'Miss Kitty? Are you there?'
Posted: Wednesday, September 7 at 06:59 pm CT by Mike Brunker
SLIDELL, La. –- With a mixture of anticipation and dread we set out from the animal rescue center heading for Bill Harris’ condominium, hoping against hope to find his missing cat, Miss Kitty, alive and as well as she could be after nearly a week on her own in a disaster area.
For those who haven’t been following our trip religiously, we met the 63-year-old Harris on Monday at a Red Cross shelter in Evans Creek, La., and heard him tell the most moving tale of surviving Hurricane Katrina that we’ve heard.
Video: Watch Donna Wackerbauer, a Noah’s Wish volunteer from Canada, and Horace Troullier, a Slidell animal control officer, enter Harris’ home in search for Bill Harris' cat, Miss Kitty.
You can read the full account here, but the condensed version is that he woke up to Miss Kitty’s yowling and found his condominium full of water, nearly drowned but saw the cat jump to a safe spot and managed to make his way there, were he found a chair that he stood on for three days, holding Miss Kitty to his chest. Sadly, the rescuers who pulled him into their boat wouldn’t take the cat and, when we talked to him, Bill was disconsolate, worrying about the fate of his 17-year-old brown-and-gray “miracle cat.”
After filing our piece on the animal rescue enter in Slidell in the early afternoon Wednesday, we join Horace Troullier, a Slidell animal control officer, and Donna Wackerbauer, a Noah’s Wish volunteer from Canada, to go to Harris’ home and search for the cat.
After a brief diversion, during which Troullier and Wackerbauer, pick up two kittens and a bedraggled Pekinese found wandering a hard-hit neighborhood by a search-and-rescue team from Alabama, we again set out for Harris’ place.
I feel my breath catch as we turn onto the street where Harris struggled for his life and see the extent of the destruction. Unlike many of the hardest hit areas we’ve visited, which have been scoured clean of detritus, this neighborhood in a division known as Eden Isles is filled with twisted wreckage, garbage and mud.
With no visible addresses, we inch up the street until we spot a fishing boat angled up onto a front doorway and realize we’ve found it.
Carrying a large net and a trap, Troullier and Wackerbauer walk slowly up to the house, gently calling “kitty, kitty,” as they approach. Then they climb in the side of the unit through a large gash in the wall and began poking through the rubble and looking behind and under toppled furniture.
“There are some footprints here, but they’re too big for a cat,” says Wackerbauer, who lives in Summerland, British Columbia, when she isn’t trying to save animals caught up in disasters. “Probably nutria (water-dwelling rodents).”
As Andrew and I follow them in, treading carefully to avoid exposed nails and other potential tetanus delivery systems, we suddenly stop in our tracks. Looking through the exposed framing into a second room, we see the big brass bed that Harris was sitting on as it floated toward a yawning bay window and the raging torrent outside.
Farther off in the corner we see his jumbled radio equipment and a toppled chair that is in the right spot to be the one that provided him with a precarious perch for those three terror-filled days.
But there is no sign of Miss Kitty.
Troullier moves carefully through each room, looking into walls that might provide a hiding place for a terrified cat and sniffing for an odor he hopes not to find – the stench of death. Still nothing.
After nearly half an hour of searching and calling, the rescuers set a trap, baited with a fresh can of Friskies cat food, and retreat from the house.
Even though there is no sign of the cat, that doesn’t mean hope is lost, Troullier and Wackerbauer say.
“Cats are naturally nocturnal animals anyway, so she might be sleeping,” Wackerbauer says. “And a lot of time we have to trap them because they’re so scared.”
We reluctantly follow them back to the shelter, disappointed that we won’t be able to give Harris some sorely needed good news. But Troullier and Wackerbauer promise to check the trap later in the evening and to call us in the event that Miss Kitty has saved one more miracle for her owner.
We’re waiting and hoping.
Catching some Z's -- the hard way
TRACKBACKS
I understand that with the forced evacuations in New Orleans, they are making people leave their pets behind. How tragic and inhumane!!!!!!! They could at least let people bring their pets with them. My God, they lost everything else. If it were me, you would just have to shoot me before I left without my dog and cat.
Melinda Howard (Sent Sep 7, 2005 7:03:43 PM)
Don't worry. Unlike dogs, cats can take care of themselves. I know this man misses his beloved pet, but the cat will be OK. It will find all kinds of little critters to eat: mice, bugs lizards. If the cat is still alive, it will probably come back home to the place it remembers, they usually do!
