Two Katrina dogs still waiting for adoption: HOPE Safehouse plans open house for Sunday

By Phyllis Sides

Friday, September 15, 2006 2:09 AM CDT

WHAT: HOPE Safehouse Meet and Greet

WHEN: Sunday, 1-3 p.m.

WHERE: Proper Paws University, 2625 Eaton Lane FYI: The event is a chance for the public to see some of the dogs and puppies that are currently available for adoption, including two of the Hurricane Katrina rescues. Adoption applications can be completed the event. Pictures of available cats also will be on display. For a sneak peek at the adoptables go to http://www.hopesafehouse.org/ index.html and click on the

Adoptables link.

For more info: Call HOPE Safehouse at (262) 634-4571.

RACINE - When Sherri Noha looked into the sad eyes of a flat-coated retriever named Lady, it broke her heart.

Lady was one of the more than 300 pets brought to Racine by HOPE Safehouse, a no-kill foster pet group, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

When Lady first arrived in Racine she was adopted right away, but it didn't work out, Noha said.

"The people brought her back and it just broke my heart to see the look on her face. She just had this look in her eyes," Noha said. "She had sad eyes, but she has happy eyes now."

Lady fits right in at her house, Noha added, getting along well with her other two dogs.

"She's very sweet. She gets along with all dogs, but I don't know about cats. She's also laid back and very smart. She fits right in she sleeps in bed with my husband and me."

Noha's other dogs also were rescued and she recommends people adopt rescued animals.

Anyone interested in adopting a pet should stop by Proper Paws University Sunday afternoon for a "Meet and Greet" event HOPE Safehouse is having. The public will have a chance to see the two remaining Katrina dogs still available and some of the dogs and puppies that are currently up for adoption.

HOPE Safehouse took in 317 orphaned animals, including 88 cats and 222 dogs that were displaced by Katrina. Eight animals, including two turtles, were reunited with their former owners. A mix of other pets, including two ball pythons, two pot-bellied pigs and a white Chinese duck were placed in appropriate settings.

Six dogs and three cats died of health problems, the worst of them being heartworms.

Dawn Guzman's dog, Alma, was one of the rescued animals that had been seriously ill and survived.

"She had heart worm," Guzman said. "She almost died but now she is a beautiful affectionate animal."

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