HURRICANE KATRINA.

IN THE WAKE OF THE DISASTER'S HUMAN TOLL AND PROPERTY DESTROYED, FAMILIES FORCED TO LEAVE BEHIND LOVED ONES.

Woman: YOU HAVE TO WAIT AND WONDER EVERY NIGHT.

YOU KNOW, IS HE DEAD, DID HE MAKE IT?

Narrator: A QUARTER OF A MILLION ANIMALS.

OWNERS DESPERATE TO SAVE PETS.

I AIN'T GOING BACK THIS TIME WITHOUT HER.

I AIN'T GOING TO LOSE HER.

SHE'S MY BABY.

Narrator: FOR MANY, THEIR ONLY HOPE -- TEAMS OF DARING RESCUERS RACING AGAINST THE CLOCK.

Woman: I MEAN, HE'S IN BAD, BAD SHAPE.

Narrator: EACH ANIMAL THEY SAVE IS A VICTORY.

THEY'VE BEEN TAKEN OFF OF ROOFS, BASEMENTS, BOATS -- THESE ANIMALS WERE SURVIVORS.

Narrator: A GIFT OF LIFE AND LOVE WHEN ALL ELSE SEEMS LOST.

NEW ORLEANS, MID-SEPTEMBER 2005.

IT'S BEEN TWO WEEKS SINCE RESIDENTS FLED KATRINA'S FURY.

IN THE GHOSTLY STREETS, THERE'S A HAUNTING PRESENCE.

[ DOG BARKING ] MANY OF THESE FORSAKEN PETS HAVEN'T HAD FOOD OR FRESH WATER IN MORE THAN 14 DAYS.

FOR THEM, THE CRISIS IS NOW.

TANYA BIRD WORKS FOR THE LOUISIANA SPCA.

SHE AND HER PARTNER BRUCE EARNEST RUSH TO REACH STRANDED PETS BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.

WHEN 10-FOOT FLOODWATERS TORE THROUGH THIS NEIGHBORHOOD, RESCUERS HAD TO PUT HUMAN LIVES FIRST.

BELOVED PETS WERE LEFT BEHIND.

NOW TANYA AND BRUCE LOOK FOR SIGNS OF LIFE IN THE RUINS.

EVERYWHERE, THERE'S A SMELL.

Bruce: I GUESS I'VE BEEN DESCRIBING IT AS A CROSS BETWEEN A SEWER AND A MORGUE.

YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST THAT STENCH OF DEATH, SEWER, AND GARBAGE.

IT'S KIND OF REALLY A HARD SMELL TO REALLY DESCRIBE UNLESS YOU ACTUALLY SMELL IT YOURSELF.

[ WHISTLING ] COME HERE, BOY.

Narrator: PAINT ON THE BUILDINGS TELLS THEM WHERE TO LOOK FOR PETS.

Bruce: SOUNDS LIKE SMALLER DOGS, DOESN'T IT?

Narrator: THESE SIGNS WERE MADE BY RESCUERS WHEN THEY SEARCHED FOR SURVIVORS AFTER THE FLOOD.

Bruce: HEY, BUDDY.

Tanya: IT'S A LITTLE BLACK POODLE.

Bruce: IS THERE MORE THAN ONE?

HE'S GROWLING AND BARKING AT THE SAME TIME.

OOPS, SORRY.

DON'T JUMP.

[ GROWLING ] DON'T JUMP OUT THE WINDOW.

Narrator: THE DOG IS HALF MAD FROM HUNGER, THIRST, AND STRESS.

I KNOW, I KNOW.

IT'S ALL RIGHT, HONEY, I KNOW, YOU'RE SCARED.

[ DOG GROWLS ] I GOT YOU RIGHT NOW.

THERE WE GO.

OOH, LITTLE SMART THING, HUH?

[ DOG SQUEALS ] HEY, HEY, HEY, HEY.

[ DOG SQUEALING ] THE LOOP IS ON HIM, BUT IT'S NOT TIGHT.

Narrator: NO LONGER A GUARD DOG FIGHTING TO PROTECT HIS HOME... Tanya: YEAH, YOU SMILING?

Narrator: THE POODLE TRANSFORMS BACK INTO A FRIGHTENED PET, PROBABLY ONE MUCH MISSED.

JUST REALLY, REALLY SCARED, THAT'S ALL.

PEOPLE JUST THINK THEY'RE JUST ANIMALS.

WELL, THEY'RE NOT JUST ANIMALS, YOU KNOW?

YEAH, IT'S JUST A DOG, BUT THAT DOG HAS AN OWNER WHOSE HEART MAY BE COMPLETELY BROKEN.

NOW THEY HAVE NO MATERIAL THINGS, AND IF YOU COULD GIVE THEM THEIR FAMILY BACK, THEN YOU'VE DONE THE GREATEST THING OF ALL.

Narrator: THE DOMESTICATED BEHAVIOR OF MANY PETS JEOPARDIZES THEIR SURVIVAL.

HI, BUDDY.

Narrator: TRAUMATIZED, THEY COWER INSIDE THE BLOWN-OPEN BUILDINGS, WAITING FOR OWNERS LONG GONE.

YOU'RE JUST A SCARED BABY.

PUPPIES!

Narrator: BUT TANYA KNOWS THE OWNERS CAN'T RETURN.

THIS NEIGHBORHOOD, LIKE HERS NEARBY, IS OFF LIMITS TO THE PUBLIC.

Tanya: IT JUST DOESN'T LOOK REAL.

IT'S JUST A MOVIE.

Narrator: TANYA IS PART OF AN UNPRECEDENTED MISSION.

IT SEEKS TO COMBAT WHAT MAY BE THE WORST ANIMAL DISASTER IN UNITED STATES HISTORY.

LOUISIANA'S LAMAR DIXON EXPO CENTER IS THE SHELTER AND RESCUE OPERATION'S BIGGEST BASE.

HERE, THE LOUISIANA SPCA WORKS WITH FEDERAL AND STATE EMERGENCY TEAMS AND NATIONAL ANIMAL WELFARE GROUPS TO SAVE PETS FROM THE DISASTER.

Man: WE HAVE 300 DOGS, WHAT I WAS TOLD TODAY.

Woman: BECAUSE OF THE CONDITIONS, WE CAN ONLY HAVE SO MANY PETS HERE.

AND YOU CAN SEE, THEY COME IN IN CRATES, THEY COME IN ON LEASHES, THEY COME IN BOXES.

THEY COME WITH PEOPLE THAT HAVE VESTS ON.

THEY COME FROM EVERYWHERE.

THEY'VE BEEN TAKEN OFF OF ROOFS, BASEMENTS, BOATS.

THESE ANIMALS WERE SURVIVORS.

Narrator: DAVE PAULI IS THE HUMANE SOCIETY'S INCIDENT COMMANDER.

WORKING WITH FEMA, THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY, PAULI AND THE OTHER COALITION MEMBERS HAVE TRANSFORMED THE EXPO CENTER INTO A SHELTER THAT CAN HOLD NEARLY 2,000 ANIMALS.

EACH MORNING AT 6:00, SEARCH AND RESCUE TEAMS GET THEIR ORDERS.

IN THE TWO WEEKS SINCE THE HURRICANE, THEY'VE SAVED CLOSE TO 7,000 ANIMALS.

BUT TODAY, THE TEAMS RECEIVE DISTRESSING NEWS -- THE RESCUES ARE ON HOLD.

THE EXPO CENTER IS BURSTING AT THE SEAMS.

UNTIL ANIMALS ARE SHIPPED OUT TO OTHER SHELTERS, THEY CAN ONLY BRING IN THE MOST CRITICAL CASES.

Woman: THE BIGGEST THING THAT WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH RIGHT NOW, GUYS, IS TIME.

WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO RESCUE TO ALL THESE ANIMALS.

Narrator: SEARCH AND RESCUE DIRECTOR JANE GARRISON LAYS OUT A NEW STRATEGY.

INSTEAD OF RETRIEVING PETS, THE TEAMS WILL GO BACK INTO THE RAVAGED CITY AND BRING FOOD AND WATER TO THE ANIMALS RIGHT WHERE THEY ARE.

