Pawprints of Katrina
Encyclopedia
Pawprints of Katrina: Pets Saved and Lessons Learned is a 2008 non-fiction
book written by author
and journalist
Cathy Scott
that documents the writer's experience embedded with Best Friends Animal Society
triage center to rescue lost animals in the Gulf region and reunite them with their people. More than 200 stories with accompanying art by photographer Clay Myers detail rescues, examinations, treatment, reunions, and follow-up care by volunteers from all walks of life caring for other people's pets. The book, with a foreword by Ali MacGraw
, actor
and animal welfare activist, was released in August 2008 on the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina
.
Scott, who stayed on the Gulf Coast for four months to document the largest animal rescue in U.S. history, was a featured author at the 2008 National Book Festival
in Washington, D.C., reading from Pawprints of Katrina on the National Mall
.
Team) Department's Captain Scott Shields, famous for the courageous efforts of his search-and-rescue dog, Bear, at the World Trade Center on 9/11.
An excerpt from that chapter describes the moment: "Before we set out on a boat to look for stranded pets, the captain asked us to take a moment to remember those lost on 9/11. There, standing amidst the rubble of Hurricane Katrina with the black water just a few feet from us, we bowed our heads, and not a sound was heard. No cars. No lawnmowers. No birds. No planes. No trains. No voices. Not even the couple of dogs rescued and then tied with leashes to the off-ramp railing, awaiting transport, uttered a sound. It was as if, at that brief but somber point in time, they, too, acknowledged the loss of life. It was a poignant moment, observing those lost in the largest terrorist attack on American soil while we were in the thick of rescuing animals in the wake of the biggest natural disaster in U.S. history. The Crescent City was devoid of life, except for those of us out rescuing that day and, of course, the animals left behind."
An example of rescues featured in the book is Himie, a Rottweiler
, dubbed the "message-in-a-bottle dog," found with a plastic bottle tied to his collar holding Himie's eye medication and a note from his person, with whom he was later reunited. Also in the book was the saga of Red, a partially paralyzed pit-bull terrier
, who was hospitalized for almost three months after surgery, fitted with a special dog wheelchair, and eventually adopted out. Red's story and adoption was covered by CNN
's Anderson Cooper
. The story of Bubba, a longhaired gray cat whose displaced guardian drove 10 hours in a rented car to retrieve his cat, was featured by NBC
's "Dateline
."
Book Hounds review said, "An experienced rescuer herself, Scott conducted amphibious reporting on the ground and in boats, so her book makes you feel like a firsthand witness to history, as animals are saved and the lucky ones get to be reunited with their people."
Book reviewer Justin Moyer with Washington City Paper
recommended the book on his Katrina reading list, saying, "This book's for you.". It also made the Sacramento Public Library's "Suggested Reading List" for 2010.
Photographer Myers was awarded "Best Spot News Photo Coverage" from the Nevada Press Association for the book's cover photo, which was included in a first-person account from the Gulf Coast by author Scott in Las Vegas CityLife.
Non-fiction
Non-fiction is the form of any narrative, account, or other communicative work whose assertions and descriptions are understood to be fact...
book written by author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
and journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
Cathy Scott
Cathy Scott
Cathy Scott is an American true crime writer and investigative journalist, born and raised in San Diego, United States growing up in nearby La Mesa, California...
that documents the writer's experience embedded with Best Friends Animal Society
Best Friends Animal Society
Best Friends Animal Society, founded in its present form in 1984, is an American nonprofit 501 organization that is one of America’s best known animal welfare rescue groups. Best Friends works in outreach programs with shelters, other rescue groups and members nationwide to promote pet adoption,...
triage center to rescue lost animals in the Gulf region and reunite them with their people. More than 200 stories with accompanying art by photographer Clay Myers detail rescues, examinations, treatment, reunions, and follow-up care by volunteers from all walks of life caring for other people's pets. The book, with a foreword by Ali MacGraw
Ali MacGraw
Elizabeth Alice "Ali" MacGraw is an American actress. She is known for her role in Love Story, for which she won a Golden Globe and received an Academy Award nomination.-Early life:...
, actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
and animal welfare activist, was released in August 2008 on the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
.
