How did these six Bostons all end up in the tub together?

As told by Keiko & Kosmo's owner Justina

On the 27th of Aug, I was told that I would be evacuating the local area due to Hurricane Katrina. On the 28th of Aug, I reported to work for a day shift where I was told that I would now be required to shelter on base instead of being able to evacuate, due to me being mission essential. I immediately got upset, knowing that I had no plans in place for my 2 BT's Keiko and Kosmo. I got on the phone and called the pet shelter on base to see if I could/wanted to shelter my babies there during the hurricane. When I asked about the contingency plan for the animals if the gym was to flood I was informed that there was no plan and that there was going to be nobody there to let the dogs and cats out of their kennels if it did flood. So the thought of my dogs drowning in their kennel turned my stomach. I called around to local kennels and vets, which were all full or closed. I had to make the decision the leave them in my 2nd floor apartment, which is way farther off the beach than the base is.During the hurricane my emotions were a mess as I worried about my babies constantly, until the minute that I held them in my arms and rolled around on the floor with them.

Once I was able to go check on them, I was still only able to go off base and see them for about 2 hours a day. Anybody who has dogs knows that, that time frame is unacceptable! I could not let this go on... I went back to the WOOFBOARD, where I had been receiving so much emotional support through out this time frame. With Keiko getting sick from the heat and Kosmo having a heat rash on his belly, I knew that I had to do something. I talked to my family, they were going to try to drive down from Indiana to get them ... but they were unable. My mom was just as upset as I was... they are her furry grandchildren! She found a rescue group from the Pet Jamboree in Indiana that was driving to Dothan City, AL to the animal shelter there to pick up stray pet from the hurricane, so that they could be adopted up north. My mom and my sisters called the rescue group and they agreed to transport my dogs to Indiana for FREE! If I could get my dogs to Dothan City, AL., I could get them transported to my family... to safety and comfort!

But... the base was still on a curfew, I was unable to get there and back with out breaking the curfew and getting in MAJOR trouble! Back to WOOFBOARD again... I put a post up on September 2nd, at about 10pm, by 5am the next day... my own personal saint had PM'ed me! She told me that she was driving to Panama City, FL that day and she would drive a few more hours to come get my dogs, here in Ocean Spring, MS. Stacy and Dixie (one of her 4 BT's) drove all the way from Tallahassee, FL to Ocean Springs, MS, then back to Panama City, FL in one day! She came and rescued my babies from the hell that they were living in. Stacy fur babysat Keiko and Kosmo from the 3rd of Sep to 8th of Sep. Stacy and I kept in touch via telephone and Woofboard. She posted pics as often as she could to help me with my separation anxiety. :( She even let me talk to them on the phone, I know it sounds ate up... but she said Kosmo pawed at the phone when he heard my voice. :(

On the 8th, she took them to the Dothan City animal shelter, at 3 in the morning when she was told to show up. My babies were then transported from there to Indiana to my family. They arrived at 11:42 pm. They have been in the care of my family since then and will be until I have the ability to go get them.

If this is posted publicly, I would like the ability to thank my wonderful family, Stacy, the ladies at the Dothan City Animal Shelter, and the Ladies from Pet Jamboree in Indiana. I want you all to know that I am forever indebted to all of you for what you have done for me and my babies. Taking my babies and taking care of them, has relieved me of one of the many stressors that I have down here in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. You are all my HEROS!

Justina L. Godsell