Jane: IF YOU SPEND AN HOUR CHASING A DOG ON A STREET, WHEN THERE'S A DOG WHO'S LOCKED INSIDE A HOUSE WHO HASN'T HAD FOOD AND WATER FOR OVER TWO WEEKS, THOSE ARE THE ONES WE REALLY NEED TO FOCUS ON.

FEED AND WATER THEM, AND WE'LL GET THEM EVENTUALLY.

Dave: WE HAVE A LIMITED WINDOW.

WE ARE FINDING MORE AND MORE DECEASED ANIMALS IN THE HOMES AND IN THE ROADWAYS.

IT'S GETTING VERY URGENT FOR BOTH ANIMAL AND HUMANS BECAUSE IT'S DANGEROUS OUT THERE.

Man: THIS STUFF WILL AFFECT YOU MONTHS, MONTHS, MONTHS LATER.

AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S THERE.

WE KNOW IT'S BAD.

Narrator: A TEAM DOCTOR WARNS VOLUNTEERS THAT ENTERING THE CITY PUTS THEIR OWN LIVES AT RISK.

Man: WE HAVE GOT TO BE EXTREMELY CAUTIOUS.

Narrator: NEW ORLEANS' FLOODWATERS TEEM WITH RAW SEWAGE AND HUMAN REMAINS.

MOST IMPORTANT IS YOU.

WE DON'T WANT YOU INJURED, WE DON'T WANT YOU SICK, AND WE DON'T WANT A PHONE CALL ASKING US TO COME TO YOUR FUNERAL IN 18 OR 20 MONTHS FROM NOW.

Narrator: RESCUERS ARE URGED TO WEAR FACE MASKS AND HAZMAT SUITS.

Woman: WE HAVE TAKEN PRECAUTIONS.

WE HAVE USED TYVEK SUITS WHEN WE WERE URGED TO USE THEM, FACE MASKS WHEN NEEDED, BUT IT MAKES IT REALLY DIFFICULT.

YOU GO INTO A HOUSE, AND YOU HAVE A MASK OVER YOUR NOSE AND YOUR MOUTH, THAT REALLY MAKES AN ANIMAL VERY FRIGHTENED.

SO MOST OF US WILL PULL IT OFF WHEN WE GO INTO A HOUSE BECAUSE OUR GOAL IS TO HELP THE ANIMALS.

Jane: 211 NORTH OLYMPIA.

FOUR CATS UPSTAIRS.

HEY, GUYS, IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, LET'S GET LOADED UP, LET'S GET OUT THERE.

COME ON, LET'S HELP A LOT OF ANIMALS TODAY, ALL RIGHT?

Narrator: JANE GARRISON AND HER RESCUE PARTNER DREW MOORE HEAD FOR MID-CITY, A PART OF NEW ORLEANS HIT HARD BY THE HURRICANE, THEN KNOCKED OUT BY THE FLOOD.

THEY WORK OFF A LIST OF ADDRESSES AT WHICH OWNERS REPORT LEAVING PETS.

THEY'VE DIVIDED THE CITY INTO 35 SECTORS.

FOR OUT-OF-TOWNERS LIKE JANE AND DREW, IT'S EASY TO GET LOST.

Jane: HE MAY BE A GOOD RESCUER, BUT HE'S NOT GOOD WITH MAPS.

Narrator: AFTER WEEKS WITHOUT HUMAN CONTACT, THE DOGS ARE SKITTISH.

IRONICALLY, ANIMALS LEFT FREE TO ROAM AND FORAGE FOR THEMSELVES MAY BE BETTER OFF THAN THOSE KEPT AT HOME.

OWNERS WHO THOUGHT THEY'D ONLY BE AWAY A DAY OR TWO PUT THEIR PETS AT RISK OF STARVATION AND DEHYDRATION.

SINCE KATRINA HIT, TEMPERATURES HAVE SOARED AND THE HUMIDITY HAS BEEN OPPRESSIVE.

JANE AND DREW NEVER KNOW WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO FIND.

Drew: HEY, BUDDY.

Jane: BUDDY.

POOCH, POOCH?

Drew: HEY, BUDDY!

WHAT'S GOING ON?

HOW YOU DOING?

Narrator: THIS ONE HAS SURVIVED WEEKS OF HEAT AND CONFINEMENT.

Drew: HIS ENERGY IS SO HIGH, UM, WE WOULDN'T CONSIDER HIM CRITICAL.

SO RIGHT NOW WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT THEY HAVE FOOD AND WATER SO THEY CAN STAY AROUND.

YOU GET A DOG LIKE THIS WHO IS CRAVING ATTENTION AND CONTACT, AND THEN WE HAVE TO TURN AROUND AND LEAVE HIM, WHICH REALLY KILLS US.

NEXT ONE.

BYE, GIRL.

WE'LL SEE YOU SOON.

SO WHAT WE DO IS, WE WRITE DOWN WHERE THIS HOUSE IS.

WE KNOW WE LEFT HER ENOUGH FOOD AND WATER FOR AT LEAST A WEEK.

SO THAT GIVES US A WEEK TO COME BACK AND GET HER.

Narrator: UNTIL THE HURRICANE HIT, DREW WAS STUDYING FOR A DEGREE IN WILDLIFE SCIENCES IN OREGON.

HE DROVE ALL NIGHT TO GET TO NEW ORLEANS TO HELP.

IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

I MEAN, THERE'S A...

I DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE RIGHT TO LEAVE ALL OF THESE DOGS, CATS, BIRDS, TURTLES, GUINEA PIGS, HAMSTERS, FISH, JUST SITTING DOWN HERE TO DIE.

YOU KNOW, I COULDN'T LIVE WITH MYSELF TO LEAVE THEM.

IT'S JUST THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

Narrator: JANE'S LIST TELLS THEM WHAT TO EXPECT AT THE NEXT STOP.

Jane: A CHOW WHO'S MEAN, A TERRIER, AND AN OLD YORKIE.

Drew: HELLO?

SOMEBODY GET YOU OUT OF HERE?

THE CHOW IS DEAD.

SORRY, BUD.

I TRY TO DETACH MYSELF FROM THINKING ABOUT THE STORY BEHIND THE ANIMAL AND WHERE THEY CAME FROM AND WHO, YOU KNOW, WHO'S THEIR FAMILY, UM, WHILE I'M WORKING.

BECAUSE THAT'S JUST THE ONLY WAY I CAN FUNCTION.

IF I SAT THERE AND THOUGHT ABOUT IT, I PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO THIS EFFECTIVELY.

THE CAT WAS DEAD?

YEAH.

Narrator: IT'S ESTIMATED THAT AS MANY AS 250,000 PETS HAVE BEEN LEFT IN THE CITY.

ALL OF THEM NEED HELP FAST.

BACK AT THE EXPO CENTER, DAVE PAULI SCRAMBLES TO MAKE ROOM FOR MORE ANIMALS.

AGAIN, THESE ARE HORSE STALLS.

AND THEY WERE SET UP TO HOUSE HORSES.

BUT THIS ONE HAS FOUR DOGS.

Narrator: THE PROBLEM IS, THERE'S NO PLACE ELSE FOR THEM TO GO.

THE OTHER LOUISIANA SHELTERS ARE OVERWHELMED, TOO.

LAW PREVENTS THE RESCUERS FROM SHIPPING PETS OUT OF STATE WITHOUT THEIR OWNERS' PERMISSION.

BUT FINDING OWNERS TAKES TIME... TIME THEY DON'T HAVE.

BUT TODAY, THERE'S A BREAKTHROUGH.

THE STATE HAS AGREED THAT AS LONG AS CAREFUL RECORDS ARE KEPT, SOME ANIMALS MAY LEAVE LOUISIANA.

DAVE HAS ARRANGED FOR 200 ANIMALS TO BE SHIPPED OUT.

WE'RE NOT ADOPTING ANIMALS.

WE'RE PUTTING THEM IN EXTENDED FOSTER CARE.

