FOSTER CARE FOR MISS KITTY?
Posted: Tuesday, September 27 at 07:53 pm CT by Mike Brunker
UPDATE: Nov. 23, 2005, 10:15 a.m. PT -- Bill Harris died Monday in a Slidell, La., hospital. Click here to read Mr. Harris' obituary. Comments will be posted at the end of this blog entry.
Bill Harris, the Slidell, La., man who credits his survival during Hurricane Katrina to his beloved cat, Miss Kitty, is agonizing over long-term plans for her care amid indications that his stay at a no-animals nursing home will not be a short one.
Harris, who was moved to the Trinity Neurologic Rehabilitation Center in Slidell last week so that he could be near his mother, Jane, says his chronic kidney condition has worsened as a result of his ordeal over three days after the storm surge roared up a canal off Lake Pontchartrain and turned his condominium into kindling. That probably precludes a quick release from the nursing home, he admits.
Bill Harris cradles Miss Kitty in his room at the Trinity Neurologic Rehabilitation Center in Slidell, La. (Donna Wackerbauer / Special to MSNBC)
He also has yet to receive any relief assistance from FEMA and counts as his worldly possessions the shorts he was wearing when he was rescued and a few sets of donated clothes that friends and the Red Cross provided him with since.
“I haven’t heard anything from them, but the lady I talked to on the phone said I was approved … so I must be on that list,” he says optimistically when I talk to him on the phone.
The uncertainty over the length of his stay at the nursing home has forced him to consider something he never thought he’d have to face: placing his pet with a foster family until he can get back on his feet. If it comes to that, he’s going to be very particular about the person or family that gets temporary guardianship of Miss Kitty, he says.
“Otherwise she might try and run away and find us,” he says. “She’s that type of cat.”
Donna Wackerbauer, a volunteer with the animal rescue group Noah’s Wish who helped recover Miss Kitty, says that she’ll keep the brown-and-yellow cat at the temporary shelter in a warehouse at a Slidell city complex as long as possible to give Harris time to work through his options.
And in the meantime, she and her rescue partner, Slidell animal control officer Horace Troullier, plan to bring the cat to the nursing home as often as possible so that Harris can have some “cuddle time” in an exterior courtyard.
Harris says his spirits, as well as those of his mother, were brightened when they brought Miss Kitty by Sunday for an unannounced visit.
“My mom was so surprised,” he says. “She hadn’t seen her in seven years. … She got right there up on my lap and on Mother’s lap.”
And Wackerbauer says Miss Kitty’s newfound fame preceded her to the nursing home.
“Everybody at Trinity knows the story,” Wackerbauer says of staff and other residents. “As soon as we walked in with that cat, they knew who we were and what we were doing.”
RENEWED FAITH IN HUMANITY
TRACKBACKS
This story breaks my heart. I pray that Bill will be well sooner then expected and out of the nursing home.
Thank you for keeping us updated on his progress. While I have made some donations to Red Cross and ASPCA I would be more then happy to help Bill too if possible. While I am too far away to foster his kitty for him I would love to make a donation to help cover the costs of her care or to help Bill get back on his feet.
Jane, San Francisco (Sent Sep 28, 2005 11:28:27 AM)
For those of you concerned about pets/animals in future disasters (and there will be more), please go to the website below and sign the petition. If you can, include in the comment box that this bill needs to have some meat on it so it is not just "words" that can be by-passed when the need arises to save animals.
Wild Bill, my prayers are with you and your mom and Miss Kitty. I pray for your speedy recovery and reunion with Miss Kitty!
"A new bill has just been introduced to require federal evacuation plans to protect pets, and we need your signature on this petition to Congress today": http://go.care2.com/e/gIA/bT/onkD
Carol, Birmingham, AL (Sent Sep 28, 2005 11:30:32 AM)
Donna and Horace you should foster Miss Kitty. You are angels to her, she trusts you. She is a "furry angel to many at the nursing home and of course to Mr. Bill and his mom. You are the ones who saved her and reunited her with Bill. Also, you two can get her to visit bill. This would be best for Miss Kitty, because if you do not then she will just have to get used to another "human family or person" and get used to yet new surroundings.
