When Hurricane Rita was churning across the Gulf with her sights set on Galveston, TX, the Houston members
of Lone Star Shih Tzu and Lhasa Apso Rescue started getting prepared. Many were in the mandatory evacuation
area - and left early. Others boarded up and waited.
But, on Thursday, when the hurricane took a sudden turn to the east and focused on on the Port Arthur/Beaumont
area, we became even more nervous.
Notified several days earlier about the hospitalization of an East Texas member of a shih tzu-oriented email
group, Lone Star frantically emailed Suzi Beaupre, a personal friend of the hospitalized man and also the leader
of one of the national rescue groups, US Shih Tzu Rescue, of which Lone Star is an affiliate.
From: "Teresa Osborn" <luvmytzus@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu Sep 22, 2005 4:45 pm
Subject: Suzi
I need to know where Mike's dogs are, Suzi. (Hurricane) Rita is now projected for
a direct hit on Beaumont, right where he lives.
Teresa
The answer was not what I wanted to hear.
From: Suzi Beaupre <sebshezu@...>
Date: Thu Sep 22, 2005 4:47 pm
Subject: Re: [usshihtzurescue] Suzi sebshezu
The last that I knew they were at his home with someone named Richard,
who is staying there to take care of them. I have not heard anything
else since yesterday. But I will try to find out.
Suzi
These messages started a frantic search for five little lost dogs which ended up involving people from Houston,
New Hampshire, Tulsa and Ohio.
Throughout the day Friday, we tried unsuccessfully, to find the man, Richard, who was supposed to be watching
the dogs. Unfortunately, the phone lines were all maxed out and we just couldn't get a line through.
After emailing a friend in Tulsa, she was able to get a call into the Nederland, TX police department and asked
them to go check on Richard and the dogs. They went to the house, but Richard refused to evacuate and wouldn't
allow the police to get the dogs.
The day after the hurricane, everything was chaotic. The few news reports coming in said that the Port Arthur/
Beaumont areas were devastated. One news report indicated that any pets left outside would have drowned in
the storm surge.
Willing to drive over to Nederland, we repeatedly called the police who informed us that we would not be allowed
into the town. Only law inforcement personnel were allowed in.
Then we learned that the Houston SPCA was headed over to the Beaumont area - we called and reported the five
dogs and asked that they be picked up. We were told that their people might be able to check, but couldn't
promise.
The search continued. Lisa Foronda, a local news anchor with KHOU, and a very active animal advocate (check
her blog site) was able to get the Houston Humane Society involved and Sargent Timmers was able to get to the
house on Wednesday. He called, deflated. They got to the house but there were no dogs. He assured me that
there was evidence that the dogs had been there recently - food strewn all over the floor - were not there now.
We were all depressed. On one hand, it looked as though the dogs made it, but on the other hand, we had no idea
where they were And, we had just found out the the owner, Mike, had been evacuated via a medical cargo plane
and was in the hospital in Dallas. He was frantic to find his babies.
Then, the great email came late Thursday afternoon.. Lyn Kells, a friend of Mike's from the shih tzu email group,
emailed me to say she thought she had found a picture of one of the dogs, Flower, on the Houston SPCA's
website. I immediately got on the website, and found pictures that looked like FOUR of the five dogs. I jumped
in the car and went to the SPCA. (The fifth dog, Queenie, had been picked up by Mike's neice just before the
storm.) Sure enough, there were four little wayward fluffs jumping around in one of the kennels.
babies came to visit.
Mike wanted a portrait with each of his babies. Left to right - Flower, Katie, Prince and little poodle-boy
Tony. Queenie is still in Beaumont with another foster mom, but if Mike stays hospitalized in Houston for
much longer, we'll get her over here too so she can visit each week.
Lone Star Shih Tzu and Lhasa Apso Rescue is a 100% volunteer, 501c3 charitable organization who exists
solely on donations from people like you. We get no governmental funding whatsoever, all funding comes from
individual, compassionate people, like you.
If you would like to donate to the needy dogs in our program, click here. Or to help us provide the vetting and
care for Flower, Tony, Katie and Prince, click on the paypal button below.
We had several tumors removed from Katie's head, Tony had a hernia that was repaired, all four dogs needed
blood work and other diagnostics. They are all healthy, but we expended around $1850 so far for their care.
Diane Peck
Mary Beth Rakes-Riffle
Lyn Kells
Starting in 2005, we will offer unique artwork on beautiful high-quality porcelain. These
gorgeous ornaments will feature a picture of your little pet - $25 plus shipping.
cat to ORNAMENTS@shihtzu-rescue.com.
We'll work up the design and if it meets
with your approval, tell you how to order
the ornament.
Shawna Pauley, celebrating Christmas. (shih tzu, lhasas and bichons are there already -
other breeds coming soon!)
www.cafepress.com/DogsDogsDogs/826963
Lone Star Shih Tzu and Lhasa Apso Rescue
a 100% volunteer 501(c)(3) organization
www.shihtzu-rescue.com
www.lhasaapso-rescue.com
P O Box 1346
Pinehurst, TX 77362-1346
281-754-4851
often significantly discounted. We do not accept paid advertisements in this newsletter.
Hospital
927 Dulles
Stafford, TX 77477
(281) 499-3538
Animal Hospital
4225 Sienna Parkway
Missouri City, TX 77479
(281) 778-5244
Dr. Clara Scott
6741 Klein Cemetary Rd
Spring, TX
(281) 257-2998
Boarding and Grooming
6741 Klein Cemetary Rd
Spring, TX
(281) 251-2828
Canine Activity Center
2215 Lawrence
Houston, TX 77008
(713) 864-3436
6126 Richmond Ave
Houston, TX 77057
(713) 266-4446
16460 Kuykendahl Rd
Houston, TX
(281) 583-7387
3044 Old Denton Highway
Suite 320 75007
Carrollton, TX
972-242-7710
501 E FM 2410
Harker Heights, TX 76548
(254) 690-6769
Hospital
425 West Southlake Blvd
Southlake, TX 76092
(817) 488-9551
4701 W Park Blvd
Suite 107
Plano, TX 75093
(972) 867-4437
1607 Hart Ct # 100
Southlake, TX 76092
(817) 329-8835
Training*Grooming*Boarding
6194 Old Camp Bullis Road
San Antonio, TX 78257
(210) 698-1118
750 S Amy Ln.
Harker Heights, TX 76548
(254) 699-6726
Petsitting
Serving the
Houston Heights
(713) 290-1633
Canine Behavior Counselor
2731 Stevens Point Lane
Dallas, Tx. 75287
(972) 862-7229
Rockwall, Texas 75032
Phone: (972) 772-3511
www.texsunpoolsandspas.com
Animal and Human
Chiropractic
404 Westheimer
Houston, TX 77006
(713) 627-9355
1534 North 2nd
Arkansas City, KS 67005
www.mydogramp.com
Arlington and Mansfield, TX
(817) 797-2951
www.pamperedpetsgrooming.net
by Shawna Pauley
Shawna_Desiree@msn.com
Contact Shawna directly for
your own custom drawing. Be
sure to tell her that you saw
this ad here.
Lone Star Shih Tzu and Lhasa Apso Rescue
all rights reserved
www.shihtzu-rescue.com
