Above: After a red eye flight, we arrived in TX just as Houston was evacuating for Hurricane Rita. Ugh. Great timing, huh? The 5 hour trip to Lamar Dixon took 22 very long and stressful hours. We saw several cars towing trailers with pit bulls inside in the 100+ degree heat. I can't imagine that the dogs in this metal box survived the long trip.

Above: When Hurricane Rita finally hit, workers were evacuated to a nearby church. Two of us stayed behind with a small skeleton crew to care for the dogs. We worked with a dynamic duo who drove down from Ontario Canada to help. As the rains came in, we covered as many crates as we could with tarps to protect the dogs from the elements. The trailer in the background was placed at the barn's entrance to act as a wind block. It was a long, LOUD night of screaming winds and hard hitting rain. We took turns doing watch. Nobody slept much that night. (The little black and white dog in mid-photo flew back with us and ended up going to Monterey SPCA).

Left: The hurricane and several tornado warnings stole two days of work away from us, but once it was over and our team was reunited, we finally got down to business. This sweet little fawn male is getting loaded up to go to Calumet Humane in Indiana. Okay - Now we're finally starting to feel better.

Above: That night, we were up til 2am selecting pit bulls to send out on an early morning transport. This sweet young pup had a large (old) scar on her head. She made it out to San Diego with 16 other pit bulls and an old yellow shepherd mix that stole our hearts.

Right: Steve is getting to know the female pup that would be coming to live in his house for foster care. She's an absolute sweetie with a mushy face. In the background is a huge fan set up to ward off the New Orleans heat. Damn, it was HOT down there.

Above: We woke up at dawn to get ready for export. Once we were approved, it was back to the Houston airport with a van load of suddenly very quiet dogs. They seemed to know something big was happening. All did beautifully while we waited to get them onboard...We were so proud of them!

Above: At home in SF, our crew was ready and waiting to pick up their new foster dogs at the airport. 12 dogs landed in SF and four drove home with our rescue friends in San Diego. After a long transport, the Katrina pit bulls went home to the first night of quiet and peace they'd had in weeks. Eternal thanks to Christine Allen for being our connection to reality and getting all the ground details lined up.

Above: A New Orleans pit bull adjusts himself to the all the huge changes in his life. Our job is to let our new house guests rest and receive TLC while we try to find their families. Most of the dogs are completely exhausted and even a little shell shocked at this time. This boy was found in an attic with his dead buddy. Despite the traumas they suffered, the dogs of New Orleans were some of the most stable pit bulls we've ever worked with.