About this blog
From Sept. 22-27, the posts in this blog about Rita's evacuation and devastation were reported and photographed by Bob Sullivan and Andrew Locke. Sullivan, 37, is MSNBC.com's technology and consumer fraud reporter. Locke, 34, in charge of MSNBC.com's editorial strategy, was on his second hurricane blog tour.
From Sept. 18-22, the posts in this blog, examining Katrina's impact on the environment, were reported and photographed by Miguel Llanos and David Friedman. Llanos, 45, is MSNBC.com's environmental reporter. Photojournalist Friedman, 35, is a multimedia producer at MSNBC.com.
From Sept. 10-16, the posts in this blog were reported and photographed by Kari Huus and Jim Seida. Huus, 43, has been a journalist for 20 years and a reporter with MSNBC.com since 1996. Seida, 39, has been a media editor with the Web site since 1996.
From Sept. 2-9, the posts in this blog were reported and photographed by Mike Brunker, left, and Andrew Locke. A journalist for 25 years, Brunker, 49, is MSNBC.com's West Coast news editor. Locke, 34, has been a journalist for 17 years and is currently in charge of MSNBC.com's editorial media strategy.
On the ground and into the crowd
TRACKBACKS
Praise the lord that we have people like Mike and Andrew, our pets are always the last ones to get help. They are so much a part of our lives that they should never be forgotten. I have two cats and two dogs and love them like they are my children and would be lost if something like this happened to them. Thank God we do have people that care. I'm so happy for Bill that he was finally reunited with Miss Kitty, it brought tears to my eyes. God was truly watching over him and Miss Kitty and we can now rest assured that both will be fine.
Joyce Biscoe (Sent Sep 9, 2005 7:30:20 PM)
Incredible story,amazing rescuers---bless Noah's Wish!
Thanks Mike and Andrew for caring. I can take the lump out of my throat now and wipe my tears. I know Bill will be a wonderful minister---with Miss Kitty by his side.
Carole Smith, Houston, Texas (Sent Sep 9, 2005 7:31:15 PM)
I am thankful for all who have worked so tirelessly to bring about this happy ending and many others. In addition to those caring for animals and people, what would we do without the journalists and photographers who bring us the truth about what is really happening?! They have been a blessing with every facet of this catastrosphe. May God bless them.
HK (Sent Sep 9, 2005 7:33:09 PM)
What a wonderful heart warming real life story. Miss Kitty is Bill's life. Hats off to all that went the extra mile. I would like to thank ALL that are caring for the animals large and small during this recovery time. Please help all the animal rescue org...EVERY DOLLAR COUNTS TOWARD HELPING THE FOLKS, PETS AND LIVESTOCK. GOD BLESS EACH AND EVERYONE.
Frances Reynolds (Sent Sep 9, 2005 7:33:12 PM)
What a miracle that Bill and Miss Kitty have been reunited, thank you Mike and Andrew! Now if we could only find the missing dog Snowball and his little boy owner, my happiness would be complete. Kudos to you both for your wonderful humanitarian effort.
AD (Sent Sep 9, 2005 7:35:17 PM)
I have been following this story about Bill and Miss Kitty for days. I was moved to tears when I read that Bill and Miss Kitty were reunited. I am soooo happy! What a wonderful happy ending in all this misery ! The prayers from everybody were answered. I thank God for people like Horace and Donna and being able to find and rescue this poor little creature. I wish Bill a speedy recovery and a happy life with Miss Kitty.
Gretchen, Mission Viejo, California (Sent Sep 9, 2005 7:43:52 PM)
How wonderful. I have thought about "Miss Kitty" and Bill late at night as I lie not sleeping and worrying about the animal in NO. You are doing a wonderful thing - please please please keep up the good work.
Holly Michaels (Sent Sep 9, 2005 7:44:59 PM)
I'm glad Miss Kitty's found Bill. My first log says to Bill to have faith, that she will find her way to him.Thanks to two great people the reunion was made God Bless Them both!
Andrea, Boston,Massachesuets (Sent Sep 9, 2005 7:57:03 PM)
It is so wonderful to hear a heart warming story of Bill and his cat, Miss Kitty. In the midst of such overwhelming tragedy, we need to hear the miracles and blessings to give us hope for the future. Hooray! and God bless the people who made this happen. I believe Wild Bill, will definitely be healing a lot quicker, knowing Miss Kitty is safe and he knows where she is.
Nancy Scott, Ventura, CA USA (Sent Sep 9, 2005 7:58:52 PM)
Well thank goodness! That is such a relief. After reading the first story about Miss Kitty I was furious about what had happened, and thought it was terrible to start to read a wonderful story about an animal rescuing its human, only to have it end with the abandonment that animal, at such a terrible time when we were already filled with sadness and grief.
Let's hope that the inhumane practice of separating animal and human companions, and leaving the animals, which we have domesticated so that they are unable to survive without us, behind to starve to death, ends with these stories. Let's hope the next hurricane evacuation will not force people to choose between life for themselves and life for their animal companions.
Margie, Twin Cities, MN (Sent Sep 9, 2005 8:04:46 PM)
As we are concerned for the human victims of this tragedy I am overjoyed that our feline victims are also being cared for.
