A
little thing
like the threat
of Hurricane
Gustav and
evacuation of
New Orleans
didn’t stop
BeKind founder
Frances Hayward
and CBS’
Greatest
American Dog
star Wendy
Diamond and her
little white dog
Lucky from
heading
literally into
the eye of the
storm. The
animal advocates
joined
Councilwoman
Jacquelyn
Clarkson for the
unveiling of the
first Pet
Memorial held in
the Municipal
Chambers at City
Hall and
followed with a
benefit luncheon
on the
anniversary of
Hurricane
Katrina, August
29.
Baton Rouge
artist Richard
Chashoudian was
commissioned by
The Humane
Society of
Louisiana to
create a
national
monument to
honor the pets
that perished
during, and
after, the
devastating
storm. The
beautiful Pet
Memorial
features a
bronze,
life-size statue
of a cat and dog
resting on a
piece of
150-year-old
Louisiana
Cyprus. The
accompanying
plaque reads
"THEY WILL NEVER
BE LEFT BEHIND
AGAIN...."
listing all that
had contributed,
beginning with
Hayward’s The
Amigo
Foundation. The
statue and
plaque will
remain as sad
reminder and a
forever tribute
to the tragic
animals that
lost their
lives.
Councilwoman
Stacy Head,
Clarkson,
Hayward, Diamond
and her little
white dog Lucky
joined the
artists and Jeff
Dorson, the head
of the Humane
Society of LA
and more than
150 animal
rescuers, first
responders,
local
dignitaries, and
directors of
animal charity
foundations and
humane societies
for the
presentation and
lunch that
followed at the
Astor Crowne
Hotel in the
French Quarter.
During the
ceremonies,
Hayward was
presented with
the Key to the
City for her
heroic efforts
following
Katrina. A
veteran of many
hurricane
rescues, Hayward
accepted the Key
on behalf of her
beloved dog
AMIGO, who died
earlier in the
year. “Amigo
headed the
rescue efforts
in the Gulf
Coast when we
bussed animals
out on The Amigo
Express," stated
Hayward. “I was
truly honored
when he was made
"King of Barkus"
during Mardi
Gras in 2006 and
again in 2007
where he served
as Grand
Marshal.”
Diamond was
given the
International
Ambassador
Award, while her
pooch Lucky
seemed pleased
to command the
podium.
Supporters and
animal lovers
including Petco
Foundation
President Paul
Jolly, CBS
newscaster Eric
Paulsen, NY
veterinarian Dr.
Babette
Gladstein, TV
reporter Alfred
Richard, Blue
Dog artist
George
Rodriguez, Eric
Iglesis and Sean
Payton and Deuce
McAllister of
the New Orleans
Saints enjoyed
the fine
vegetarian
cuisine while
coming up with
new ways to help
raise funds and
awareness.
The euphoria
quickly
disappeared
following the
luncheon as the
residents were
forced to turn
their efforts
towards the
evacuation. “It
was time for me
to shed my pink
Ungaro dress and
roll up my
sleeves to
help,” stated
Hayward. “After
visiting the
ARNO shelter in
Metairie, and
seeing the
heroic work
being done by
HSUS - crating
them and putting
them in giant
air conditioned
trucks to be
sent to safety,
I was called by
my friends to
assist in the
evacuation of
people with
their pets onto
buses downtown.
Members of the
National Guard
were very much
in evidence.
What was so
killing me was
the sight of
these beautiful,
very poor, at
times physically
challenged,
residents lining
up in the
intense heat
with their
beloved animals.
The deep love
for their pets,
many overheated
and dehydrated
and wrapped in
cool wet towels
to cool them
down, was the
real story here.
It was so beyond
touching and yet
heartbreaking to
me, that against
the backdrop of
such dreads and
fear, we were
able to get it
all accomplished
with such
compassion by
the heroic
volunteers of
ARNO and The
Humane Society
of Louisiana. I
feel this
experience was
'life
changing',”
added the animal
advocate, “and I
thank Heaven
that they were
ultimately
spared.”
For
more information
please visit:
www.bekind.org