In Hurricane Katrina's Wrath
St. Bernard Family Deals With Joy and Sadness

October 11, 2005

When Sharon and Eugene Nehlig evacuated from their two-story home in Meraux, St. Bernard Parish on Sunday, August 28, they made the decision to leave their cats, Kramer, Buster and Callie, believing like so many others that they would return in a couple of days.

As they drove away from their home, the Nehligs had trepidation and questioned if they were doing the right thing. Their home had survived Hurricane Betsy, so they felt they had no reason to believe it would flood this time. Of course, that decision proved to be regrettable. “I made the decision [to leave them], which I’ll never do again,” said Susan Nehlig. As we all know, their St. Bernard community was one of the hardest hit in Katrina’s wrath. But unlike so many others, they have fortunately been reunited with two of their three cats.

The Nehligs evacuated to the Panama City area. As they witnessed the news coverage of the massive flooding in their neighborhood, they feared the worst for their three animals; although the family had left food, water and litter boxes throughout their home.

From Florida, Sharon posted rescue requests on petfinder.com and called the Louisiana SPCA repeatedly. “Weeks are going by, I’m not hearing anything and I’m scared to death,” said Nehlig. Finally, the order to stay away from their community is lifted and the Nehligs return home to find a home so damaged they are sickened by the sight. They also see a notice on their door that one cat has been rescued by the Louisiana SPCA. They are relieved, but worried about the other two cats. As they make their way upstairs they find Kramer, their 3-year-old black and white calico, crying, skittish and definitely hungry. “She had lost some weight but she definitely wasn’t skin and bones, and on the spot she gobbled up two containers of food.” The Nehligs began their search for the other two cats and began the rounds to all the rescue sites they’ve heard of in the area.

After many phone calls, they learned of the Lamar-Dixon Center in Gonzales and found themselves there a few hours later, going from kennel to kennel looking for Buster and Callie. They mentioned their address to a volunteer who was standing nearby, and the volunteer immediately recognized their address, pulled the paperwork and walked them directly to their one cat that had been rescued. It was Buster, their 2-year-old brown and white tabby. To the Nehligs, it was a miracle. “He hadn’t lost weight. He looked very healthy,” Sharon recalled. Kramer, Buster’s sister, was even more overjoyed to see her brother again. “Since we found her she was screaming so much her voice was raspy,” said Sharon, “but the minute she saw Buster we never heard another sound.”

Sadly, the Nehligs learned that Callie, their 13-year-old feline did not survive. She was found several weeks later in the home deceased. Callie, who always had a tendency to hide when visitors came to the home, apparently hid out of sight from rescuers and family members who returned to the home several times in an attempt to find her. “It was a stupid thing to do,
leaving them, and I’ll never do it again,” says Sharon. Now that she’s reunited with at least two of their three cats she never wants to let them out of her sight, and, she adds, “The bed is beginning to feel complete again.”
 

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