The story of Gus and Mikko:

I arrived in New Orleans yesterday for the first time since the hurricane. I went straight to my house accompanied by two friends, Julia and Stephen, from the Bridge Foundation. I stood on my porch, took a deep breath a yelled their names, like I have a thousand times when I arrive home.

As we walked to the side of the house, Julia's eyes grew very large. She said, "Oh my God! Is one of them black???" I ran to the side of the house to see Gus turning to run away because he did not recognize Julia. I called him again and he turned back. He saw Julia and he hopped a fence. I called and he meowed at me as if to say, "That lady's gotta go before I come out to you."

As Julia retreated to the car, Gus hopped the fence between our house and the next and greeted me warmly. There was no sign of Mikko
except the worn flea collar in the alleyway that lay on the ground.

I took Gus to the hotel with me for check-in. Then, as night fell, I went back to my house to look for Mikko. My neighborhood is still without electricity.

It was very dark when I arrived, but the headlights from my rental car shone bright against the front of the house. There was just enough light to see a small blur of fur dart from my view as I turned into the drive. I jumped out of the car and began calling his name. He meowed and meowed, a scared meowing cry, but he would not come out and eventually retreated. I called and called, but the national guard came and informed me that curfew was in effect at 8pm and I would have to leave the area for safety reasons.

It is 7:36 am and I am going back to my house right now to sit and wait and call his name with his favorite wet cat food. I am hopeful that he will come out and recognize me. I will be persistent. I know he's scared, but I'm not going back to Houston without him.

I am so thankful to all those who helped, The Humane Society, The SPCA, Best Friends, all pet rescue volunteers, and any other organization or person who gave time and effort in this time of disaster.

My home is in shambles. It will have to be demolished and rebuilt. I am not a materialistic person, but the loss of all my personal belongings, lodging and my two cats was a loss I would have grieved for many years to come. Thank God, they are safe. They are alive and I am one step closer to rebuilding.

I will pray that all pet owners are united with their animals in the days to come, and that the strays will find loving homes.

Take care.

Yvette

Yvette is from New Orleans and her story came through a Katrina rescue list