Heroes of Katrina Blog Radio Show
December 16, 2010
Welcome to the Books of Excellence: Heroes of Katrina blog radio show. You can listen to the show on www.blogtalkradio.com, via the comfort of your computer. You can call in with questions to the guests at (347) 308-8613. Call in or ‘log in’ Thursday Evening December 16th at 8:00 p.m. eastern and 7:00 p.m. central time, 6:00 p.m. mountain time, and 5:00 p.m. Pacific time.
The December 16th show is a special show. The demographics and statistics are amazing. There are 2.5 animals (cats/dogs…etc. for every American home).
When a population of almost a million evacuates an area and is forced to leave their pets behind…the result is 2.5 million animals…homeless…ownerless…destitute. This was the situation during and after Hurricane Katrina. Indeed the animal issue was largely overlooked by all the rescuing agencies Federal and otherwise.
On Thursday’s show we have some amazing people who will share their stories as they passionately committed their lives to helping these critters…through rescuing, feeding and reuniting activities.
Our guests include, Kim Leslie, a Pennsylvania resident. Kim is the Founder of Wetnose Rescue. Kim has been involved in animal dog rescue for many years. When the news about Katrina broke, Kim received word through her rescue network of the horrors facing the helpless canines. In this show, Kim will talk about the immediate response of sending supplies for animal rescue, and how she was involved with saving animals who survived Katrina by finding homes in the Philadelphia area for hundreds of them.
Also calling in is Charlotte Bass Lilly. Charlotte is the current CEO of Animal Rescue New Orleans (ARNO). ARNO is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit grassroots volunteer organization formed when the rescue center at Lamar-Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales, LA shut down in October 2005.
ARNO, formed in October 2005, worked with Best Friends Animal Society who provided immeasurable support and shelter care to the ARNO animal relief effort between mid-October 2005 and through February 2006.
On February 1, 2006, ARNO was transitioned to local hands. Charlotte Bass Lilly, a local New Orleanian and a known animal welfare figure, took the lead position from Jane and united a network of dedicated locals to continue the ardent work that legions of other tireless volunteers from across the nation had begun. Charlotte was early on the scene at Lamar-Dixon, arriving directly behind the LA/SPCA animal control officers and working in water/land rescue under their direction. Today locals who are able, continue to assist in the daily operation of ARNO’s no-kill triage shelter, controlled feeding & trapping, TNR program, rescues, reunites, fosters and adoptions, in addition to hundreds of out-of-state volunteers. Out-of-state volunteers consistently provide volunteers on the ground, as well as assist with remote volunteer duties from the cities in which they reside. Non-profit volunteer organizations, as well as faith-based organization, also assist supplying volunteers to ARNO’s no-kill triage shelter. In addition high school and college students volunteer to fulfill community service hours required of them.
Author Cary Black recently released his epoch novel of American heroism called Katrina: A Freight Train Screamin’. The book tells the real story of the worst natural disaster to hit the United States. It chronicles the stories of the people who were on the ground savings lives, the people who were reaching out to rescue the millions of abandoned animals, and the people who survived and heroically came back, dug in, and rebuilt their lives from the chaos. The stories reflect the thoughts of regular folks having to fight for their lives and finding heroism in their souls as they struggled to deal with the enormity of the storm.
The book tells these peoples stories in a way that makes the reader realize how far reaching the depth of this tragedy was. But his intent was not to just tell the story of the magnitude and extent of destruction Katrina caused —it was to show the bravery of the everyday people who live in the Gulf Coast area.
The book can be ordered at: http://www.redowlpublications.com/KatrinaBook.html Live show times are 8 p.m. EST, 7 p.m. CT, 6 p.m. MT, and 5 p.m. PT. To listen to our show, click into this link or paste it into your browser:
When the screen comes up, on the top line, click “On Air.” A screen will come up, where it says “Choose a Category” and then go to “Books.” Then click into Books of Excellence Bonnie Kaye to hear the show. Our guests also welcome any questions you might have. You can call in at (347) 308-8613. If you would like to listen to past BOE radio shows that have been archived, just go to this link:
Bonnie Kaye on Blog Talk Radio
There you can click on the shows which are archived.