A Dog's Survival Story From New Orleans. Thank You Rescue Groups!

[leftchick]

After Best Friends photographer and former marine Clay Myers rescued an aging, bald, emaciated 7-pound poodle from the St. Bernard Parish in New Orleans on Tuesday, he was nearly overcome by the enormity of the event. One more life had been saved, and he was the one who'd done it.

The poodle was dehydrated and crashing when volunteer vet tech Sue Thomas followed Clay and the poodle to the back of a rescue van and gave her fluids subcutaneously. "This is why I'm here," said Sue, who arrived a day earlier at the Best Friends hurricane relief center in Tylertown with the Ashtabula (Ohio) Animal Protective League.

The rescue team knew that dogs and cats like this poodle had been without food or fresh water for 20 days. Deep down, we never expected to see an old poodle survive the watery muck.

Rescuers had not even been permitted to go into that section of town until the day before. As Clay walked a street with another volunteer, he noticed a small animal darting across a yard.

Clay walked over to the poodle as she huddled against a chain-link fence.

She put her paws up on the rim of a large planting pot. It was full of toxic sludge.

"I wasn't going to let her jump in," Clay said. As he reached down to pick her up, she looked up at him with her big, sad eyes, then let him pick her up and carry her to the waiting van.

On the trip back to Tylertown, we wrapped her in towels for the hour-and-a-half drive. She sat on my lap and fell asleep. Today, Thursday, a volunteer group took her into a foster home.

The poodle is one of the few older animals who have been rescued after surviving not only a hurricane, but no food and water for so long.

"She's our poster child for Hurricane Katrina," Clay said. "She's a survivor."

[elfin]

1. Gave a donation to them

based on DU posts. Aslo to national humane society. Still mulling Habitat for Humanity.

[leftchick]

3. I donate to them as well

I think it is time for me to donate again. I can't help it.

[LisaM]

2. Oh gosh. I hope they find its owners.

Poor baby. I just want to take her home with me.

[Booster]

4. After all she's been through, I hope somebody takes her in and

gives her lots of love and good food. Poor baby.

[calico1]

5. Poor little girl.

How frightened and bewildered she must have felt. And what she must have gone through. I hope she can find a loving home. Poor little thing.