SO THERE'S THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE CALLING US, TELLING US, "OH, I JUST WANT ONE, I JUST WANT ONE."

THAT COMES A LITTLE BIT LATER BECAUSE WE HAVE TO PROTECT THE LOCALS' RIGHT TO GET THEIR DOGS BACK.

Narrator: TO FACILITATE THE MOVE, RESCUERS COMBINE COMMERCIAL SHIPPING METHODS AND HIGH-TECH TRACKING.

THEY'LL BE MICRO-CHIPPED, WHICH IS OUR MAIN TRACKING DEVICE.

AND THEN THEY WILL HAVE THEIR DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN SO THAT WE CAN GET THEM ON THE INTERNET.

Narrator: DAVE HOPES OWNERS WILL USE THE INTERNET TO FIND THEIR LOST ANIMALS.

IT'S THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH REUNIONS THAT GIVES HIM HOPE.

LOOK WHO I GOT.

THANKS.

BE CAREFUL.

YOU REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

I MEAN, YOU REALLY CAN.

WHEN YOU SEE THE REUNIONS, WHEN YOU SEE THE PETS AND YOU KNOW THEY'RE NOT GOING TO DIE, IT JUST REALLY MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

Narrator: STILL UNABLE TO RETURN TO THEIR STORM-DAMAGED HOMES, OWNERS ROAM THE EXPO CENTER HOPING TO FIND LOST PETS.

DROVE ALL THE WAY BACK FROM MISSOURI TO GET HER.

AND SHE GOT A GOOD GRADE CARD.

THEY WROTE "SWEETHEART" ON THERE.

THERE SHE GOES.

Narrator: REUNIONS BRING RELIEF, JOY, AND A CHANCE TO HEAL.

I MISSED YOU.

I'M SO SORRY FOR LEAVING YOU BEHIND.

Narrator: LIKE THE ANIMALS, MANY OF THESE OWNERS ALSO HAD TO FIGHT TO SURVIVE.

OH, YES, THAT'S MY BABY.

OH, YES.

Narrator: OF ALL OF THE PAIN THEY'VE ENDURED, THE GUILT OF LEAVING BEHIND A CHERISHED PET MAY BE THE WORST.

CHINA STEWART HOPES TODAY WILL BRING A REUNION FOR HER FAMILY.

HAVE Y'ALL LOST A PET AND NEED TO GO IN AND FIND THEM?

A GERMAN SHEPHERD?

YEAH, GERMAN SHEPHERD, ALL BLACK, BROWN CHEST.

Narrator: THE STEWART FAMILY ESCAPED THE FLOOD WATERS IN A BOAT, BUT TO MAKE ROOM FOR OTHER PEOPLE THEY RESCUED FROM THE WATER, THEY HAD TO LEAVE BEHIND THEIR FIVE DOGS, INCLUDING TYRONE STEWART'S FAVORITE, A PIT BULL NAMED CECE.

Woman: THEY JUST KEPT TRYING TO GET IN THE WATER, FOLLOW BEHIND US AND WE KEPT SCREAMING, "GET BACK, GO BACK, GO BACK."

THEY LISTENED, SO THEY GO BACK AND THEN THEY START HOWLING YOU KNOW, LIKE A HOWLER, JUST HOWLING AT US.

I WAS CRYING, I WAS UPSET.

Narrator: CHINA AND HER SONS HAVE BEEN SEARCHING FOR THE ANIMALS EVER SINCE.

LOOK, NINA!

Narrator: NINA IS CECE'S BROTHER.

IF HE WAS RESCUED, THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE CECE WAS, TOO.

WE'LL BE BACK, NINA.

Narrator: ONE ROW OVER, A FAMILIAR BARK.

IT'S CECE.

CEES!

HEY, CEES.

THERE'S CEES.

THERE HE GO RIGHT THERE.

HE GOT A MISSING TOE, TOO.

China: HEY, CEES.

HEY, BOY.

Narrator: TODAY IS TYRONE'S 15th BIRTHDAY.

YOU HAPPY?

WHAT A BIRTHDAY!

HOW ABOUT THAT?

VERY HAPPY.

THAT'S HIS FAVORITE.

Narrator: THE STEWARTS HAVE FOUND ONLY TWO OF THEIR ANIMALS.

FOR TODAY, THAT'S ENOUGH.

[ LAUGHING ] YOU FOUND HIM.

YOU HAPPY?

Narrator: NOT ALL OF THE REUNIONS ARE AS HAPPY.

Woman: COULD YOU FILL THAT WITH SOME WATER?

MAYBE GET A BIG SYRINGE.

60CC SYRINGE, YEAH.

SO WE'LL FLUSH OUT THE IV.

HE'S SO...

PAINFUL THAT I'M AFRAID TO DO ANYTHING.

OKAY, HON.

I KNOW.

Woman: THE HOUSE, WE THINK, HAD ABOUT 3 FEET OF WATER IN IT.

Narrator: GRETA JOSEPH SNEAKED BACK INTO NEW ORLEANS TO RESCUE THE FAMILY DOG, THUNDER.

[ DOG HOWLS IN PAIN ] SHE FOUND AN ANIMAL BARELY ALIVE.

IT'S MY BROTHER'S DOG.

IT'S A MALE.

AND HE'S ABOUT, UM, HE MAY BE, LIKE, 11 1/2 MONTHS OLD.

WE'RE GOING TO HELP HIM.

PLEASE DON'T PUT HIM TO SLEEP!

NO, I WON'T, I SWEAR, I PROMISE I WON'T.

I THINK MORPHINE'S PROBABLY A GOOD IDEA.

I NEED AN IV CATHETER.

Narrator: THUNDER'S LIFE IS NOW IN DR. DEBRA CAMPBELL'S HANDS.

A PRIVATE VET FROM BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, SHE LEFT BEHIND HER HUSBAND AND TWO LITTLE GIRLS TO HELP ANIMALS WHO COULD NOT HELP THEMSELVES.

IN THE HOUSE FOR 2 WEEKS?

YEAH, WE LOCKED HIM UP.

I TOOK HIM FROM MY BROTHER'S HOUSE BECAUSE WE THOUGHT OUR HOUSE WOULD BE BETTER BECAUSE HE WAS SO BIG AND WE COULDN'T TAKE HIM WITH US.

Narrator: BUT THUNDER MAY BE BEYOND HER HELP.

Campbell: A LOT OF THESE DOGS BECOME SO DEBILITATED THEY GO INTO WHAT WE CALL LATERAL RECUMBENCY.

THEY'RE DOWN FLAT ON THE SIDE, THEY CAN'T MOVE.

AND FOR ANY PERIOD OF TIME, WHAT CAN HAPPEN IS, YOU GET A WEARING AWAY OF PRESSURE POINTS.

Narrator: THUNDER'S HIPS ARE ULCERATED.

Woman: WE'RE GOING TO BASICALLY TO DO DEBRIDEMENT, CLEANING OF THE WOUNDS.

WE'RE GOING TO CLEAN THE WOUNDS AND SEE WHAT'S BACK THERE.

Narrator: HIS PAWS ARE COVERED IN CHEMICAL BURNS.

HE'S STARVING, DEHYDRATED, AND IN TERRIBLE PAIN.

[ SQUEALS ] Campbell: DOGS TYPICALLY WILL NOT VOCALIZE, EVEN IF THEY'RE PAINFUL.

THEY HAVE TO BE IN SUCH A STATE FOR THEM TO VOCALIZE, IN MY EXPERIENCE.

SO I KNEW THIS DOG WAS REALLY, REALLY SUFFERING.

Narrator: GRETA JOSEPH WAS UNABLE TO TAKE THUNDER WITH HER WHEN SHE EVACUATED.

Greta: IT HAD TO BE TORTURE.

YOU'RE BY YOURSELF IN A HOUSE.

YOUR OWNERS ARE GONE, YOU HAVE NOBODY.

I'M SURE HE'S SCARED, BECAUSE HE'S SUCH A SWEET DOG.

HE'S STILL A PUPPY.

Narrator: LIKE THOUSANDS OF OTHERS, GRETA TRIED FOR WEEKS TO RETRIEVE HER FAMILY'S PET.