Steven M., McAllen, Texas (Sent Sep 7, 2005 7:13:19 PM)
I continue to read countless stories of people who have been forced to leave their beloved pets behind or who have refused to leave because rescuers would not take their pets with them. I understand in disaster situations tough decisions must be made. At the same time, we must realize that many of these people have little left but their pets to give them love and comfort. To respond to human kind in a caring, compassionate way, we must realize the little things that make life tolerable. For myself, leaving my pets would not be an option either. HELP THEM find a way to maintain one ounce of stability in a life that for years will never be the same. HELP THEM save their pets as well!
Sue Schmidt, Silt, CO (Sent Sep 7, 2005 7:16:55 PM)
Yes, how tragic and inhumane that they are making owners leave their pets behind in New Orleans tonite. Pets are what make the human race human instead of savage. I have 2 old dogs, one terrified of leaving the house. I would have to be shot, and I probably would wind up in the make-shift jail for shooting a federal officer--I would go down shooting my shotgun to wound. This is why most of the people who are still left stayed behind--not just because of checks. Their pets are all they have.
Gail Kennison, West Hurley, NY (Sent Sep 7, 2005 7:22:42 PM)
My heart goes out to all these lovely people fighting to start their lives over. It is even more devastating to hear the stories of their lost or displaced animals. No way would I ever leave my home for any reason without my pets, they are part of our lives, may God protect all those people and their pets. And to all those wonderful people who are doing their very best to help and find the owners of these abandoned animals and children god bless you all. We Canadians are praying for all of you.
Shirley (Sent Sep 7, 2005 7:26:16 PM)
With all the devastation that these people have already been through, how could anyone look them in the face and tell them they now have to abandon their surviving pets. I wouldn't budge either !!
Heidi Weaver Coeur d'Alene Idaho (Sent Sep 7, 2005 7:27:09 PM)
I think it is wonderful that people like Troullier and Wackerbauer are making such a great effort to find Miss Kitty and other animals in need of rescueing! I anxiously await word on Miss Kitty's whereabouts and I am hoping for the best. God bless you all and keep up the good work!!!
Traci Hudson (Sent Sep 7, 2005 7:28:49 PM)
I agree - folks should have been able to take their pets with them. Now the task of reuniting the pets and owners is so daunting. I wish I lived in the South so I could really help.
Susan Caron, Rapid City, SD (Sent Sep 7, 2005 7:31:40 PM)
I completely agree with Melinda. This is absolutely horrific. My heart just aches for these people and their pets. I am having such as hard time understanding why people are not allowed to take their family members! This is ABSOLUTELY UNCONSCIONABLE!
jodie k (Sent Sep 7, 2005 7:33:35 PM)
Pets should have been allowed to be rescued. That is the only family that some people have. It is very cruel to leave animals behind. A dog would never leave without it's master. They are very loyal animals. Would you leave your house without your children? Well, essentially that is what you are asking people to do. What a disgusting tragedy!!
Joette eimerbrink, Dover, Pa. (Sent Sep 7, 2005 7:37:31 PM)
The human stories that have come out have given me much sadness. I have to say though, that it was a story of a little boy crying for his dog as it was taken from his arms when he was loaded onto a bus, that broke my heart and made me cry. The pets are so much more helpless and pitiful in these circumstances. I feel for all the victims, 2 and 4 legged.
Elisse Antczak, Amherst, NY (Sent Sep 7, 2005 7:39:28 PM)
How tragic it is that people are being forced to leave their pets behind. To many people--myself included--pets are beloved family members. If only people could bring them along in the first place, it would mean that fewer rescue groups actually have to be sent out in such dangerous conditions. As it is now, there are groups rescuing people, and groups rescuing animals. Keeping people and pets together all along would solve this problem and put fewer rescue personnel in harm's way. Plus, it would give the people affected by tragedy a source of love, consistency and companionship at a time when it is very much needed. Set up separate shelters for people with pets, if needed. More people would voluntarily evacuate the first time if they could bring their pets with them, once again resulting in fewer rescue/aid trips in the long run.
Pam Sabin, Whitehouse Station, New Jersey (Sent Sep 7, 2005 7:40:15 PM)
I live with two dogs, three cats and four domestic rats in Sarasota on the west coast of Florida. After narrowly and thankfully escaping Hurricane Charley last year my girl friend and I delivered pet foods and daily living supplies to storm victims who were far more concerned for the needs of their pets than for themselves. When the worst of situations calls for the best in us, love for an animal is humanity in action.
