The HSUS

Amanda Trotter's happy reunion with her dog.

By Kathy Covey

"We saw twelve more go home with their owners yesterday; one more today," said Randy Covey, director of disaster services at The HSUS said July 25. "That makes 120 happy reunions so far!"

During July, The HSUS Disaster Response Team helped almost 200 pets rescued from the floodwaters in Coffeyville, Kan. Dogs, cats, ferrets, hamsters, fish and even a boa constrictor were sheltered by the HSUS team and volunteers. In all, 122 pets were reunited with their families, 44 were adopted into new homes, eight remained in the care of local veterinarians and 20 were transported to Wayside Waifs in Kansas City.

Throughout the month, pet owners arrived at the temporary animal shelter with high hopes of putting their families back together again.

Home Is Where the Heart Is

Amanda Trotter lives on the eastern end of Coffeyville. Her family's home of 34 years flooded when, on June 30, the Verdigris River overflowed its banks, mixed with 71,000 gallons of oil spilled from a local refinery, and engulfed the eastern end of town. Trotter's house and possessions were ruined, but on the Fourth of July, when Trotter was reunited with her dog (pictured above), she was all smiles.

Randy Covey/The HSUS

Dustin and a happy Katy going home.

Dustin and his wife came to the shelter looking for Katy, their German Shepherd. Several shepherds looked a lot like  Katy, who normally wore a black collar. None of the shepherds in the shelter had black collars, and they wanted to make absolutely sure.

They approached her kennel and called out her name.

"The reaction was instantaneous. Katy was extremely happy to see her family," said Covey. With photos from home and a check of her original paper work, they were sure this was their Katy. The family reunited headed home (pictured at right).

Worth the Wait 

Others waited longer to go home. China, an Akita-mix, brought to the temporary shelter on July 3, was one of the first rescued from the flood-affected area. Eight days later, his owner Robert arrived to positively identify his beloved pet.

Overcome with joy, he knelt down to speak softly to China, his ice-blue eyes looking into China's, "How's my boy. I'm so sorry I had to leave, so sorry." 

It would be another week before China would finally go home. 

Bruce Earnest/The HSUS

Randy Covey helps Robert take China home.

"Robert was in the hospital last week," said Covey. "When he arrived at the shelter Friday, everyone was thrilled China would be going home with the man he is so devoted to."

"This is what makes the hard work worth," said Dr. Barry Kellogg, disaster services medical director for The HSUS. "Reuniting families with their pets—that's the fun part of the job."