A hitch in the Miss Kitty saga
Posted: Thursday, September 22 at 03:38 pm CT by Mike Brunker
Many readers of Katrinablog have posted in the last two weeks wondering what has become of Bill Harris and Miss Kitty, the “miracle cat” that he credits with helping to save his life. Unfortunately, the answer is that a long-term reunion between owner and pet appears to be at least several months off.
Harris was transferred on Wednesday from the hospital in Hattiesburg, Miss., where he had been recovering from the trauma of Hurricane Katrina, to the Trinity Neurologic Rehabilitation Center in his hometown of Slidell, La.
That meant one happy reunion for Harris –- with his elderly mother, Jane.
“When I told her my story, she just said, ‘That was some storm,’” Harris says of his mom’s reaction to his amazing tale. “She’s a former English teacher, but she’s not much for words.” (Click here to read Harris’ gripping account of how he survived the storm.)
But the move to Slidell threw a new obstacle in the way of Harris reuniting with Miss Kitty: The nursing home doesn’t accept pets.
“We have ventilator and critically ill patients, so, no, we don’t have animals living in the facility,” Trinity administrator Sheri Foret explains when I phone to ask about the policy.
Miss Kitty. (Andrew Locke / MSNBC.com file)
That means Miss Kitty must remain in temporary quarters at the animal rescue center run by Noah’s Wish only about a mile from the nursing home for the time being. And depending on how long Harris ends up staying at the nursing home while he recovers from kidney damage suffered during his three-day ordeal after Katrina struck, it may force the organization to seek a temporary foster care for the cat.
“I don’t know if I’ll be here two months, six months or a year,” Harris says. “I think this is the best place for me right now.”
He isn’t wild about the idea of another person or family caring for his cat until he can get back on his feet, but he realizes that Noah’s Wish can’t keep Miss Kitty indefinitely.
“I don’t want just anybody to have her,” he says. “I’d want to make sure that she was going to someone who would take good care of her.”
While he tries to work out a long-term solution with Noah’s Wish, Harris is hoping he can arrange a brief visit to the nursing home so he can share his story –- and the cat he loves -– with his new roommates.
“I’m hoping we could at least bring her over to the courtyard,” he says. “They’d all love her.”
For many, a double-whammy
TRACKBACKS
I live outside of Denver, Colorado and have been following the search for Miss Kitty. Thank you for letting us now she has been found. Although I am far away I would gladly foster Miss Kitty as long as she needs a home. I live in a rural area, have a kitten, two cat-friendly dogs, and a 4-year old son who loves and respects all the animals. The Denver Dumb Friends League has been working with the animal rescue teams in New Orleans, accepting rescued animals for shelter. Please let us know if Miss Kitty needs lodging and we can help.
Rae Smith, Elizabeth, Colorado (Sent Sep 22, 2005 6:01:43 PM)
God speed to Mr Hill and Miss Kitty, hope they will be together soon, I will pray for a quick recovery, God will watch over them till they can be together again,
ellen, fullerton, california (Sent Sep 22, 2005 6:24:05 PM)
GOD BLESS YOU AND NOAH'S WISH, FOR SAVING MISS KITTY! THE MIRACLE OF PRAYER!!!!! I would welcome MS KITTY anytime! She would have 2 other sisters, Roksie and Princiss!!!!
BMG, Los Angeles, Ca (Sent Sep 22, 2005 6:35:01 PM)
This is a nursing home NOT an assisted living facility. It is hard enough for the underpaid nursing assistants to take care of people, and wipe rear ends without taking care of animals. If you want your elderly relatives to have a pet, take them into your home.
Lyric S Mason (Sent Sep 22, 2005 7:06:47 PM)
I have faith in Noah's Wish to find Miss Kitty a good home. That organization has done so much for all animals and went the extra mile for Bill and Miss Kitty - I don't think Wild Bill should be too concerned other than missing her bunches. Her age is a factor but I'm sure someone will foster her and hopefully, it will be someone close enough to take Miss Kitty to see Bill often.
Thanks to all the animal rescue groups for what they have done in NOLA and Slidell and surrounding areas.
Congress - please pass the bill for animals during disasters and make it work!
Carol, Birmingham, AL (Sent Sep 22, 2005 10:29:37 PM)
I would be happy to foster Miss Kitty. My beloved cat passed away on Saturday, and although I'm not ready to adopt another cat, I'd be happy to take in Miss Kitty until Bill is on his feet again. I live in San Francisco, but I'm moving to Seattle in three weeks.
