There is a danger in writing a page like this. Remember, only three Pasado's Safe Haven staff people led the PasadoRescue effort in New Orleans. It was the hundreds of volunteers, who came from across the country, who made the miracle of saving 1200 animals, happen. People like Steve B., above, from Ohio. He joined us in New Orleans, then would have to return home to "keep his job". Then he would come back to join us again. Over and over.

So when we try and thank a few, it appears that we have forgotten the rest. We hope this attempt at expressing our gratitude will not be misinterpreted.

The following people were those who helped beyond what most could afford to do, either financially, emotionally, or in time taken away from work. They were the people who made the difference between life or death, for so many animals. And they took care of us, too.

Claudia made a "pinky promise" to her son that once she was no longer needed by the animals, she'd do something special with him, his sister, and their dad. They all just returned from DisneyWorld, keeping her promise.

Claudia was just on a flight to New Orleans again this week, her umpteenth, in the last months, helping to reunite more PasadoRescue pets whose owners surfaced. She's a tireless advocate, who we are so honored to know.

Prima, from PAWS of Austin. A national disaster the likes of Hurricane Katrina is what brought us together. We probably would have never known this gentle, yet heroic soul. She rescued with PasadoRescuers in the trenches, and then worked to re-home dozens of animals. We made a friend for life. And we are the ones luckier for it.

Connie Edwards - We've known her forever - she's helped Pasado's Safe Haven for years, yet we never knew what "stuff" this woman was made of, truly, until we saw her "in action" at Lamar Dickson. She slept in her car so she wouldn't waste time traveling between a hotel and the animals who needed her. She was there for months. People from around the country said Connie literally "ran" that facility. She welcomed every person who found Pasado's through our website. Then she put them to work - either at Lamar Dickson or sending them on to Raceland. Connie is well-known around the country now - she epitomizes what Katrina rescue was all about - selflessness to the core.

You know never know who your true friends are until you face the worst. And we did when some of our rescued animals were placed with a 'collector' who was prosecuted for animals cruelty. These people returned to help, after weeks of rescuing in Louisiana, to help care for these animals. Rhonda Steele, of Sarah, Inc., in Alabama, opened her awesome facility to us to help.

Merilee, our Fall intern, started her first day of her internship by meeting us at the airport and flying to New Orleans. She didn't return for two months.

Merilee is now in Africa, on a study-abroad program. We hope she'll return to Pasado's one day. As she told us, "the experience I gained working with Pasado's was the most life-changing I'll ever know". Merilee is such a gift to the animals. We hope we never lose touch with this special human.

Many who we do not have photos of...like those who made it possible for us to work in 90+ degree heat every day in New Orleans, sleep, eat, and live rescue in Raceland, Louisiana...

Hope for Animals (Louisiana) The people who made up this group were from a local church organization. They were the ones who took our laundry in for every last volunteer. They walked dogs, took care of cats, would come to visit to offer meals or any help we needed. They were a local, constant force at our Raceland facility. They were just "always there" to help.

Penny & Leo - we couldn't have survived without them. Leo would show up at 5:30am every morning, without fail, and make our coffee. They really became our mother and father. They'd come into our office, and stop us, and make sure we ate. On our very last day in Louisiana, PasadoRescuers went to watch their small son play football. They became our family.

For those who helped from afar. They couldn't be in New Orleans so they worked from home...
Lori C. - a long-time Pasado volunteer, she and her family moved across a range of mountains and could no longer come to the sanctuary to help. As a mom, she couldn't travel to New Orleans but she still offered "anything" to assist. And she did: she fielded thousands of incoming e-mails that we received via our website. She worked long into the night, every night, until we left New Orleans.  Cindy and Karen, from Arizona. They've never met, although they share a state. But their link was what they did for Pasado's - both of them fielded e-mails. Cindy handled everyone who wanted to help in Louisiana. She told them where to go, what to bring, she e-mailed directions. Karen took on foster applications for our Katrina rescued animals. Hundreds of them, from around the world.  Magda and Kate S. - they too worked long into the night helping with e-mail offers of transport or supplies. When we needed airmiles or trucks or trailers, both of them connected with people from around the U.S. who wanted to help.

Once we were back home, the work didn't stop. It still hasn't. Melissa M. worked furiously to post any Katrina animal we airlifted to Washington State, on Petfinder. It was our ultimate hope to find and reunite animals and their guardians. Donna D. has spent hundreds of hours trying to match up the 1200 animals Pasado's rescued and their owners. She searches the web, databases, makes endless calls, and types even more e-mails. I know she's burning up the keys as we write this!

When they say "it takes a village" it really does. As a relatively small group, Pasado's Safe Haven depended on the passion, and the energy of people like those mentioned here, and so many others, to save 1200 animals during this hurricane.

Thank you - to everyone who saved lives, and touched our hearts, forever.

The special, unexpected
sources that made miracles happen.