Bill, our prayers with you, your mom and Miss Kitty that you can keep up the frequent visits. Know that whomever does end up fostering her (hopefully Donna and/or Horace) will treat her as a queen.
Thank you Mike on this update, though we were rather surprised our first attempt at a comment here did not post. We were also very surprised to see a comment that was posted here that had NOTHING to do with this Blog of Miss Kitty and nowhere did Andrew mention Miss Kitty at all, yet you posted his comment and not ours? Taking the message posting rules: PLEASE READ: We will only approve comments that are directly related to this blog post,..our son had some things he said too about Miss Kitty, as he has Asberger's Disorder (a form of autism)and is very, very sensitive to the plight of animals and this story made him SOOO happy. We do remember he said something about Miss Kitty is home and she will be cared for---or else he would come looking...just kidding though-he said as he is sure she would be treated as we said, like a queen.
Anyway, again thank you for this story as it has made our day. Bless one and all volunteers and survivors.
The Harlow's, San Diego, California (Sent Sep 28, 2005 11:41:52 AM)
MA lot of nursing homes across the nation accept pets as a means of therapy. It has been proven that people on the whole do better when pets are around them. Please find it in your hearts to allow Miss Kitty to stay with the ones she loves.
Vickie Robbins, Dryden, Maine (Sent Sep 28, 2005 11:42:07 AM)
I was curious about what the actual purpose/directive of FEMA and Homeland Security is. This is the most recent directive signed by President Bush prior to Katrina.
vw
http://www.fema.gov/pdf/reg-ii/hspd_5.pdf
Vivia White, Ball, Louisiana (Sent Sep 28, 2005 11:45:04 AM)
We are so happy to hear that Miss Kitty is alive and well and back with her beloved Bill! Our family agrees that she should be able to stay with or nearby Bill so that they can both recover from this awful tragedy. We are willing do donate to help you all out Sometimes there ARE happy endings!!
The Evans Family
Virginia
Leslie Evans (Sent Sep 28, 2005 11:53:19 AM)
Bill needs to be with Miss Kitty,regardless of the rules the nursery home has. It has been proven in many cases that animals help people like Bill to get better. Most people adore animals expecially Cats. It sounds like Miss Kitty needs to be with Bill as well, and they are both suffering without one another. Being an animal lover and having two cats and one dog of my own it would be heartbreaking for myself and my animals if we had to be seperated for such a long period of time.
Melissa,Dallas,TX (Sent Sep 28, 2005 12:02:15 PM)
As with the other comments, I wholeheartedly agree, keep Miss Kitty with Wild Bill! Statistics show that both parties with recover more fully and with much less angst. Since there is already enough pain and suffering to go around,lets try to lessen any chance for more needless suffering. The human heart is the one of the best assests for anyone, let love prevail.
B. Sue Gaiser, Little Rock, Ark. (Sent Sep 28, 2005 12:06:18 PM)
My husband and I own a small pet store in Laurel, MS which is a temporary Red Cross animal haven for animals during emergency evacuations. We could care for your precious kitty at our store in Laurel. All who work here are huge animal lovers and we still have a couple of animals that are with us from hurricane Katrina. The animals receive lots of attention from our staff and customers and have their own sleeping crates at night. If you think this might be a good fit for Ms. Kitty, give us a call. Our name is All God's Creatures in Laurel MS.
Also,we have two cats and a dog(registered 2 yr old Chesapeak bay retriever) that the owners asked us to find homes for after the hurricane. They are soooooooo spoiled so if you have a good home give us a call and ask for Allen.