Captain Wayne Genthner and Percy the dog
Wayne R. Genthner (Sent Sep 7, 2005 7:42:05 PM)
Why can't they save the pets?
It only makes matters worse to have the animals left behind to canibalize other animals, or worse humans. The pets can be saved, along with their owners, found new homes or euthanasia humanly.
Gayle Snyder (Sent Sep 7, 2005 7:46:37 PM)
Why is it that if someone throws a cat or small dog out the window of a moving vehicle, they are charged with animal violence, but this was let to happen. The "law" that will arrest a person harming pets, is the one letting this happen, why?
Rene' Hoff (Sent Sep 7, 2005 7:48:25 PM)
I don't see what harm it does to let someone take there pet. Often they sit on their lap and don't take up any space that can go to anyone else. I believe animals are beings that are just as important as humans and it's inhumane to leave them to die when they could be saved.
Mazel (Sent Sep 7, 2005 7:49:26 PM)
My kitties were the only reason I evacuated from 2 of the 4 Florida storms last year. My mom was originally annoyed that I adopted the cats, but now she's thankful that they prompted me to get out of a bad situation. I imagine there are lots of folks from MS and LA with similar stories about their pets prompting them to flee.
Leslie, Chicago, IL (Sent Sep 7, 2005 7:50:02 PM)
I concur with Melinda; let them have their beloved pets---next to family, they are the most precious lives we can save---we can and should save both.
Peg McClendon, Lake Oswego, OR (Sent Sep 7, 2005 7:50:49 PM)
Unfortunately, in crisis situations, pets are as expendable as the dead animals that line our highways and country roads. Be certain to heed the warnings, if possible, of impending disastrous weather and be certain to have enough carriers available for all of your pets.
Ceunei (Sent Sep 7, 2005 7:54:19 PM)
I agree. Forcing people to leave their pets is illogical and cruel. It's high time our society advanced to the point of pet-friendly hurricane shelters and rescues. I live in Florida and know lots of people -- including myself -- who would never leave a pet behind at home during a hurricane. Come on, how much more room or time would it take to rescue the pets along with their owners? Or, let the pet owners agree to be rescued last. Most pet owners would be happy to wait if it meant they could take their pets with them.
M. Thomas (Sent Sep 7, 2005 7:55:30 PM)
It's incredibly cruel that the rescuers won't allow people to bring their pets, which may be all they have left. In any other circumstance, to leave a pet behind in those conditions would constitute animal cruelty under the law - unless very lucky, it will shortly die. If it's not jeopardizing someone's life to take it in a rescue, I can't possibly understand why someone who's gone through what these people have should be forced to leave their pets behind.
Joanne (Sent Sep 7, 2005 7:55:51 PM)
I find it absolutely inhumane that people are being forced to leave their pets behind. These people have lost everything, experienced huge emotional trauma and grief, and now they have to leave behind their beloved pets? There are no words to describe how wrong this is. Their pet is the one friend they have left, the one member of their family that's still alive, the one that has been with them through the flooding while waiting for help, and they are forced to leave that pet behind? Again, this is wrong. I understand the areas are not safe for people to stay, but the areas are not safe for the pets either. The emotional health, as well as the physical health, of these people needs to be cared for...taking their pets from them adds to the trauma for the people as well as the pets. I love my dogs as though they were my children and I certainly would not leave without them.
S. Rankin, Austin, TX (Sent Sep 7, 2005 7:56:09 PM)
The individuals who gave the order to leave pets behind should be investigated. And should be brought up on animal cruelity charges. As Melinda mentioned, these people have lost homes, family, and friend, how heartless do you have to be to make them give up a life that they hold so dearly.
jason gibbs (Sent Sep 7, 2005 7:57:03 PM)
United Animal Nations is another organization that is on site helping the animals. They have over 1500 volumteers on site.
judy mann jensen (Sent Sep 7, 2005 7:59:09 PM)
I understand that a person's life is more valuable than that of a pet. These people have only the clothes on their backs, if that. Pets are members of families and to a child, a pet can be a "binkie" or the comfort blanket. I have lived with a pet for my 53 years on this earth and if my family is safe, my guinea pigs come next. No way would I leave my pets behind. They are my joy, my friend, and they love me unconditionally. My family does not deserve to be left behind, nor do my furry friends. I pray that the little boy who had Snowball ripped from his little arms is reunited with his pet. He lost everything, he does not deserve to loose his friend too.
Carol Johnson, Worth, Illinois (Sent Sep 7, 2005 8:00:48 PM)
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