Glad to have shelter with their pets... Date: September 14, 2005 Time: 1:47 am EST Re: Hurricane Katrina Rescue Efforts From: Dr. Eve Ognibene We arrived at the Hattiesburg staging area around 4 pm today. We found 4 buildings filled with hundreds of dogs in stables. The animals seem very comfortable. Two dog run areas are available. One forshelter dogs and another for the dogs owned by the evacuees staying in the adajacent building. We spoke with a couple from the Gulf Coast that lost their home in the storm. They were prepared and left their home early with their four dogs. They rented a cabin miles away from their beachfront home only to have a tree crash through the roof and land on the man! It went right through his leg and he eventually had to pull himself free of the impaling branch. He bled for two and a half days while they waited, dogs and all, without food or water until they were finally rescued. They are thankful for this shelter because they can keep their dogs. Talk to you soon, Dr. 0