's trip report and here to see photos. Here's a picture of Magnolia and Lily:

UPDATE 10/29/2005- Thank you to Junior Girl Scout Troop #612 of Luray and Vanessa Brown. This group of enthusiastic young people raised $100 toward the medical treatment of our Katrina dogs and collected many blankets and toys, too. Lisa Reid took Faith, one of the Katrina dogs,  to meet the girls.

Front row (left to right): Kaitlyn Smith, Brianna Goukas-Cooper, Faith the dog, Hannah Turner, Emily Hilliard
Back Row (left to right): Olivia Bryan, Troop Leader Melissa Presgraves, Pamela Jones, Emily Shifflett, Ariel Pendergast

UPDATE 11/15/2005- Since Angel and Minnie's family, who lost their home, are not ready to take their dogs back yet, financial responsibility for  these two has been turned over to Ragged Mountain Dogs. Donations to help defray the cost of their food and housing may be made to Ragged Mountain Dogs.

UPDATE 11/17/2005- Some of the Katrina dogs are ready to find new homes! Dixie, Lily, and Magnolia are listed on our Dogs for Adoption page.

UPDATE 12/10/2005- Lily becomes the first of our Katrina dogs to be adopted, and Pearl joins the group ready for adoption.

 UPDATE 1/6/2006- Lisa Reid made the drive to Mississippi once more and Angel and Minnie have been reunited with their family!

UPDATE 1/13/2006- Financial responsibility for Faith the Foxhound has been turned over to Ragged Mountain Dogs, who will list her for adoption. Donations to help defray the cost of Faith's food and housing may be made to Ragged Mountain Dogs.

UPDATE 2/25/2006- All of the SPCA's Katrina dogs are ready for adoption! Pepe, the last of our Katrina evacuees, has finished his heartworm treatment and will be joining the other dogs at adoption fairs.

SPCA of Northern Virginia
P.O. Box 100220
Arlington, VA 22210-3220
703 799-9390