Greta: THEY WON'T LET YOU INTO THE CITY, REALLY, SO YOU JUST HAVE TO WAIT AND WONDER EVERY NIGHT, IS HE DEAD, DID HE MAKE IT?

Narrator: DR. CAMPBELL AND HER TEAM TRY TO PULL THUNDER THROUGH.

Campbell: IT WAS EMERGENCY MEDICINE, WHICH I DON'T PRACTICE TYPICALLY AT HOME.

AND THIS IS ACTUALLY ALL EMERGENCY MEDICINE, REALLY.

BUT YOU DO WHAT YOU CAN AND THEN YOU HOPE FOR THE BEST.

Narrator: HOUSEHOLD PETS WEREN'T THE ONLY ANIMALS THREATENED BY KATRINA.

AT THE NEW ORLEANS AUDUBON ZOO, CURATOR DAN MALONEY AND A STAFF OF 11 STAYED WITH THE ANIMALS RIGHT THROUGH THE HURRICANE.

Dan: THIS AREA WAS REALLY HIT HARD.

IT'S PRETTY WILD.

Narrator: THANKS TO THE ZOO'S HIGH ELEVATION AND THE STAFF'S CAREFUL EMERGENCY PLANNING, THE ANIMALS SURVIVED THE STORM.

Dan: HEY, SWEETIE.

Narrator: BUT AFTER WEEKS WITH ONLY A SKELETON STAFF FOR COMPANY, TO DAN, SOME OF THE ANIMALS SEEMED OFF KILTER.

THEY WERE ANXIOUS, ATE LESS, SLEPT MORE.

Dan: THE ANIMALS SEEMED TO NOTICE THAT THERE WEREN'T GUESTS HERE.

THEY SEEMED TO GET THE IDEA THAT IT WAS REALLY QUIET AND IT WAS KIND OF LONELY.

Narrator: DAN THOUGHT THE ANIMALS NEEDED TO PEOPLE WATCH.

HE ASKED SOLDIERS STATIONED AT THE ZOO TO WALK AROUND THE GROUNDS WHEN THEY WERE OFF DUTY.

Dan: WE INVITED THEM IN.

AND THE ANIMALS CERTAINLY STARTED TO RESPOND, ESPECIALLY THE ELEPHANTS AND THE PRIMATES.

Narrator: DAN SAYS THE ANIMALS' BEHAVIOR IS RETURNING TO NORMAL.

HE BELIEVES THEIR FUTURE WELFARE DEPENDS ON THE VISITORS.

Dan: WHAT WE NEED NOW ARE OUR GUESTS BACK.

WE NEED TO HAVE THE PEOPLE OF NEW ORLEANS, THE CHILDREN OF NEW ORLEANS AND THEIR FAMILIES COMING BACK HERE AND ENJOYING LEARNING ABOUT THE ANIMALS.

AND THE ANIMALS ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING THEM BACK HERE, TOO.

Narrator: ACROSS TOWN, HARROWING CONDITIONS AT ANOTHER INSTITUTION CHALLENGED THE DEVOTION BETWEEN ANIMALS AND THEIR KEEPERS.

THE AUDUBON AQUARIUM OF THE AMERICAS IS A BELOVED ATTRACTION IN DOWNTOWN NEW ORLEANS.

TOM DYER'S RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SEA BIRDS, INCLUDING THE AQUARIUM'S MAIN ATTRACTION ITS COLONY OF 19 PENGUINS.

TOM ADORES THEM ALL, BUT ONE HAS STOLEN HIS HEART.

Tom: OKAY, I DO HAVE A FAVORITE.

HER NAME IS PATIENCE.

SHE'S JUST A GREAT BIRD.

THE PENGUINS WE HAVE IN THE WILD WOULD LIVE ABOUT 15 YEARS.

PATIENCE IS GOING TO BE 23 THIS FALL.

WONDERFUL BIRD, HAS NEVER HAD A MATE, AND I DON'T KNOW WHY.

BUT SHE LOVES HER PEOPLE.

SHE LOVES HER KEEPERS.

Narrator: WHEN HURRICANE KATRINA WAS APPROACHING, TOM SIGNED UP FOR THE SECOND EMERGENCY WORK SHIFT.

HE LEFT THE BIRDS' FEEDING INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE FIRST CREW AND WENT TO GRAB SOME SLEEP.

Tom: I DON'T THINK ANYONE REALLY KNEW HOW BAD THIS STORM WAS GOING TO BE -- "I'LL BE BACK IN A DAY OR TWO," YOU KNOW?

LIKE EVERYONE HERE, WE GRABBED A TOOTHBRUSH AND TWO T-SHIRTS AND WENT TO BATON ROUGE OR SOMETHING.

BUT WE DIDN'T KNOW HOW BAD IT WAS GOING TO BE.

Narrator: THE HURRICANE CREATED CHAOS IN NEW ORLEANS.

POLICE SET UP AN OUTPOST AT THE AQUARIUM.

THE WORKERS WERE TOLD THAT FOR THEIR OWN SAFETY THEY HAD TO LEAVE.

HEARING THE ORDER, TOM WORRIED HOW HIS BIRDS COULD SURVIVE.

HE DIDN'T KNOW THAT HE WOULD HAVE AN UNLIKELY ALLY IN POLICE OFFICER DON KINNEY.

WELL, I THOUGHT IT WAS PRETTY NEAT.

I LOVE ANIMALS AND IT WAS GOING TO BE A GREAT ASSIGNMENT FOR ME, I THOUGHT.

Narrator: DON WAS ASSIGNED TO KEEP THE AQUARIUM BUILDING SAFE.

BUT HE QUICKLY REALIZED THE BUILDING WASN'T THE ONLY THING IN JEOPARDY.

THE ANIMALS WERE IN BAD SHAPE.

AND NOW, THERE WAS NO STAFF.

THE GENERATORS HAD FAILED.

THE FISH WERE SWIFTLY DYING.

AND THE BIRDS WEREN'T FAR BEHIND.

WELL, IT WAS -- THEY LOOKED LIKE THEY WAS PRETTY HUNGRY AND DIRTY AND NEEDED SOME FOOD.

Narrator: WITH NO EXPERIENCE, OFFICER KINNEY DIDN'T KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN.

Kinney: WELL, THE FIRST THING I DID WAS, HUNTED FOR SOME FOOD IN THE REFRIGERATOR.

I FOUND THE FREEZER, AND I FOUND SOME FISH AND GAVE THEM SOME FISH.

THEY WAS HAPPY AS A LARK.

THEY LOVED IT.

Narrator: AFTER LONG DAYS PATROLLING THE STREETS, AT NIGHT, DON WORKED TO SAVE THE BIRDS.

FINALLY, A WEEK AFTER THE HURRICANE HIT, IT WAS SAFE FOR THE STAFF TO RETURN.

I RAN IN TO THE EXHIBIT, WENT UP THE STAIRS.

THERE'S A DOORWAY, AND SHE WAS WAITING RIGHT BY THE DOORWAY LIKE SHE ALWAYS DOES.

IT WAS PRETTY WARM IN THERE.

BUT I SCOOPED HER UP, LIKE I ALWAYS DO.

I THINK I PROBABLY SQUEEZED HER A LITTLE HARDER THAN I NORMALLY DO AND PROBABLY DIDN'T PUT HER DOWN FOR A WHILE.

Narrator: ALL OF THE BIRDS WERE ALIVE, BUT THEIR CONDITIONS WERE DESPERATE.

Tom: I TOOK THE TEMPERATURE OF THE WATER.

IT WAS 94° IN THERE.

THEY -- WE USUALLY KEEP IT AT 62° FOR THEM.

IT WAS HOT IN THERE.

Narrator: THE STAFF ARRANGED AN EMERGENCY AIRLIFT TO CALIFORNIA'S MONTEREY BAY AQUARIUM.

TOM INSISTED ON GOING ALONG.

Tom: WE LOADED UP THE BIRDS IN KENNELS AND HAD TO DRIVE TO BATON ROUGE.

