Animals at Heart Organization

Documenting Disaster: a behind the scenes look at hurricane rescues - Conclusion

God Help You if You’re Not a Hurricane Rescue

As word spread through the community that we were now doing adoptions, people began calling us and asking when we could pick up their animal that they no longer wanted. We agreed to take in a couple, to see if we could get them adopted out as easily as we had our hurricane pets.

Documenting Disaster: A behind the scenes look at hurricane rescues - Part 4

Politics, Politics, Politics

The first bump came bright and early the next morning with a phone call from a shelter representative. They were calling to confirm which animals we had brought back, and it was a good thing they did because they had us listed as having taken several more animals than we did. I had to explain to them – several times – that the animals they had us listed as having taken were ones I had originally chosen to bring back but that we couldn’t find when searching the shelter. Once that was cleared up we discussed the 30 day hold policy, which simply stated that the animals were still property of the national organization until after 30 days. After 30 days they became property of Animals at Heart and I could do with them as I chose. If someone tried to reclaim a pet after the 30 day hold, it was my discretion whether to release the pet back to the original owner. It was during this part of the discussion I got the mother of all bombs dropped on me…..

Cat with 5 legs getting a 2nd chance

Five-legged Cat to Undergo Surgery

EIGHTY-FOUR, PA (AP) -- Cats may have nine lives, but one unique feline has five legs -- for now.

Documenting Disaster: A behind the scenes look at hurricane rescues - Part 3

We Don’t Need Your Charity

I was only a few pages in when the enormity of what I was doing dawned on me. I held the lives of these animals in my hands. Each page that I turned I wondered whether I had just sentenced that pet to be euthanized. I could only take a few out of so many, and the rest had little chance. I took a deep breath and asked the Lord to help me pick the ones He wanted me to take. Almost an hour later I had a handful of pages and a heart heavier than stone. There were so many that needed help, and I could take so few.

Documenting Disaster: A behind the scenes look at hurricane rescues - Part 2

Arriving in Hell

I was met at the entrance by a National Reserve Guard in full uniform, complete with semi-automatic machine gun. After showing him every form of ID that I had with me, he finally let us in. By this time the rest of the caravan had arrived. We were anxious to load up whatever animals they would let us bring back and get back on the road. Base camp had called just as we were arriving and had told us that there was another hurricane on the heels of Katrina that we might encounter on our ride back.

Documenting Disaster: A behind the scenes look at hurricane rescues - Part 1

This was submitted anonymously by one of our program coordinators. All names and locations have been intentionally omitted to preserve the privacy of those involved

Not All Pets Created Equal in Viriginia

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) -- Achieving equality for cats isn't as easy as it sounds. State Delegate Jennifer McClellan found that out Monday when a legislative panel wrangled over a proposal to make stealing a cat a felony - the same as for swiping a dog.

The Truth about No-Kill Shelters

If you stop anyone on the street and ask them which is better, a no-kill shelter or a "kill" shelter, most if not all of them will respond that a no-kill shelter is better. But is it really?

Lucky's Greatest Treasure

Mary and her husband Jim had a dog named 'Lucky.' Lucky was a real character. Whenever Mary and Jim had company come for a weekend visit, they would warn their friends to not leave their luggage open because Lucky would help himself to whatever struck his fancy. Inevitably, someone would forget and something would come up missing.

Farewell, Steve-O

The Animals at Heart Organization, our volunteers, and our members worldwide, join all of Australia and the Irwin family in mourning the loss of one of our greatest animal advocates. Not since Jacques Cousteau has an adventurer brought the animal kingdom into the homes, and hearts, of the world...