At Winn-Dixie we probably had more than 65 dogs in the kennel tents, more living with volunteers in the parking lot, and up to 60 cats. None of those, except those already adopted by a volunteer, stayed long. The turnover was about two days or sometimes less for the more adoptable dogs, longer for some of the very many pit bulls.

VOLUNTEER VETS
Some of the wonderful vets who gave of their time and their talent

On some days we had four or five vets working, on some days just one, and the turnover for those super volunteers was very quick, too. Some stayed only a day but did everything they could in that time. On some days every incoming dog got a visit to a vet, Frontline®, a heartworm test & a microchip; on most days that was impossible.

Alexis & friend

Recordkeeping was as good as dedicated volunteers could make it, but I think most owners will never reunite with their pets simply due to the ocean of animals flowing through the system to disperse all over the country and the limited variety of ways one can describe & identify a Lab or Rottie. People showed up looking daily, but the chances of them ever finding that "medium-sized yellow dog" who might have moved through Winn-Dixie a month ago are slim.

Several animals were stolen the week we were there, one, heartbreakingly, seemingly an inside job as reportedly all the paperwork disappeared too. Animal groups are begging shelters to hold on to Katrina animals longer to give searchers more time, but if animals aren't adopted out, where do the incoming animals go . . . . The upshot in my personal life is that although all our dogs are microchipped, as soon as possible they will be tattooed as well. It's way too easy to lose a loved one who cannot speak.

Joey & friend

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IN THE EYE OF THE STORM:
KATRINA "A-TEAM" TRIP HERE