GOT THEM ON A PLANE TO MONTEREY.

THE STAFF THERE WAS ALL AT THE AIRPORT AND TOOK OUR BIRDS IN.

UNBELIEVABLE PLACE, UNBELIEVABLE PEOPLE.

Narrator: FINALLY, PATIENCE AND THE PENGUINS WERE SAFE.

ONCE AGAIN, TOM HAD TO SAY GOODBYE.

SHE WAS TALKING IN MY EAR LIKE SHE ALWAYS DOES.

SHE LOVES TO BE HELD LIKE THIS.

AND HER HEAD'S UP HERE.

AND SHE DOES HAVE A LITTLE LOVE CALL.

AFRICAN PENGUINS ARE ALSO CALLED JACKASS PENGUINS BECAUSE THEY SOUND LIKE A DONKEY.

BUT SHE HAS A LITTLE LOVE CALL THAT SHE DOES THAT'S VERY SOFT AND SWEET.

AND WE DID THAT.

Narrator: BACK IN NEW ORLEANS, TOM HAD A BIG FAVOR TO RETURN.

Tom: WHAT DON DID FOR THOSE BIRDS, WHAT HE DID... WHAT HE DID FOR ME, I...

IF I HAD WALKED IN AND THOSE BIRDS HADN'T BEEN ALIVE, I DON'T KNOW.

WE ALL LOVE OUR ANIMALS HERE.

THESE ANIMALS HERE ARE A BIG PART OF MY LIFE.

THEY'RE FAMILY.

AND I'M VERY GRATEFUL TO HIM FOR KEEPING THEM ALIVE WHEN WE COULDN'T.

Narrator: THANKS WEREN'T ALL TOM HAD TO GIVE.

DON LIVES IN NEW ORLEANS EAST.

THAT PART OF TOWN GOT DESTROYED, ESSENTIALLY.

AND HE LOST HIS HOUSE, HE LOST EVERYTHING.

BUT DON HAS A BEAUTIFUL PET, A MOLUCCAN COCKATOO.

AND HE WOUND UP HERE WITH HIS ONE POSSESSION, WHICH WAS HIS BIRD, YOGI.

WHO IS THAT?

Narrator: UNTIL DON AND YOGI COULD GET BACK ON THEIR FEET, TOM AND THE STAFF INVITED THEM TO LIVE AT THE AQUARIUM.

Kinney: THE AQUARIUM LET US LIVE HERE, SO WE'VE BEEN LIVING AT THE AQUARIUM.

AND IT'S A GREAT PLACE TO STAY.

Narrator: WITH THEIR BIRDS SAFE, BOTH MEN CAN BEGIN TO PLAN FOR THE FUTURE, ONE THEY COULDN'T IMAGINE WITHOUT PATIENCE OR YOGI.

WHEN WILD ANIMALS ARE TAKEN OR BORN INTO CAPTIVITY, HUMANS ACCEPT A GRAVE RESPONSIBILITY.

NO LONGER ABLE TO FEND FOR THEMSELVES, THE ANIMALS DEPEND ON THEIR CAREGIVERS FOR SURVIVAL.

IN A NATURAL DISASTER, THAT DEPENDENCE CAN PROVE FATAL.

FOR YEARS, A GROUP OF EIGHT DOLPHINS LIVED HERE, AT MARINE LIFE OCEANARIUM IN GULFPORT, MISSISSIPPI.

BUT THEN CAME HURRICANE KATRINA.

A 40-FOOT STORM SURGE RIPPED OVER THEIR TANK AND PULLED THEM OUT TO SEA.

FEW PEOPLE BELIEVED THE ANIMALS WOULD EVER BE FOUND.

INCREDIBLY, A COUPLE OF WEEKS AFTER THE DISASTER, A SEARCH PARTY SPOTS THE DOLPHINS JUST A FEW HUNDRED YARDS FROM THE OCEANARIUM'S FRONT DOOR.

THEY'RE CLOSE TO HOME BUT FAR FROM SAFETY.

DOMESTICATED, THE DOLPHINS CAN'T FEND FOR THEMSELVES IN OPEN WATER.

AND THIS IS A BUSY WATERWAY, MADE EVEN MORE DANGEROUS BY POLLUTION AND WRECKAGE FROM THE HURRICANE.

THEIR TRAINERS KNOW THEY HAVE TO GET THEM OUT.

MARCI ROMAGNOLI IS ESPECIALLY WORRIED ABOUT THE YOUNGEST, ELI.

Marci: ELI, FOR EXAMPLE, HAS NEVER, EVER BEEN OUT IN THE OCEAN.

HE WAS BORN RIGHT AT THE OCEANARIUM.

SO THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES ARE PROBABLY FOR HIM.

YOU'VE GOT CURRENTS.

THEY'RE BURNING SO MANY CALORIES JUST STAYING IN THAT AREA, SOMETHING THEY DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT AT THE OCEANARIUM.

Narrator: THE TEAM DOESN'T WANT TO USE CAPTURE NETS, WHICH WOULD SCARE THE ALREADY SKITTISH ANIMALS.

THEY TRY TO COAX THE DOLPHINS ONTO A FLOATING MAT.

ONCE AN ANIMAL'S COMFORTABLE, THE TEAM CAN TRANSFER IT WITH A MINIMUM OF STRESS FROM THE MAT TO A TRANSPORT BOAT.

TODAY, MARCI HOPES THEY CAN BRING ELI HOME.

BUT THAT PRESENTS ANOTHER PROBLEM.

WITH THE OCEANARIUM DESTROYED, THERE'S NO PLACE TO PUT THE RESCUED DOLPHINS.

SO FAR, THE TRAINERS HAVE MANAGED TO SAVE THREE.

FOR NOW, THEY'RE IN A HOTEL SWIMMING POOL.

BUT THE WATER'S GETTING DIRTIER BY THE HOUR.

SICK FROM INJURIES SUSTAINED IN THE HURRICANE, THE DOLPHINS NEED TO BE MOVED TO NEW TANKS.

Marci: THESE ARE, OF COURSE, SALTWATER ANIMALS, SO THIS IS A VERY TEMPORARY SITUATION FOR THEM.

THEY'RE OKAY FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS IN THIS, BUT LONG-TERM, IT'S JUST, THEY NEED TO MOVE.

Narrator: THAT WILL HAVE TO WAIT.

TODAY, MARCI NEEDS TO FOCUS ON RESCUING ELI.

BUT ELI DOESN'T SEEM TO LIKE THE MAT.

WHAT'S WORSE, THE DOLPHINS ARE FIGHTING FOR ATTENTION, MAKING IT HARD FOR THE TRAINERS TO RESCUE OR EVEN FEED THEM.

IN THE OCEANARIUM, HUMANS COULD MODERATE THE DOLPHINS' BEHAVIOR, BUT OUT HERE IN THE WILD, THERE'S LITTLE THEY CAN DO.

THE TRAINERS DECIDE THEIR ONLY OPTION IS TO SAVE WHICHEVER ANIMAL THEY CAN.

JUST THEN, KELLY SHOULDERS HER WAY UP.

THE TRAINERS GRAB HER.

THEY STRUGGLE TO MOVE KELLY ON TO THE TRANSPORT BOAT, BUT THE FLOTATION MAT SHIFTS UNDER ALL THE WEIGHT.

KELLY WEIGHS CLOSE TO 500 POUNDS.

IT TAKES NINE PEOPLE TO HEAVE HER OVER THE SIDE.

Woman: GOOD JOB, GUYS, VERY NICE.

Narrator: MOVING THE DOLPHIN CALLS FOR EXTREME CAUTION.

THEY TRY TO HOLD KELLY STEADY.

ACCUSTOMED TO THE SALTWATER'S BUOYANCY, SHE'S NOT USED TO FEELING HER FULL WEIGHT.

THEY MUST KEEP HER COOL AND WET.

DOLPHINS HAVE A LOT OF BLUBBER, SO THEY HEAT UP QUICKLY IN THE SUN.

FORTUNATELY FOR KELLY, SHE'S NOT GOING TO THE HOTEL POOL.