Diane, Laurel,MS (Sent Sep 28, 2005 12:06:39 PM)
i can offer 2 options...i will pay expenses to transport miss kitty to a foster home of bill's choice or i will pay expenses to transport miss kitty to my home in ocean city maryland & pay return expenses to transport miss kitty back to bill when he is ready...i have a black lab & 6 cats so she would have to be multi cat & dog friendly...4 of the 6 cats are indoor only...let me know if i can help
trisha ocean city, maryland (Sent Sep 28, 2005 12:11:14 PM)
I think it is time the nursing home revisits "regulations". Animals are very healing not only to our minds and spirits, but our bodies as well! I love the comment, "Let's think outside the Litterbox!" It is time we awakened to what is REALLY important in our lives, and our love for animals is. Please let Miss Kitty stay as a "therapy cat."
Annette Kohn-Lau (Sent Sep 28, 2005 12:13:12 PM)
WE LOST OUR LAST CAT AT THE AGE OF 15 RECENTLY.
AND WE DECIDED NOT TO HAVE ANY MORE. THEY ARE TOO MUCH LIKE FAMILY. BUT WE WOULD GLADLY CARE FOR MISS KITTY. WE LIVE IN KENTUCKY SO I'M FAIRLY SURE SOME OTHER CAT LOVERS IN CLOSER PROXIMITY WILL GET MISS
KITTY BUT WE WOULD LIKE BILL TO KNOW PEOPLE FAR AWAY
ALSO CARE ABOUT THE TRAUMA THE STORM VICTIMS HAVE
GONE THROUGH. P.S. WE FEED THE STRAY CATS AT WORK
TOO.
WITH HIM. WE LIVE IN KENTUCKY AND I'M SURE OTHER CAT
LOVERS WILL OFFER
RENEE LORENZEN (Sent Sep 28, 2005 12:20:58 PM)
I have been following this story since the day Bill was rescued and unable to bring His Beloved Companion Miss Kitty with Him. Heartbreaking.
I then went to www.Noahswish.org and sent my donation to them because they are the Only organization in the Country that is Solely dedicated to Animal Rescue during disasters.
To discover that their organization set up relief efforts in Slidell,LA where Bill was resued gave me hope. It was great news to read that they helped save Miss Kitty and reunite her with Bill. It is also wonderful to know that so many others are writing in who feel the same way about their animals and the welfare of Animal Rescue in natural disasters.
RE: Caring for Miss Kitty while Bill is recovering - I believe that Bill should be allowed to see her as often as possible while he is at his current facility, and Miss Kitty receive the Love and Care Provided by her Rescuers. I also feel that He and Miss Kitty and His Mom should be moved to one of the wonderful Nursing Homes that do allow Pets because the health and Happiness of all 3 are dependent upon them being together.
My Husband and I would never Leave our two Beautiful Girls Sabrina and Baby under ANY circumstances.
Ginni Fego (Sent Sep 28, 2005 12:38:49 PM)
It's so easy to forget that the real victims in this catastrophe are the animals, especially beloved cats, who I'm sure did all they could to warn us of this impending disaster. Even here in Medina, my cat Buttons was warning me of this natural disaster 2 weeks before it hit. Of course, I am finely attuned to animal communications, which many aren't. Why isn't fema doing more to listen to the animals? This hurricane could have been completely avoided if only we listened to the animal kingdom (although I find donkeys for the most part can't be trusted).
Denton Blair, Medina, Washington (Sent Sep 28, 2005 12:45:48 PM)
Thank you Horace and Donna. Animals tend to make recovery time short. With Miss Kitty near her family, Bill will be up in no time. Love and cuddling is the medicine needed.
Glenda Gleason, Grand Coulee, Washington (Sent Sep 28, 2005 1:00:19 PM)
Many people are commenting on the fact that Miss Kitty stayed with Bill. The fact is, Bill stayed with Miss Kitty, too. What about all the animals that were abandoned by their owners? They are now homeless and in need of loving homes. These animals are spread all over the country in shelters. To all the people offering a home to Miss Kitty, please think about the other animals that have no one waiting to take them home. They have been through a tramatic situation and need some extra loving care. I am currently inquiring with shelters in my area regarding taking a Katrina cat into my home, and I already have three cats!
