Pet Party Line is a column written by Beth Byrd and is featured weekly in The Citizen News, one of our local newspapers.

"Pet Rescue Update on Hurricane Katrina/Popular Pet Names"

Q: Could you please give us a Katrina update concerning all of the animals that were rescued?

A: As you saw on TV, after Katrina, the entire country responded to the plight of the homeless animals. Many organizations and veterinarians from our state and across the country sent trained workers and volunteers as well as medical supplies, food, generators, and housing crates in an effort to establish temporary animal shelters in hurricane- ravaged Mississippi and Louisiana.

Now, almost all of the temporary shelters have been able to shut down. Many animals were reunited with their owners as we saw heartwarming stories emerge each day. We treasure our pets as part of our family because they are loyal and love us unconditionally. The other animals were distributed throughout the country for adoption, or sent back to their own area shelters in hopes of finding their owners. If the owners weren’t found, all adoptable animals will get new homes. The group, Just Friends, which is based in Utah, is a no-kill animal reserve and they took a large number of the animals.

Marli Drum, Superintendent of Columbia Animal Services said “Despite the destruction and sadness throughout the Biloxi/Gulport areas, we were amazed at the resilience of the animals and people that survived such devastation and loss. I was in awe of the power of Katrina, but more impressed by the will to survive and move on.”

Q: What are some of the most popular names given to dogs?

A: According to the Orvis Pet Catalog, the current top ten list of the most popular dog names is:

1. Lucy
2. Buddy
3. Molly
4. Maggie
5. Max
6. Jake
7. Sam
8. Sadie
9. Bailey
10. Annie