INSTEAD, SHE'S HEADING TO A NEARBY NAVAL BASE.

A DONATED SALT WATER TANK AWAITS HER AND THE OTHER RESCUED DOLPHINS.

BEFORE THE WEEK IS OUT, THE TRAINERS WILL SAVE THE REST OF THE GROUP, INCLUDING LITTLE ELI.

FOR MARCI ROMAGNOLI, IT'S A HUGE RELIEF TO KNOW THEY'RE SAFE.

AND SHE'LL MAKE SURE THEY STAY THAT WAY.

Marci: THEY DEPEND ON US.

ANY TIME YOU HAVE ANIMALS LIKE THIS, YOU COMMIT TO TAKING CARE OF THEM AND SEEING IT THROUGH.

THEY'RE COMPLETELY RELYING ON US FOR EVERYTHING.

AND THAT'S OUR FIRST PRIORITY.

Narrator: COMMITMENT TO AN ANIMAL'S CARE COMES NOT ONLY FROM A DEEP SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY BUT FROM LOVE.

♪ MY DARLIN' NEW ORLEANS ♪ MY BRAWLIN' HOMETOWN ♪ YOUR MAGNOLIA MELANCHOLY ♪ HOW IT SOFTLY SAT ME DOWN Narrator: IN HAPPIER TIMES, NEW ORLEANS PET OWNERS AND THEIR ANIMALS LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL WITH AN ANNUAL PARADE, THE SUNDAY BEFORE MARDI GRAS.

♪ OH, NEW ORLEANS MY DARLING ♪ Narrator: NOW, SOME OF THESE VERY ANIMALS MAY BE AMONG THOSE LEFT BEHIND.

17 DAYS AFTER KATRINA, IN THE FLOODED STREETS, THE SIGHT AND SOUND OF CATS AND DOGS ARE LESS AND LESS FREQUENT.

WITH EACH HOUR, ANIMALS WILL DIE, BUT JANE GARRISON AND DREW MOORE ARE STYMIED IN THEIR RESCUE EFFORTS BY HOMES STILL UNDERWATER.

JANE GETS AN IDEA.

Jane: I JUST WANTED TO SEE IF MAYBE YOU COULD GIVE ME A RIDE IN THAT TANK.

MY PURPOSE IS TO HELP AS MANY ANIMALS AS I CAN.

AND MY INTENTION IS SO STRONG THAT I DON'T LET ANY OBSTACLE GET IN MY WAY, WHETHER IT'S ANIMALS WHO ARE DEAD, WHETHER IT'S THE AUTHORITIES TELLING US THAT WE CAN'T GO ANYWHERE.

THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING THAT IS GOING TO GET IN MY WAY TO HELP AN ANIMAL IN NEED.

Narrator: THE FILTHY FLOODWATER MAY BE THE ANIMALS' GREATEST DANGER.

WITH NOTHING ELSE TO DRINK, IT COULD KILL THEM QUICKER THAN DEHYDRATION.

Jane: STAY!

STAY!

STAY!

NO!

NO!

CRAP!

WE HAVE TO LEAVE HIM, DREW.

YEAH.

Narrator: AS THE VEHICLE SPLASHES THROUGH THE EERIE, QUIET STREETS, A MOVEMENT IN THE SHADOWS.

A DOG, BARELY MORE THAN A BREATHING SKELETON, DYING ON A ROOF.

Jane: HOLY CRAP.

HE'S IN BAD, BAD SHAPE.

UM.

YOU WANT TO STAND OVER HERE WITH ME IN CASE HE TRIES TO JUMP?

DREW, WHAT DO YOU THINK, YOU THINK I SHOULD COME INSIDE?

WE'LL CALL HIM UP TO US?

Drew: IF YOU COULD WATCH HIM RIGHT THERE.

LET ME KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.

I CAN GO UP, SEE IF I CAN GET UP.

IF HE HEARS YOU, PERHAPS HE'D COME TOWARDS YOU.

STAY.

Drew: HE LOOKED AWFUL.

HE WAS EXTREMELY THIN.

AND I RAN UPSTAIRS AND AS SOON AS I GO UP THERE, HE RAN OVER AND STUCK HIS HEAD THROUGH.

JUST PUT A LEASH ON HIM.

HE COULDN'T GET OUT OF THERE FAST ENOUGH.

JANE RAN UP.

Narrator: THE DOG GULPS 3 GALLONS OF WATER NONSTOP.

Drew: HOW MUCH LONGER DO YOU THINK HE COULD HAVE SURVIVED?

Jane: OH, NOT MUCH LONGER.

I'M AMAZED HE'S STILL ALIVE, ACTUALLY.

Narrator: FORCED TO EVACUATE WITHOUT HIS PET, THE OWNER LEFT A NOTE WITH A PHONE NUMBER AND THE DOG'S NAME.

Jane: HIS NAME IS BLAKE.

HELLO, BLAKE.

YOU ALL RIGHT, BLAKE?

HE'S VERY DEHYDRATED.

GET THAT BOAT OUT OF THE WAY, PLEASE.

Narrator: IT'S CRITICAL THAT THE TEAM GET THE DOG TO A VETERINARY ICU.

HERE YOU GO, BLAKE.

Jane: IS SHAWN AVAILABLE?

Narrator: JANE TRIES TO CALL BLAKE'S OWNER.

THIS IS THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE UNITED STATES.

I NEED TO SPEAK TO HIM ABOUT HIS ANIMALS.

IT'S AN EMERGENCY.

WE NEED FOR PEOPLE TO NEVER, EVER EVACUATE WITHOUT TAKING YOUR ANIMALS UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE.

AND WE NEED THE GOVERNMENT TO STOP TELLING PEOPLE THAT THEY CANNOT EVACUATE WITH THEIR ANIMALS.

THEY NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT THESE ANIMALS ARE PEOPLE'S FAMILIES, AND THEY NEED TO COME WITH THEM.

AND THOSE ARE THE TWO BIGGEST LESSONS THAT HAVE TO BE LEARNED FROM THIS DISASTER.

Narrator: BECAUSE OF LOGISTICAL AND HEALTH ISSUES, TRADITIONALLY, PETS HAVE NOT BEEN PART OF THE HUMAN EVACUATION PLAN.

Woman: WHAT I NEED IS FOR THAT NOT TO MOVE.

Narrator: BUT POST-KATRINA, THERE'S BEEN A CLAMOR BY SOME TO CREATE A FORMAL PLAN THAT INCLUDES PETS.

Jane: STAY, STAY, BIG FELLA.

HE WANTED TO LIVE, THAT'S FOR SURE.

Narrator: LIKE THE ANIMALS, MANY RESCUERS ARE THEMSELVES DISPLACED, VOLUNTEERS FAR FROM HOME.

OR, LIKE TANYA BIRD, LOCAL RESIDENTS WHO HAVEN'T BEEN ALLOWED BACK HOME.

FOR NOW, TANYA LIVES IN A LOUISIANA SPCA GROUP HOUSE WITH 11 OTHER HOMELESS RESCUERS.

Tanya: THIS IS MY STUFF RIGHT HERE.

THIS IS MY LITTLE SPOT RIGHT HERE.

THIS IS WHAT I WAS ABLE TO GET FROM HOME.

I BROUGHT JEANS FOR WORKING AND T-SHIRTS TO WORK IN, BECAUSE I THOUGHT I WOULD BE WORKING IN THE KENNEL AND REMEMBER, THE TWO BLOUSES, AND THAT'S IT.

AND THIS IS LAST YEAR'S CHRISTMAS PICTURES.

AND THAT'S WHAT I HAVE.

AND THAT'S THE IMPORTANT THING.

AND MY KIDS LOVE ANIMALS, SO THEY UNDERSTAND, WHICH IS A GOOD THING.

AND THEY'RE LIKE, "OH, MOMMY'S RESCUING ANIMALS."

SO AS LONG AS THEY'RE PROUD OF WHAT I'M DOING, THEN IT'S OKAY.

AS LONG AS THEY'RE OKAY WITH IT, THEN THAT'S WHAT MATTERS.

