Hurricane Katrina 'star' paralyzed pit bull gets a home
May 30, 2006: 12:00 AM
Dog featured on NBC Today Show, Anderson Cooper 360 at Mardi Gras
Kanab, UT (05/30/2006) - Red the paralyzed pit bull, who captured hearts at Best Friends Animal Society Hurricane Katrina pet rescue center in New Orleans, will have a home of his own.
This valiant dog survived Hurricane Katrina only to be paralyzed in his hindquarters after being hit by a car.
Red meets his adopter, Diane McDermott at 2 p.m. at Longwood Animal Hospital and Pet Resort, 14134 Huffmeister Road in Cypress, near Houston. Red has been fostered at Houston-based Spindletop Refuge since March and undergoing physical therapy at Longwood.
Red had special accommodations at Celebration Station, the staging area for the final phase of Best Friends Animal Society's pet rescue after Hurricane Katrina. He was a huge favorite with volunteers. Then the NBC Today Show and Anderson Cooper 360 were in New Orleans for Mardi Gras and each reported on the rescue efforts; the wheelchair-bound Red dazzled with his personality and ability to chase balls.
Diane said she used to live in New Orleans. Once Hurricane Katrina hit, she had been glued to the TV news. "When they wheeled Red out it did something to my heart. They said the center was closing down the next day and they showed a number at the bottom of the screen to call if you wanted to adopt one of the animals. I called Best Friends and they said he was being fostered by Leah Purcell who has that pit bull rescue, Spindletop Refuge. Leah and I talked and she approved me to adopt Red."
Spindletop Refuge http://www.spindletoppitbullrefuge.org/ is widely regarded as a model pit bull rescue and played a pivotal role in Hurricane Katrina rescue, especially for pit bulls. The Houston-based rescue took in some 400 animals with the majority being pit bulls.
Red's adoption has a touch of destiny. Diane said she knew she could provide a good home for Red. "He's in a wheelchair. I took care of my mother, father and brother when they were each dying of cancer (they died one at a time between October 2004 and July 2005). I took care of them in their wheelchairs and I can take care of Red. Ive remodeled the front bedroom for him, that is his room and there is a stereo and TV. I've put my bed on the ground so he can sleep with me."