Scott, who stayed on the Gulf Coast for four months to document the largest animal rescue in U.S. history, was a featured author at the 2008 National Book Festival
National Book Festival
The National Book Festival is an American event organized by the Library of Congress annually in Washington, D.C. Held in early autumn, the festival attracts tens of thousands of people each year . Over fifty nationally published authors, illustrators, and poets are invited for lectures,...
in Washington, D.C., reading from Pawprints of Katrina on the National Mall
National Mall
The National Mall is an open-area national park in downtown Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States. The National Mall is a unit of the National Park Service , and is administered by the National Mall and Memorial Parks unit...
.
Summary
The book begins on September 11, 2005, at a freeway off-ramp used as a boat launch, with New York City Parks Enforcement (Search & RescueTeam) Department's Captain Scott Shields, famous for the courageous efforts of his search-and-rescue dog, Bear, at the World Trade Center on 9/11.
An excerpt from that chapter describes the moment: "Before we set out on a boat to look for stranded pets, the captain asked us to take a moment to remember those lost on 9/11. There, standing amidst the rubble of Hurricane Katrina with the black water just a few feet from us, we bowed our heads, and not a sound was heard. No cars. No lawnmowers. No birds. No planes. No trains. No voices. Not even the couple of dogs rescued and then tied with leashes to the off-ramp railing, awaiting transport, uttered a sound. It was as if, at that brief but somber point in time, they, too, acknowledged the loss of life. It was a poignant moment, observing those lost in the largest terrorist attack on American soil while we were in the thick of rescuing animals in the wake of the biggest natural disaster in U.S. history. The Crescent City was devoid of life, except for those of us out rescuing that day and, of course, the animals left behind."
An example of rescues featured in the book is Himie, a Rottweiler
Rottweiler
The Rottweiler is a medium to large size breed of domestic dog that originated in Rottweil, Germany. The dogs were known as "Rottweil butchers' dogs" because they were used to herd livestock and pull carts laden with butchered meat and other products to market...
, dubbed the "message-in-a-bottle dog," found with a plastic bottle tied to his collar holding Himie's eye medication and a note from his person, with whom he was later reunited. Also in the book was the saga of Red, a partially paralyzed pit-bull terrier
Pit bull
A Pit bull is any of several breeds of dog in the molosser breed group.Many jurisdictions that restrict pit bulls, including Ontario, Canada,, Miami, Florida, U.S...
, who was hospitalized for almost three months after surgery, fitted with a special dog wheelchair, and eventually adopted out. Red's story and adoption was covered by CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
's Anderson Cooper
Anderson Cooper
Anderson Hays Cooper is an American journalist, author, and television personality. He is the primary anchor of the CNN news show Anderson Cooper 360°. The program is normally broadcast live from a New York City studio; however, Cooper often broadcasts live on location for breaking news stories...
. The story of Bubba, a longhaired gray cat whose displaced guardian drove 10 hours in a rented car to retrieve his cat, was featured by NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
's "Dateline
Dateline
A dateline is a brief piece of text included in news articles that describes where and when the story occurred, or was written or filed, though the date is often omitted. In the case of articles reprinted from wire services, the distributing organization is also included...
."
Critical reception and awards
The Canada Free Press wrote that "Pawprints of Katrina tells the inspiring story of the fate of the abandoned pets, some ending in tragedy, many in against-all-odds happy endings."Book Hounds review said, "An experienced rescuer herself, Scott conducted amphibious reporting on the ground and in boats, so her book makes you feel like a firsthand witness to history, as animals are saved and the lucky ones get to be reunited with their people."
Book reviewer Justin Moyer with Washington City Paper
Washington City Paper
The Washington City Paper is a U.S. alternative weekly newspaper serving the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.Founded in 1981, and published for its first year under the masthead 1981, taking the City Paper name in volume 2, by Russ Smith, it shared ownership with the Chicago Reader from 1982...
recommended the book on his Katrina reading list, saying, "This book's for you.". It also made the Sacramento Public Library's "Suggested Reading List" for 2010.
Photographer Myers was awarded "Best Spot News Photo Coverage" from the Nevada Press Association for the book's cover photo, which was included in a first-person account from the Gulf Coast by author Scott in Las Vegas CityLife.