Narrator: UNTIL SHE KNOWS WHETHER THERE'S A HOME TO RETURN TO, TANYA'S KIDS ARE STAYING WITH HER MOTHER.

Tanya: I'VE ALWAYS SAID, NOT KNOWING MAKES YOU GO CRAZY.

YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE, WHAT IF THIS MADE IT?

SO WHEN YOU GO HOME AND YOU SEE, IT'S KIND OF LIKE THAT CLOSURE.

AND YOU'RE LIKE, "OKAY, NOW I CAN MOVE FROM HERE.

NOW I CAN MAKE A DECISION ON WHAT I NEED TO DO."

Woman: DOES ANYONE FEEL LIKE THEY ACTUALLY CLEARED THEIR ENTIRE STREET?

Narrator: RESCUING PETS KEEPS TANYA FROM WORRYING TOO MUCH ABOUT HER HOME AND FAMILY.

BUT THE TIME FOR RESCUING MAY BE RUNNING OUT.

JUST THREE WEEKS AFTER KATRINA, ANOTHER HURRICANE IS ON THE WAY.

RITA IS CATEGORY TWO, BUT THEY'RE PREDICTING CATEGORY FOUR WHEN SHE HITS.

SOME PEOPLE ARE KIND OF NARROWING IT DOWN TO THE WEST PART OF LOUISIANA.

Narrator: WITH HURRICANE RITA APPROACHING, OFFICIALS PLAN TO SEAL OFF THE CITY.

FOR A WHILE AT LEAST, TODAY MAY BE THE ANIMAL RESCUERS' LAST CHANCE.

THIS IS THE SECTION THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE AT, FROM THE RAILROAD TO THE RAILROAD.

Narrator: THEY JOIN FORCES WITH THE NATIONAL GUARD FOR WHAT THEY'RE CALLING OPERATION PUPPY LOVE, A TEAM EFFORT TO TAKE PETS OUT OF THE CITY.

I HAVE A DOG.

EVERYBODY THAT'S A PART OF THIS OPERATION HAS A PET, AT LEAST ONE.

AND THE ENJOYMENT YOU GET FROM RESCUING ANIMALS, IT BEATS EVERYTHING OUT.

Narrator: THEIR FIRST STOP IS THE DEVASTATED NINTH WARD.

WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD UNDER WATER FOR WEEKS, THE ANIMALS THAT SURVIVED ARE MOSTLY THOSE THAT MADE IT OUT OF HOMES BEFORE THE FLOOD.

AFTER SO MUCH TIME ON THE LOOSE, SOME DOGS ARE FORMING PACKS.

Woman: THAT WAY!

CORNER HIM.

Narrator: IT'S SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST.

AND THEY'RE WILLING TO FIGHT ANYONE WHO COMES NEAR.

SWEETIE, DON'T BITE.

COME ON, BABY.

THAT'S GOING TO BE OUR LAST STOP.

WE'RE GOING TO CHECK IT OUT.

WE'RE TRAILING YOU, SO IT'S YOUR CALL.

Tanya: NATIONAL GUARD FOLLOWS US AND WE HAVE A SECTION.

SO WE'RE GOING HOUSE TO HOUSE, AND YOU KNOCK ON THE DOOR AND YOU LISTEN.

AND IF YOU HEAR A DOG INSIDE, THEN YOU GO IN.

Narrator: WITH HURRICANE RITA ABOUT TO HIT... Tanya: COME HERE, YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO BE MY FRIEND!

Narrator: THEY CAN'T WASTE TIME ON THE RELUCTANT.

Tanya: WE CAN'T SAVE THEM ALL.

THAT'S THE SAD THING ABOUT IT.

YOU KNOW, AND PEOPLE THINK, WHY DID THE OWNERS LEAVE 'EM?

YOU DON'T THINK IT'S REALLY GOING TO HIT OR IT'S GOING TO BE THAT BAD.

Narrator: ONE OF THOSE OWNERS IS 73-YEAR-OLD BILL HICKS.

HE AND HIS BELOVED CAT MADE IT THROUGH KATRINA, BUT WHEN THE FLOOD BARRIERS BROKE, HE WAS FORCED OUT BY POLICE WHO TOLD HIM PETS HAD TO STAY BEHIND.

BILL THOUGHT HE'D BE BACK IN A FEW DAYS.

SO I BROUGHT HER BACK INSIDE, AND AFTER I GOT MY BAG, LITTLE BAG, PACKED, I SAID, "YOU'RE GOING TO STAY IN HERE, AND I'M COMING BACK AS SOON AS I CAN."

Narrator: THAT WAS WEEKS AGO.

CONCAT IS HIS ONLY COMPANION.

Bill: WELL, TOOK HER TWO DAYS AS A LITTLE KITTEN.

I NEVER HAD A CAT BEFORE, NEVER WANTED A CAT.

BUT THERE WAS SOMETHING ABOUT HER.

IN TWO DAYS SHE CONNED ME INTO TAKING CARE OF HER, SO THAT'S WHY I CALL HER CONCAT.

Narrator: BILL WAS EVACUATED TO SOUTH CAROLINA.

A RETIREE WITH A LIMITED INCOME, HE'S ALREADY SPENT HUNDREDS ON BUS TICKETS DOWN TO LOUISIANA, TRYING TO RETRIEVE HIS CAT.

YEAH, THAT LAST WEEK WAS VERY DISAPPOINTING, VERY FRUSTRATING AND VERY DISAPPOINTING.

Narrator: NEXT TIME, HE SAYS HE WON'T FAIL.

OH, YES, YES.

I AIN'T GOING BACK THIS TIME WITHOUT HER.

I AIN'T GONNA LOSE HER.

I AIN'T GONNA LOSE HER.

SHE'S MY, SHE'S MY BABY.

YOU KNOW, I'M 73 YEARS OLD, AND SHE'S MY BABY.

IF I LOSE HER, IT JUST WON'T EVER BE THE SAME.

WE'D GOT TO BE SO CLOSE.

AND EVERY DAY, SHE GOT TO BE MORE LOVING AND AFFECTIONATE AND WANTING TO BE PETTED AND EVERYTHING.

SHE'D WAKE ME UP TWO OR THREE TIMES DURING THE NIGHT WANTING TO BE PETTED AND TALKED TO.

SHE'S A WONDERFUL LITTLE CAT.

Narrator: MORE AND MORE PEOPLE HAVE DEFIED EVACUATION ORDERS, SNEAKING INTO NEW ORLEANS TO RESCUE THEIR PETS.

NOW, WITH A NEW HURRICANE ON THE WAY, BILL HAS DECIDED TOMORROW HE'LL TRY ONCE MORE TO SAVE HIS CAT.

HE HOPES HE ARRIVES IN TIME.

OF ALL OF THE RELATIONSHIPS HUMANS HAVE, THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH PETS IS PERHAPS BOTH THE SIMPLEST AND HARDEST TO EXPLAIN.

SOMETIMES GIVING CARE TO AN ANIMAL DEFINES A PERSON'S LIFE.

AN OWNER'S DEPENDENCE ON A PET CAN EXCEED EVEN THE PET'S DEPENDENCE ON HIM.

FOR BILL, LIFE HAS BEEN ON HOLD SINCE HE LAST SAW HIS CONCAT.

TODAY, AFTER SNEAKING BACK INTO NEW ORLEANS...

I THINK THE PADLOCK IS STILL ON THE DOOR, HON.

Narrator: HE HOPES TO GET HER BACK...

IF SHE'S STILL ALIVE.

Bill: I JUST HOPE EVERYTHING'S ALL RIGHT.

CONCAT?

CONCAT BABY.

CONCAT?

CONCAT?

[ CONCAT MEOWS ] OH, I HEAR HER NOW.

I HEAR HER.

SHE'S UNDER THE BED.

CONCAT.

YES.

ALL RIGHT, I GOT HER.

Narrator: BILL PACKS A CAT BOX, CAT FOOD, AND TOYS.

NOTHING FOR HIMSELF.

Bill: I'M SO RELIEVED TO HAVE HER.