Crying with joy in Tennessee.
Barbara, Murfreesboro, TN (Sent Sep 9, 2005 8:08:17 PM)
When will our government realize what a contribution these animals make to the lives of these people? It is heartbreaking to see them literally ripped from their people. I have observed elderly being taken from the only thing that they have left, their companion animal, time and time again throughout this crisis. Thank God for the rescue organizations and the people who do this work. We need to learn from this disaster and make provisions to house animals in the future.
Jamie Avaritt, York PA (Sent Sep 9, 2005 8:12:12 PM)
As joyous as this story has been so far, it wasn't complete until Bill was able to see his beloved Miss Kitty face to face. You two, along with Horace Troullier and Donna Wackerbauer, deserve the thanks of a grateful nation for what you've done here. In addition to creating a happy ending for one man and one cat, you've drawn attention to the plight of all the animals reluctantly abandoned in the aftermath of the storm. Did you know that thanks to a barrage of phone calls, FEMA will now allow animals to be removed along with their owners? I'm sure many of those callers were influenced by the story of Bill Harris and the miraculous Miss Kitty. Most cats just THINK they're royal...this one truly is.
Jill C. (Sent Sep 9, 2005 8:12:29 PM)
In the midst of all our joy at the reunion---Mike and Andrew please be sure to see the videoclip posted above about the dogs being shot (one still alive!) and send the angels of mercy to the rescue! The man shooting them must be arrested on animal cruelty charges and removed before he continues to cause more wicked animal suffering. PLEASE SEND HELP THERE ASAP!
Stephanie Scott, San Francisco (Sent Sep 9, 2005 8:17:31 PM)
First, to Bill...May God continue to heal you and give you strength. Praise God for His loving-kindness and never-ending mercy. I feared that Miss Kitty may have sacrified her life to save her dear companion.
Thanks to the wonderful animal rescue folks, and to Mike Brunker and the other compassionate and unique journalists who feel the same depth of feelings for these loving, innocent creatures that all of us animal lovers feel, I just extend to you my heartfelt gratitude. You have single-handedly reinforced my faith in human beings. This is a story of hope, of survival under unimaginable circumstances, and living proof that God moves in mysterious ways His miracles to perform!
May God richly bless each and every one of you! The world is indeed a kinder, more compassionate place because you live!
Miss Kitty, if you'll send me your new address once you get reunited with Bill, a package of Fancy Feast (your choice of flavors!) will be mailed to you!!! God bless you, dear Kitty!
Susan Trout (Sent Sep 9, 2005 8:18:07 PM)
Great! I have two black and white cats and love them very much. I was thinking about the animals during Katrina. Thank god for caring people and the return of his beloved cat and a quick recovery and much happiness with your Miss Kitty!
Diane Powell (Sent Sep 9, 2005 8:18:22 PM)
God bless you. This makes me so happy. Animals are family.
Rayanne Eckenrode, NPR, FL (Sent Sep 9, 2005 8:22:40 PM)
God Bless you all for all your kindness toward Bill and Miss Kitty. My heart breaks when I see the pets separated from their familes. I wait to see all the happy reunions. I know with all your help that will happen. My contribution to Noah's Wish is in the mail.
Linda Hofstedt, Honolulu, Hawaii (Sent Sep 9, 2005 8:32:44 PM)
Thank you MSNBC. Thank you for calling attention to this story of forgotten victims of Hurricane Katrina and their owners and the people volunteering to make a difference.
Mary Larsen, Bothell, WA (Sent Sep 9, 2005 8:33:24 PM)
Fantastic. Its good to see some good come from this
Hot Salsa Website Development (Sent Sep 9, 2005 8:38:22 PM)
I donated to Noah's Wish before I read this story. Glad to see they're doing such a wonderful job!
Amy O., Clearwater, FL (Sent Sep 9, 2005 8:40:15 PM)
It is illegal to abandon pets and illegal to knowingly allow animals to starve to death. What is going on with the stray and abandoned animals is abuse and neglect. Where I live they charge and arrest people for that...It is simply reprehensible that this is going on. At this point ALL the animals should have been rescued by now. I am ashamed of my country...
Ron Mac Montrose, Colorado (Sent Sep 9, 2005 8:43:39 PM)
"It is better to light just one single candle than to stumble in the dark..." To the folks who effected the reunion of Miss Kitty and her owner, YOU lit that candle.If only more people understood just how blessed the relationship between people and their pets is, we'd live in a kinder world.
Debbie, Manahawkin, NJ (Sent Sep 9, 2005 8:43:41 PM)
"It is better to light just one single candle than to stumble in the dark..." To the folks who effected the reunion of Miss Kitty and her owner, YOU lit that candle.If only more people understood just how blessed the relationship between people and their pets is, we'd live in a kinder world.
Debbie, Manahawkin, NJ (Sent Sep 9, 2005 8:45:25 PM)
I'm so glad I made a donation to Noah's Wish. Stories like this really warm my heart. I'm happy my money is going to pay for care for Miss Kitty and the other rescued animals.
Karen D, Powder Springs, GA (Sent Sep 9, 2005 8:50:44 PM)
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