Click Here

Hurricane Katrina Family Reunites with Dog in Fayetteville

Hurricane Katrina Family Reunites with Lost Dog

It’s been three years since Derionne Brooks and her mother Dionne, saw their yellow lab mix, Gracie. Then, the dog was just a puppy and the family was in the middle of Hurricane Katrina’s wrath.

The family, who now lives in Kentucky, was reunited with Gracie on Saturday in Fayetteville.

“We lost everything and we finally get something back. And it’s something that can’t really be replaced,” she said.

In 2005, the family was evacuated from the roof of their New Orleans home – forced to leave their animals behind.

“After the storm, we got on the internet and we looked around. We went back to the house and we didn’t find her and it was sort of like she disappeared,” Brooks said.

Hurricane Katrina was the beginning of Gracie’s journey. After being brought to a Fayetteville shelter, she ended up being adopted by a soldier. After the soldier died in Iraq, she was returned to the shelter.

A volunteer group who reunites Hurricane Katrina victims with their dogs, found Gracie in the database. They tracked down Brooks.

“I thought it was a miracle, because I never expected it,” Brooks said.

Though Gracie has been called Parish the past few years, Brooks said she is going to hyphenate her name to be Gracie-Parish



0 Comments


Golo

Welcome to GOLO, where WRAL.com visitors can comment on stories and create profile pages, blogs and photo galleries.

You must be a registered WRAL.com user to use these tools. Click here to register or log in.

View Comments View Comments

Photo Spotlight
0
1
2
3
4
5
[+] more photos | submit your photos
Report It
Send us your news photos, videos, tips and story ideas.
Submit Videos Submit Photos Submit Reports
  1. 2009christmasparade
    Bands, marchers in holiday parade

    Choose your group to watch their performance in the 2009 WRAL-TV Raleigh Christmas Parade.

  2. 2009christmasparade26
    Web only: Complete 2009 WRAL-TV Raleigh Christmas Parade

    Watch the parade in its entirety from the comfort of your computer any time.

  3. taxes
    Search for missing IRS refunds

    The Internal Revenue Service released the names this week of more than 100,000 taxpayers who have not received their 2009 income tax refund.

  4. County Unemployment Rates
    North Carolina unemployment rates

    View an interactive map with county unemployment numbers.

  5. Drought Map
    A year of N.C. Drought Maps

    View a time lapse animation of drought conditions during the last year.

Click Here