Narrator: HE LOCKS UP HIS HOUSE FOR WHAT MAY BE THE LAST TIME... AND LEAVES ALL HE OWNS INSIDE.

BILL HAS ALL THAT HE NEEDS IN HIS ARMS.

BACK AT THE SHELTER... BLAKE!

JANE GARRISON'S PHONE CALL HAS BROUGHT AN OWNER IN SEARCH OF HIS DOG.

Jane: HIS NAME IS BLAKE.

BLAKE?

BLAKE, IS THAT YOU?

BIG DOG!

BLAKE, BLAKE, BLAKE, BLAKE.

HEY, BIG DOG, BIG DOG.

Narrator: SHAWN SALTER MAY HAVE LOST HIS HOME TO THE HURRICANE, COME HERE, BLAKE!

Narrator: BUT ANOTHER CHERISHED POSSESSION IS SAFE AND ON THE MEND.

SHAWN SALTER, HOW ARE YOU?

GOOD TO MEET YOU.

SO Y'ALL WENT IN THE HOUSE AND Y'ALL SAW EVERYTHING?

NO, WE SAW HIM FROM THE STREET.

WE HAD A, UM -- HEY, BUD.

YOU LOOK BETTER ALREADY.

OH, YOU'RE CLEAN.

HI, BUDDY!

IN RESCUING THESE ANIMALS, I SEE HOW TERRIFIED THEY ARE, HOW CONFUSED THEY ARE.

AND IT'S SO NICE TO WATCH THE LOOK IN THEIR EYES CHANGE COMPLETELY BEFORE YOU.

THEY GO FROM THIS CONFUSED, SCARED LOOK TO THIS ULTIMATE JOY AND JUMPING ON THEIR OWNERS AND JUST SO ECSTATIC TO SEE THEM.

AND YOU CAN JUST SEE THIS RELIEF COME OVER THEM.

YOU HAPPY TO SEE YOUR DAD?

Narrator: BLAKE SEEMS GRATEFUL, TOO.

ACROSS TOWN IN GENTILLY...

SOMEONE ELSE IS ALSO GOING HOME.

EVEN THOUGH OFFICIALLY THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS CLOSED OFF, TANYA CAN'T RESIST THE CHANCE TO VISIT HER HOME.

MY PICTURE WINDOWS LASTED.

LOOK AT THE LINE.

I COULDN'T EVEN STAND UP, THE WATER WOULD BE OVER MY HEAD.

I KNOW EVERYTHING IN THERE IS GONE.

Narrator: TANYA HAS LIVED IN THIS HOUSE WITH HER FAMILY FOR THREE YEARS.

Tanya: ACTUALLY, WE WERE TRYING TO BUY THE HOUSE.

WE WERE IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO BUY IT.

NEVER BOUGHT A HOUSE IN MY ENTIRE LIFE.

WE WERE SUPPOSED TO CLOSE THE DEAL ON SEPTEMBER 9th.

YEAH.

AND THAT'S ALL GONE NOW.

Narrator: THE LOCK WON'T WORK.

TANYA'S RESCUE PARTNER RACHEL GOES TO GET A CROWBAR AND SLEDGEHAMMER.

WITH THE CITY STILL UNDER AN 8 P.M.

CURFEW, THERE'S NOT MUCH TIME.

MY COUCH IS GONE.

YOU CAN SEE THE LINE.

OH, I HAVE NO CEILING, EITHER.

I COULDN'T BREAK ANYBODY ELSE'S DOOR, I'M GOING TO TRY TO BREAK MY OWN.

Narrator: JUST THEN, TANYA HEARS A NOISE.

[ DOG BARKING ] IT'S A NEIGHBOR'S STRANDED DOG.

SHE CAN EITHER GET A CLOSER LOOK AT THE DAMAGE TO HER HOUSE OR HELP THE ANIMAL.

FOR TANYA, IT'S NOT EVEN A CHOICE.

I'VE GOT MY SHOTS.

I CAN AFFORD TO FALL A LITTLE MORE THAN YOU CAN.

COME ON, BABY, I KNOW IT.

I'M GOING TO CATCH YOU.

OH, GOOD, BABY.

PUT HIM OVER THE FENCE.

I GOT HIM, I CAN CARRY HIM.

PUT HIM OVER THE FENCE.

Narrator: THERE'S ANOTHER DOG, TOO.

YOU HUNGRY AND THIRSTY?

LET ME CHECK THAT ONE IN THE BACKYARD.

NO, DON'T DRINK THAT.

Narrator: THROUGH THE FALLEN TREES AND DEBRIS, RACHEL STRUGGLES TO REACH HIM.

UP WE GO.

YOU AND ME STUCK IT OUT THIS FAR, BUDDY.

WE'LL STICK OUT A LITTLE MORE.

BUT HE'LL BE OKAY.

Narrator: THE HOMECOMING MAY NOT BE WHAT TANYA WANTED, BUT THIS RESCUE IS EXACTLY WHAT SHE NEEDS.

Tanya: WHEN YOU GET THEM DOWN AND THEY'RE JUST SO HAPPY, YOU KNOW THAT THEY ARE THANKFUL.

THAT RIGHT THERE MAKES YOU FEEL LIKE YOU DID SOMETHING RIGHT, YOU DID SOMETHING GOOD.

WHEN YOU GO HOME WITH THAT, IT HELPS NOT THINK ABOUT ALL OF THE BAD STUFF THAT'S HAPPENED.

YOU ALL RIGHT?

IT'S A GOOD THING.

Narrator: ALL OVER NEW ORLEANS, PEOPLE ARE SEARCHING FOR REASONS TO HOPE INSTEAD OF DESPAIR.

WHEN GRETA JOSEPH RESCUED HER FAMILY'S DOG, THUNDER, HE SEEMED AS GOOD AS DEAD.

BUT TODAY, THUNDER'S WOUNDS ARE HEALING.

HE'S BEHAVING LIKE A PUPPY AGAIN.

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?

HE'S WALKING!

SO WE'RE GOING TO TAKE HIM FOR A NICE LONG WALK IF HIS PAWS DON'T HURT.

HE STARTED TO STAND UP YESTERDAY.

AND TODAY HE'S WALKING.

I THINK HE'S JUST HAPPY TO BE WALKING AROUND.

Narrator: FOR DR. DEB CAMPBELL, THE VET WHO SAVED THUNDER'S LIFE, THIS IS THE PAYOFF.

AND THAT, THAT ALONE MADE -- I MEAN, THAT'S SOMETHING IN MY LIFE I WILL LOOK BACK ON FOREVER.

AND THAT'S WHY I'M SO HAPPY TO BE A VETERINARIAN.

AND IT'S THE BEST POSSIBLE PROFESSION TO HAVE.

IT REALLY IS.

BECAUSE YOU HAVE WONDERFUL PEOPLE TO WORK WITH AND YOU HAVE WONDERFUL ANIMALS TO WORK WITH.

HAD TO HAVE COME IN FROM THE DOWNSTAIRS, RIGHT?

SO IN THE KITCHEN, THERE WAS LIKE A BIG LIGHT.

Narrator: OUT OF AN ESTIMATED 250,000 PETS LEFT BEHIND IN NEW ORLEANS, RESCUERS MANAGED TO SAVE JUST 15,000.

BUT EVERY RESCUE WAS AN AFFIRMATION -- LIVES RENEWED, LOVE NEWLY CHERISHED, AND FAMILIES MADE WHOLE.

YOU FOUND HIM.

Narrator: WHEN THE NEXT HURRICANE APPROACHED, OFFICIALS TOOK THE LESSON TO HEART AND TOLD EVERYONE TO TAKE THEIR ANIMALS WITH THEM.

THE COMMITMENT, THE COMPASSION OF A BAND OF RESCUERS, UNUSUAL PARTNERS AND UNLIKELY HEROES PREVAILED.

>> THIS PROGRAM WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING AND BY CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS STATION FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.

5 WILD CATS.

2 FILMMAKERS.

1 HUNGER FOR THE CHASE.

NEXT TIME ON NATURE.

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