Kristin, San Francisco, CA (Sent Sep 22, 2005 11:26:41 PM)
I am an animal lover who owns several cats, dogs & horses. As much as I would like to see Bill and Miss Kitty reunited, if only for a visit, a health care facility is not a place cats can visit. It's not just the possibility of patients having allergic reactions to the cat that precludes such a visit, it's that cats can carry certain bacteria and/or parasites that can be fatal for any immunocompromised patients in that facility. I wish Bill and Miss Kitty the best and that they may be reunited very, very soon.
LT, Salt Lake City, UT (Sent Sep 23, 2005 12:28:15 AM)
There are nursing homes that allow pets. If there is any way for this man to get to a phone...he should be trying to make a call. Every problem has a solution...somewhere, and naturally, pets help us to live longer and calmer. Go in peace and tell the story.
Charlie (Sent Sep 23, 2005 12:41:56 AM)
Not only do we have to watch out for the health and well-being of the patients (I can agree to some extent, but not totally, about not being able to have Miss Kitty at the nursing home), but we also must watch out for the well-being of the pets. Granted, Miss Kitty was reunited with her owner, which proved to her she was not left alone, but she must be allowed on a regular basis to visit him. It is known that pets who are separated from their owners can, and do, lose the will to live. If there is another facility that could care properly for him (and quite possibly his mother) and would allow the cat, then all efforts should be made to transfer them.
Ron - Williamsport PA (Sent Sep 23, 2005 11:02:18 AM)
I am sorry to hear that Bill Harris cannot keep Miss Kitty in the nursing home....I understand about health concerns, bringing animals into a hospital, etc., however, I think that, given the widely documented therapeutic and healing effects pets have on their owner's overall health prognosis, these facilities should have a special room where pets and people can have visiting hours, etc.....my prayers are with you, Bill and Kitty
Tara F. (Sent Sep 23, 2005 11:28:45 AM)
I am very nervous about Hurricane Rita hitting the area that Mr. Bill and Miss Kitty are in. Please put me at ease and tell me they are out of harms way. I am ready to take Mr. Bill, Bill's mom and Ms.Kitty to my house in Dallas. We are mostly out of harms way. I can only hope there will be no more tragedies in this family.
Kim Van Laeke, Allen, Texas (Sent Sep 23, 2005 12:51:42 PM)
It has been a blessing to my heart to read all of these comments from all of these animal lovers. I know the Lord gave us a great amount of compassion and chose us all to watch over his animals and to care for them as well as people.
Teresa Daniels, Southaven, Mississippi (Sent Sep 23, 2005 1:09:42 PM)
What happened to Snowball and the little boy who threw up when the dog was taken from him before he got on the bus?
Kate DeWayne, Ashland, Or (Sent Sep 23, 2005 1:32:31 PM)
Of all the comments above, only TWO people offered even to foster Miss Kitty. Good wishes won't feed the cat. SEND NOAH'S ARK SOME MONEY! Noah's Ark · 712 LG- Griffin Road · Locust Grove, GA 30248-4317
Phone (770) 957-0888 · Fax (770) 957-1181 · E-Mail Noah@Noahs-Ark.org
If I counted correctly, if every one of those people above had sent a paltry $5.00 each they would have received $185.00 dedicated to feeding Miss Kitty. Mine is already in the mail!
Linda Roberson, Richmond, Illinois (Sent Sep 23, 2005 1:33:45 PM)
I would be more than willing to hold on to the cat for as long as needed. I'm quite a ways away, but would be happy to come get the cat, if there is anyway this is possible contact me at sp00nd00d@sbcglobal.net, or at (847)334-2780. Yes, it's a long way, but I don't see any other offers from people.
I have been reading this story for weeks, and have been brought to tears by it several times. I would love the chance to help someone directly. I would be more than happy to drive or fly down to pick her up, meet with Bill, and make sure he had any contact information needed. My mother lives in downstate IL, and is a vet. Any thing that trooper of a cat needs, I can provide for days, weeks, months, years, or longer. PLEASE Contact me if I can help!
Chris Hafer, Barrington, IL (Sent Sep 23, 2005 3:37:11 PM)
I am a animal lover and was raised with animals all my life. I only send my greatest blessings to Bill Harris and his Kitty and hope they will reunited soon. I would take Miss Kitty in a second, but live too far away in Utah where he wouldn't see her. I have a half Himalayen cat and a puppy Dachshund that have become the best of friends. May God bless you Bill and The best of luck. You will be together very soon.
