The Snowball Effect

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, thousands of animals were lost or abandoned. The story of a distraught boy whose pet dog, Snowball, was confiscated by a police officer as he boarded a bus out of New Orleans, touched the hearts of those who saw it. While the boy cried out repeatedly for the dog and became so distressed that he was sick, Snowball lunged to get at the bus. So moved were those who saw television footage of this scene that thousands of dollars were raised in reward money to find Snowball and reunite him with his owner. Although, sadly, this has yet to happen, Snowball's unknown fate highlighted the plight o New Orleans' family pets. On many of the buses leaving afterward, pets went, too.

excerpt from "Dogs Miscellany" by j.a. wines

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'Idol' Carrie Underwood Does Gulf Benefit Concert For Katrina Relief

"American Idol" winner Carrie Underwood, and the other eight Idol finalists closed their summer concert tour with a benefit for Hurricane Katrina relief.

The American Red Cross will benefit from Sunday's sold-out crowd of 6,000 that paid $35 to $45 for a seat at the War Memorial at Oncenter, as the Idols wound up a tour of 43 cities in 62 days.

"It's a very happy thing that we're doing to help people," Underwood said. "When (executive producer) Simon Fuller suggested the idea of putting on a special charity concert to help those in need, I and all the Idols on tour were happy to help."

Underwood, of Checotah, Okla., said she would donate the revenues from her merchandise sales at the benefit concert to the Humane Society of the United States to help pets stranded in the hurricane region.

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