By Adam Goldfarb

The devastation inflicted by Hurricane Katrina wasn't limited to the geographical area affected by the disaster.  Katrina's 140 mph winds forced its victims, human and animal, to disperse across the country, and in too many cases it ruptured the bond between individual animals and the human beings who loved them.

That's what happened in the case of New Orleans' Richard Colar and his Siberian husky Princess, who were featured on the cover of the summer 2006 issue of the HSUS publication All Animals. 

"He never gave up trying to find her"

Together, the two survived a harrowing three days in Richard's attic, escaping on a raft. Eventually, they were separated after a neighbor looking after the dog was forced to evacuate and leave Princess with an animal rescue team. Richard was distraught, but he never gave up trying to find her. 

Richard was tireless in his efforts to locate his beloved companion. Lacking a personal computer, he managed  to gain access to Internet sites amid the destruction and confusion around him, and his hard work paid off.  He was able to contact The HSUS's Cory Smith who helped Richard locate Princess at an Ohio shelter. Smith organized a caravan of volunteers to bring her to Charlotte, N.C., where the displaced construction worker was then living.

Home to New Orleans

The HSUS

Richard Colar and his Siberian husky Princess.

Richard and Princess remained in North Carolina for more than a year, and spent seven months in Atlanta before coming home to New Orleans. Today, Richard is trying to rebuild his own home, and he's helping his mother with hers too. 

In the meantime, Richard and Princess are living in a trailer on his property while their house is being rebuilt. One of the biggest changes for Princess is getting used to living in a trailer, instead of a house. As Richard said, "It's rough. She liked running through the whole house."

Things are certainly different, but despite the change of scenery, Princess knows that she is home. "Princess knows the area," Richard said. "She wants to go visit the neighbors."

Of course, many of the neighbors haven't returned yet and Princess is one of the few dogs in the vicinity. Richard and Princess still go for walks, often  to a local park to socialize with other dogs. With so few animals around, the park is the best place for dogs to meet and mingle. It's a great opportunity for Princess to exercise too.

Unbreakable Bond

They've been through a lot together, but Richard has raised Princess since she was a puppy and the two of them are permanently bonded. 

"She knows when I'm coming," Richard said. "She can sense that I'm nearby and she comes to the door." 

And that, he said, makes coming home every day that much easier. Even though he has lost most of his possessions, Richard's bond with Princess is something that can never be taken away.