Shelly, Los Angeles, CA (Sent Sep 28, 2005 1:01:30 PM)
To all of you willing to help Ms. Kitty and Bill, you are wonderful wonderful people. It breaks my heart to see so many people this willing to help a complete stranger. For those of you wondering where donations could be sent. Noahs Wish is the organization that Donna works for. They are a non-profit group with headquarters out of California and are currently in Slidell with over 600 animals in their care. They plan on staying in Slidell until every last animal in their care is either returned to their owner, adopted out(at the request of the owner) or in long term foster care until their owner can get their lives back together. Noahs Wish has also agreed to help out the Slidell Humane Society as their building needs to be demolished due to flood damage. They have commited to raising the money to rebuild the shelter and stocking it with needed supplies. Visit their website at www.noahswish.org . They are running off of donations from people like you, the animals lovers amongst us, so help get MS.Kitty to a foster home where she and Bill can visit until he has a house for her again.
Jessa Clark, BC, Canada (Sent Sep 28, 2005 1:03:11 PM)
It would be wonderful if the administrators of the nursing home would make an exception or allowance in this extraordinary circumstance and let Miss Kitty stay at the nursing home until Bill recovers. Would be great therapy for him and others.
Jeanne Pitman, Clearwater, FL (Sent Sep 28, 2005 1:14:41 PM)
The nursing home should allow MS KITTY to stay there with him. Shame on them if they do not let her stay there.
Surprizedatpeople (Sent Sep 28, 2005 1:16:07 PM)
I'd like to make a donation to help whomever ends up fostering Miss Kitty. I know that if I was ill and a victim of these storms I wouldn't be able recover quickly if I had to worry about my cat having a caring place to stay. I also agree that Miss Kitty should stay close to her owner so that neither of them suffer anymore anxiety.
Best wishes.
Lisa Benedict, Phoenix Arizona (Sent Sep 28, 2005 1:20:44 PM)
I'm slightly disheartened by the fact that only women (from the names I scanned) have posted. Then again, almost all animal rescuers are women or gay men.
I hope someone nearby can take care of Miss Kitty so she can visit her family in the nursing home often. Some have mentioned the Noah's Wish folks fostering her and it is stated they'll do it as long as possible, but they have a huge responsibility to take care of so many displaced and orphaned kitties.
As all of you with kitty-kids know, they need a home space where they can feel safe. The temporary shelter she's in probably isn't the best situation for her. She needs a cozy foster home with tons of love and attention and someone who'll take her to visit Bill.
If I lived closer, I'd certainly take her in.
I also have to add that Donna and Horace are amazing people in my book. You're my heroes!
Jason, Atlanta, GA (Sent Sep 28, 2005 1:22:08 PM)
please let me know where i can send a donation to help care for Miss Kitty until you can have her with you again
jane mccarthy, northampton, ma (Sent Sep 28, 2005 1:52:03 PM)
I hope Bill is able to keep Miss Kitty near by. I have four kitties and I love each one. The comfort you get is priceless. I hope they let you keep her with you and a speedy recovery for you and your mom.
Linda Hawkins Webster NH (Sent Sep 28, 2005 2:05:43 PM)
Please go to www.petfinder.com and register Miss Kitty in their foster care program. Someone close by may be able to take her, that we they can at least visit. Awww...what a story (sniff,sniff)
Theresa Mack, Germantown, MD (Sent Sep 28, 2005 2:16:01 PM)
What a moving story! If we can help in any way with Bill, his Mom, or Miss Kitty, please contact us. We'd be happy to help. :) God Bless you all!
Shelli, Baltimore, MD (Sent Sep 28, 2005 2:21:07 PM)
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