In the morning we were at the dog tent by 7 or 7:30 a.m. where we walked dogs, cleaned soiled crates and fed & watered until about 10 or 10:30 a.m. In the process, we had to climb into many crates to pull out frightened dogs, and it's a minor miracle we got through a week without getting bitten. The most memorable morning was the one on which an entire row had had diarrhea in their crates. I learned it is possible for a human to vomit and reswallow and keep on working.

CLEANING The daily washing of dog & cat dishes, crate pans, carriers & litter boxes.

Joey, who has no sense of smell, became the "go-to" girl on the soiled crates, and I, because I'm low to the ground and not very bright, became the "go-to" girl on getting petrified dogs out of cages. Rickie, hampered by a bad toe, in addition to being a walker/feeder, evolved into Miss Versatility and spent several mornings in the cat section, doing intake and suiting up in gown & gloves to take care of a puppy suspected of having parvo.

SUITING UP TO WORK IN THE PARVO SECTION

On our very first morning, they had given her the job of emptying all the camp garbage cans into the dumpsters, a ridiculous job for anyone besides the strongest & tallest male there, but she did it without complaint. We were kennel help and the dog training/handling skills we three brought to the table were not highly prized.

HAULING GARBAGE

From the morning walks & feeding we usually moved over to the washing area where the dog & cat bowls, crate pans & litter boxes all had to be washed & disinfected with bleach. If a dog had soiled himself, we cleaned him up too.

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