With the outpouring of aid to the victims of Katrina, I wanted to make sure we didn't forget about the animals affected by this tragedy.
Many people form intense emotional bonds to their pets, and the rescue of these animals will have great beneficial effects beyond saving the animals themselves, as those reunited with pets they were forced to abandon in the flood will have their grief and healing greatly facilitated.
Here's a link to the Humane Society disaster relief fund, or google if you prefer for similar efforts - I hope it's not considered spam under the circumstances.
https://secure.hsus.org/01/disaster_relief_fund_2005
In no way is this meant to diminish or detract from the human suffering wrought by Katrina - and it's not meant to start a debate about the value of human vs animal life. This is just an attempt at addressing another aspect of this vast catastrophe in a positive way.