Date: September 17, 2005 Time: 10:39 pm EST Re: Hurricane Katrina Rescue Efforts From: Dr. Eve Ognibene  We are heading back to Tylertown after a long day in New Orleans. An early day was delayed with 10 cat assessments. Dr. Weisent, Jeff, Corey and I had to work to gather up the cats in order to check them because they were all loose in a really cool "cat room". These cats were saved from the Humane Society of Louisiana in New Orleans that was destroyed during Hurricane Katrina. After we were done,we headed back in to New Orleans. There was definitely more hustle and bustle since the government let certain residents back in to evaluate their businesses and homes. The area where we were helping with the animals was still restricted due to the amount of damage and flooding and still required a government check point to enter. Dr. Weisent and I spent the rest of the day seeing animals brought in by search and rescue teams. I examined a 14 year old golden retriever mix that was doing better than could be expected considering she had no food for weeks. The team left the other dogs from that house behind because the dogs and the house were in decent condition. They left food and water and will return daily to check on them. The feeling was that the owners may be back soon and will take the dogs. If not, they will take the dogs out soon. Mostly, the concern is for the dogs on the streets. The old golden was doing better after fluids and I sent her to a shelter that was close by to continue treatment and the reunion with her family. I was able to experience a reunion today. A man brought a dog to the parking lot to be checked. It turned out that he came back to get his dog and he found it on the streets. As it turns out, this was a dog that we tried to catch 2 days earlier on a search and rescue mission! She looked so happy to be with her owner plus she got a nice bath. "Cuddles", as she is affectionately known, is a "survivor" according to her owner and he knew in his heart that she would still be alive even though he last saw her August 29th. The rescue mission is both physically and emotionally draining but we all agree that it is worth it. Talk to you again soon. Dr. O