coffeepotkeepers
09-13-2005, 07:18 AM
Colorado Guardsmen Gerohan Salas, left, Jerald Carico and
Keith Kline search the outside of a home in St. Bernard Parish for
survivors. Soldiers were barred from entering secured homes, which
upset
them. "We need to be able to go in and make sure" that no one needs
help,
said one. (Post / Craig F. Walker)
yards, and a hot tub sits nearly on someone's front porch. Dead
fish
float in sidewalk puddles, and dead dogs lie bloated on the sidewalk.
The live animals have become the soldiers' concerns. Some are
sick and
aggressive, but most are hungry, tired and lonely for human contact.
They
follow any soldier who shares a military meal.
Delker gave two muddy beagles an energy bar from her lunch pack
while
riding in a Humvee, and one of the dogs tried to follow the vehicle.
The field artillery unit has been ordered not to touch the
animals
after they initially rescued a dog, a puppy, a ferret and a kitten. So
they
feed them.
McRae's unit of military police, which has a reputation as animal
lovers, is collecting and rescuing pets as it finds them. The unit
began
rescuing the animals after locals started shooting dogs in fear of
their
creating a pack.
At one point, the soldiers kept track of 17 dogs, two cats and a
ferret at their checkpoint in the town of Violet.
"MREs have been feeding everyone in this area, even the animals,"
McRae said.
The SPCA picked up the animals and will return every time the
soldiers
collect 10 animals. Already, soldiers, including MP James Hines, plan
to
return and adopt a dog left stranded by the storm.
The ferret, named Katrina and rescued from a high school, will
return
to Colorado Springs with McRae.
"It's a big morale booster for the troops," McRae said, "to know
we
can save the dogs."
Keith Kline search the outside of a home in St. Bernard Parish for
survivors. Soldiers were barred from entering secured homes, which
upset
them. "We need to be able to go in and make sure" that no one needs
help,
said one. (Post / Craig F. Walker)
yards, and a hot tub sits nearly on someone's front porch. Dead
fish
float in sidewalk puddles, and dead dogs lie bloated on the sidewalk.
The live animals have become the soldiers' concerns. Some are
sick and
aggressive, but most are hungry, tired and lonely for human contact.
They
follow any soldier who shares a military meal.
Delker gave two muddy beagles an energy bar from her lunch pack
while
riding in a Humvee, and one of the dogs tried to follow the vehicle.
The field artillery unit has been ordered not to touch the
animals
after they initially rescued a dog, a puppy, a ferret and a kitten. So
they
feed them.
McRae's unit of military police, which has a reputation as animal
lovers, is collecting and rescuing pets as it finds them. The unit
began
rescuing the animals after locals started shooting dogs in fear of
their
creating a pack.
At one point, the soldiers kept track of 17 dogs, two cats and a
ferret at their checkpoint in the town of Violet.
"MREs have been feeding everyone in this area, even the animals,"
McRae said.
The SPCA picked up the animals and will return every time the
soldiers
collect 10 animals. Already, soldiers, including MP James Hines, plan
to
return and adopt a dog left stranded by the storm.
The ferret, named Katrina and rescued from a high school, will
return
to Colorado Springs with McRae.
"It's a big morale booster for the troops," McRae said, "to know
we
can save the dogs."