In the early days of September 2005, thousands of people felt compelled to assist the victims of Hurricane Katrina in some way, and many of us soon traveled to the devastated Gulf Coast. And for the majority of us who did, the close encounters we had with her victims changed us forever.

This book of poems depicts some of my thoughts and emotions during my pet rescue efforts in the Gulf, and it contains some of the stories of the many remarkable souls I encountered on my many Katrina journeys, both human and animal.

These are the stories of the victims and of their rescuers whose eyes I will remember for the rest of my natural days.

Ed Kostro is an animal lover, writer, and published author whose credits include Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover's Soul and Cats Do It Better than People.

His nonfiction memoir, Curious Creatures-Wondrous Waifs, My Life with Animals, was awarded a Certificate of Excellence in the 2004 Cat Writers' Association Communication Contest.