ESSENTIAL DESTINATIONS

From January/February 2005 ANIMAL PEOPLE:

North Shore Animal League America presents The Lewyt Award to Dogs and Cats Who Show Heroism and Compassion in the World's Most Horrific Disaster

Through these last weeks, all of us have seen nothing but death, destruction, and devastation as we read account after horrifying account of the Indian Ocean tsunami. Even as donations are pouring in to the survivors, more dead bodies are found and estimates to rebuild the area are soaring. Yet, life and hope for the region are emerging from those creatures who are always ready to give unconditionally - our beloved dogs and cats. The following stories are just a few of the uplifting tales that are encouraging the people most affected to carry on.

"While returning from delivering medicines to Galle, where 800 people died, I spotted this man sitting with his cat in the middle of what used to be his house," emailed US consular volunteer Robert Blumberg from Colombo, Sri Lanka. "His dog and cat were washed away by the tsunami - but survived and found their way home! The cat, the dog, their affection, and the need to look after them kept the man going through the destruction of his entire life and livelihood."

In Singarathoppu, India, near the end of a long day of treating both injured animals and injured people, the rescue team sent by Wildlife SOS of Agra and Friendicoes SPCA in Delhi "finally found a reason to laugh," emailed team leader and Wildlife SOS founder Kartick Satnarayan. "This dog survived because the tsunami smashed him into an empty pot, which bobbed him to safety and was finally caught in the branches of a tree," like a miniature Noah's Ark running aground on Mount Ararat. Happy to find at least one living creature they could save after the catastrophe, the surviving villagers broke the pot to let the dog escape. But the dog Ramu still had a plastic collar from the neck of the pot, until the team removed it. Rescuing Ramu lifted the spirits of many; he became a symbol of hope.

"The amazing news is the endless stories of the beach coast dogs here giving the much needed warning to the residents or the fishermen and were seen to be very uneasy but still gave sufficient warnings to the people to be alert," emails Visakha SPCA founder Pradeep Kumar Nath. "Water entered into their homes but not before they had time to flee and with them the few livestock."

The Lewyt Award for January/February 2005 has been presented to all the hero dogs and cats of the Indian Ocean tsunami to honor their exceptional bravery, loyalty, and compassion shown to the survivors of this horrible natural disaster. As a symbol of the award, North Shore Animal League America is sending the total amount of the Award - $1,000 - to the Animal People Tsunami Relief Collection. Kim Bartlett, who administers the Collection, will send it to the shelter in need in the affected areas. At the next Asia for Animals conference, plaques will be presented to representatives of the animal organizations in the areas affected by the tsunami.