We are very aware that the situation in New Orleans is still desperate; thousands of stray cats and dogs still roam the streets in search of food, and the shelters are full to capacity because they cannot find homes for pets because so many people have moved away or are too poor to care for a pet, because of the devastation caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita last year.

So when volunteer Emily Anderson got a call from a friend who was driving to New Orleans to help rescue homeless animals and bring them back to no-kill shelters in Wisconsin, she knew Michelle McRae, director of Saving Paws, would want to help.

We picked up seven Katrina-affected cats and kittens on Sunday, November 12 th, in Madison. Trudy, our friend in Madison, had rented a large van, driven all the way to New Orleans, completed two days of food and water drops on the street corners of New Orleans for the homeless animals, picked up 12 dogs and 7 cats from Animal Rescue New Orleans, then driven all the way back to Wisconsin to give them to no-kill rescue groups from across the state.

How You Can Help

> Please consider giving a donation to care for the Katrina kitties. We had to purchase four new large cages for them, and they all needed medications for minor ailments upon arrival. Donations can be made online or checks can be sent to:
Saving Paws Animal Rescue, P.O. Box 0362, Appleton, WI 54912-0362

> Sponsor a Katrina kitty until he or she gets adopted. A sponsorship donation of $100 will cover the costs of the cage, food and medications for one Katrina kitty. In exchange you will get photos of your Katrina kitty and regular updates on how he or she is doing. Please e-mail info@savingpaws.com if you are interested in sponsoring a Katrina kitty.

> Spread the word that we have Katrina kitties available for adoption!

> Read more about the plight of homeless animals in New Orleans.