Joyce Hicks, Midvale, Utah (Sent Sep 23, 2005 3:45:53 PM)
A CORRECTION A CORRECTION A CORRECTION
My friends I must apologize. I printed inaccurate information above regarding Noah's Wish. Following is contact information about Noah's Wish from its web site so that those who want to send money to assist Miss Kitty and other animal hurricane victims will have the correct information. Again, my apologies. Dig deep!
Noah's Wish Staff
Terri Crisp - Founder and Director
Patty Leliakov - Administrative Assistant
►► Address
P.O. Box 997
Placerville, CA 95667
►► Business Phone Number
530-622-9313
►► Fax Number
530-622-9317
►► Pagers
877-575-0128 or 800-746-9390
►► E-mail Address
info@noahswish.org
►► Website
www.noahswish.org
Addtl. info from the noahswish web site regarding donations and items:
SHELTER INFORMATION
Noah's Wish has setup a Disaster Animal Shelter in conjunction with Slidell Animal Control at the address below:
1325 Bayou Lane
Slidell, LA
(Located next to Heritage Park)
*** Please do not send anything (donations, care packages, etc.) to this address. There is no mail or package service (UPS, FedEx, etc) in the area. Individual supplies should go to our St. Louis Area supply staging at the address below:
PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ A SUPPLY UPDATE
Roger Smith
Noah's Wish
8762 Klondike Road
Worden, IL 62097
Questions regarding donation items should be addressed to supplies@noahswish.org with SUPPLY AND EQUIPMENT in the subject line.
Large truck shipment donors should us at supplies@noahswish.org for special instructions.
Please be patient, our Logistics Department staff are processing donation offers as quickly as possible.
CITY OF NEW ORLEANS ANIMAL RESCUE
The rescue of animals in New Orleans is being coordinated by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry. For more information consult their website at www.vetmed.lsu.edu.
Linda Roberson, Richmond IL (Sent Sep 23, 2005 5:13:09 PM)
Noah's Wish 530) 622-9313
Placerville, CA
Linda Roberson, Richmond, IL (Sent Sep 23, 2005 5:23:35 PM)
I agree that Miss Kitty should be given temporarily to a loving foster family and one with no other pets so she does not have to compete for attention or love.
The only way an older cat would be comfortable other than by itself might be with a kitten and not an older cat.
Nursing homes do make concessions for visits, but usually not for mascots. Other residents might be allergic to animals.
M. Miller (Sent Sep 23, 2005 7:03:27 PM)
I wish with all my heart that the people that make our laws would wake up to the idea that ALL life is to be respected. It is up to us to call and write our government representatives so that stories like Bill and Miss Kitty's aren't repeated with every emergency. We need to let the world know that we care about all life!
Bill: I rescue German Shepherds in a very rural part of Georgia but if you and Miss Kitty need a place to stay or any help whatsoever and would be comfortable with some dogs around please contact me.
Molly Moncure, Toccoa, GA (Sent Sep 23, 2005 7:37:21 PM)
I want to wish al my best to Bill for a speedy recovery. I think if he would contact the disability association in his area that they could find a way for Miss Kitty to be placed in the home with him. Most doctors would request it to aid in his recovery. If you need any letters written to Gov't officals on his behalf for this to happen please let me know. Angela Cuddy 636-933-5037. Also my cats and I would welcome Miss Kitty here untill Bill can get back on his feet if it is needed.
Angela Cuddy, Festus, Missouri (Sent Sep 24, 2005 12:55:35 AM)
can someone please update everyone how bill and his mom and Miss kitty made it thru Hurricane Rita...I hope they all are well.....Hopefully Rita missed them by a mile...
Julie Wilson Fowlerville MI (Sent Sep 25, 2005 8:52:27 PM)
Miss Kitty DEFINATELY is a companionn THEREPY animal and as such should be able to be with Mr. Harros ANYWHERE...someone out there please certify her and advise this nursing home of the law....Mr. Harris and Miss Kitty are my HEROS...I am going to be helping Noahs Wish soon with my pro. photos and I hope to tell this story on National Television... and I am doing all I can to change this ridiculous pattern of seperating animals from mthe people they love.. I would NEVER leave my angel pets to suffer while saving myself!!!.. They SAVE ME DAILY@!@I want to do all I can to help this tragedy never to repeat...and I hope I get to eet these heros real soon...also all of you be sure to email the White House about this policy.. and ask if Bush Senior would ever leave Milly behind!!!! I do not think he would....Crystal Daniels
Crystal Daniels, La Pine, Oregon (Sent Sep 26, 2005 6:16:22 PM)
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