Seattle photojournalist Karen Ducey | news and documentary photographer

Photo Stories: • Hurricane Katrina Animal Rescue

In the wake of Hurricane Katrina thousands of animals were abandoned in New Orleans by owners fleeing floodwaters caused by a break in the city’s levee. Compelled to help, a small group of people from Pasado’s Animal Rescue, based out of Sultan, WA. went to New Orleans determined to rescue as many animals as possible. They broke into houses, carried pets to safety through contaminated waters, and treated the injured. They cleaned cages and sheltered animals turned away by the LASPCA. More than a thousand animals facing certain death were saved through their efforts. (© copyright Karen Ducey) 

  • Animal rescuers from Pasado's Safe Haven, Bridgett Kizilski, from E. Haven, CT. and Larry Brothers from Bothell, WA, rescue 2 dogs from a porch on 4330 Banks St.in the Mid City neighborhood of New Orleans, LA on September 14, 2005.  The animals had been left in their homes since Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast two and a half weeks ago (Aug. 29) and broke the levees surrounding the city.   (photo by Karen Ducey)
  • Pasados Safe Haven volunteer Dana Bridges from Monroe, WA breaks into a house with a Save Our Pets sticker on the door on September 16, 2005.  Bridges is a professional equine vet.  Pasados volunteers comb neighborhoods abandoned after hurricane Katrina ripped through New Orleans last month searching for abandoned animals. (photo © Karen Ducey)
  • A dog is found hiding on a closet shelf in a home destroyed by floodwaters two and a half weeks after Hurricane Katrina ripped through New Orleans. Police had threatened to shoot the dog citing it as dangerous until Pasado's volunteer, Larry Brothers,  arrived and coaxed it down from the shelf.  Four months later, this dog is still in foster care in Alabama at the home of one of the volunteers still awaiting adoption.  UPDATE:  This dog has since found its way to its rescuer, Larry Brother's home, in Bothell, WA.  The dog had been returned to a shelter after an elderly lady, who originally adopted the dog, thought it too aggressive around her grandchildren.  Hearing the news Larry Brothers had it flown to Seattle, adopted him, and renamed him {quote}Lucky.{quote}  (© Karen Ducey)
  • Janine Clyman, from Seattle rescues a cat (one of four)  from a home 2520 Acacia St. in New Orleans on September 17, 2005. The animals had been left in their homes since Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast two and a half weeks ago (Aug. 29) and broke the levees surrounding the city.   (photo by Karen Ducey)
  • The heat is overbearing for Pasados Safe Haven animal rescuer, Janine Clyman, from Seattle after she rescues a cat (one of four)  from a home 2520 Acacia St. in New Orleans.  © Karen Ducey
  • A cat rescued from a house at 316 S Alexander St., New Orleans, looks out of his {quote}Pet Taxi{quote} as he is carried through the flooded streets of New orleans by an animal rescuer from Pasado's Safe Haven.  © Karen Ducey
  • A dog is rescued and floated down Banks St on a makeshift raft by volunteers from Pasadsos Safe Haven.  © Karen Ducey
  • Pasados volunteers Vet Leea Dum from Las Vegas (left) and Rita Laws from Monroe,WA (right) walk down Palmyra St and S. Alexander  inNew Orleans after rescuing a cat.  © Karen Ducey
  • Pasados Safe Haven volunteer Jen Crotzer from Vail, CO, tries to coax a dog towards her as animal rescue efforts continue after Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans on September 15, 2995.  © Karen Ducey
  • Pasados Safe haven rescuers are greeted by an abandoned dog in New Orleans. © Karen Ducey
  • Volunteers from Pasados Safe rescue a dog from a home in New Orleans. A dead dog is on the porch on the right. © Karen Ducey
  • Steve Barr, from Rochester, NY. and a rescued pit bull bond in the back of a van after the dog was rescued by Pasados' volunteers.  © Karen Ducey
  • Pasados Safe Haven volunteers rescue a bird and a cat from a home on September 16, 2005.  © Karen Ducey
  • A volunteer from Pasado's safe haven leads a dog who had been locked and abandoned in his home two weeks after Hurricane Katrina struck. (© copyright Karen Ducey)
  • A dog which had been left in an empty apartment jumped through a second story, glass window trying to escape upon the arrival of Pasados Safe Haven volunteers two weeks after Hurricane Katrina. The residents had apparently moved all the furniture out, but left the dog behind to guard the aparment.  Many anoimals were found in empty apartments.  © Karen Ducey
  • Pasados veterinarians take care of wounded animals after Hurricane Katrina destroyed New Orleans in 2005.  © Karen Ducey
  • Rescued dog and a rescuer catch a few hours sleep in the Pasados Safe Haven barn in Raceland, LA in September 2005. © Karen Ducey 2013
  • Skin and bones are all thats left on a dog who had been left behind after its owners fled New Orleans. After a rescue by Pasados Safe Haven, all dogs come back to the barn and get a bath.  © Karen Ducey
  • Rescued dogs were cared for by volunteers at the barn in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. (© copyright Karen Ducey)
  • Volunteers work at the Lamar Dixon Expo Center where thousands of pets were sent after Hurricane Katrina 2005 © Karen Ducey
  • Volunteers play with a dog late at night at the barn donated to Pasados Safe Haven.  © Karen Ducey
  • A dog sits isolated in the heat at the Lamar Dixon Expo Center where thousands of pets were sent after Hurricane Katrina 2005 © Karen Ducey
  • A volunteer from Pasados Safe Haven hugs a rescued great dane she later adopted. Animal rescuers from Pasados Safe Haven save animals after Hurricane Katrina destroyed New Orleans in 2005. © Karen Ducey 2013
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