- Katie is adopted -

Katie and her new "big brother", Spike

In a message dated 9/13/01 11:32:08 PM Eastern Daylight Time, <Katie's adopter> writes:

Sandee,

I ran for my life Tuesday morning and praise God, I made it out of Tower 1 alive. All I wanted to do after that was to get home to John and to Katie. While I was waiting to get on any train out of the city I kept thinking that all I wanted was to be safe again. I wanted to be in the woods by a lake walking with Katie.

Today John and I took Katie to Cathedral Pines and down to the water by Port Jefferson Harbor. She has been constantly by my side and I cannot tell you how much comfort she's given me.

There is a man I always see at the Trade Center with his Guide Dog, a yellow Lab named Rolly or Rommy, not sure. All I could think of after I got out was hoping that he and his dog got out. I kept obsessing about it.

Monday I mailed a check to LILRR as a small donation. I hope the mail got picked up before the towers were obliterated.

I had a roll of film that I took with me to work on Tuesday to get developed. On it were pictures of Katie being cute. When the plane hit our tower I ran with the clothes on my back. My purse, my backpack, the roll of film, was left behind. Today we took more pictures of Katie in the woods and in the water. As soon as we get them developed, I'll send them to you.

Please know that this Lab is a lifesaver for me right now. All I do is hang onto her or John. She now sleeps full time in our room, and she does snore louder than John. I do not care, however, she can snore as loud as she wants. I love her.
KC >>

((p.s. the blind man & his Lab "Rolley" did get out to safety))

Spike & Katie & Mom

Update: February 18, 2002   … I had just adopted Katie from the Long Island Lab Rescue Society a week before the World Trade Center tragedy. I was at work on the 36th floor of Tower 1 that morning when the first plane hit. I was one of the lucky ones that day who made it out and got to return home to my family and pets. I kept thinking about my beautiful "labbie" and how all I wanted to do was go for a walk with her in the woods where we would be safe. The next day my husband and I along with our pug, Spike, did go for a walk in the woods. Since we live on Long Island and are never too far from water, we were also able to take the Katie and Spike to a nearby harbor that same day and walk along the water. I had to feel close to nature that day and reaffirm what's beautiful in the world after experiencing so much horror the previous day. Ten days after the 11th I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer and on Tuesday, October 2nd, three weeks after running for my life from the Trade Center I was once again fighting a different life battle. I underwent almost nine hours of surgery involving a radical mastectomy with reconstructive surgery. On the day of the surgery the surgeon also took 11 lymph nodes after determining the cancer had definitely spread beyond the breast.  Further testing after the surgery determined the cancer had spread to my liver.  In the months after the World Trade Center and the diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer, I have come to treasure my life with my husband, pets, and friends. I telecommute from home now and Katie is never far away from my side. I know this dog had to be "dumped." I know this dog could have never run away from home because she loves being with her family. Katie has been a constant source of love and companionship for me. In the mornings when I wake up, she's by my bedside nuzzling me with her nose informing me it's a brand new day and she needs cookies. When I put my coat on she runs for her leash and presents it to me in full body wiggle.  Katie and Spike are a constant source of entertainment and unconditional love and fun. It's because of the love that I have from my husband, Katie and Spike along with our five cats I know I am going to make it. I am doing really well in terms of responding to my treatment for the cancer. The horrific images from the 11th still haunt me but I grab onto my labbie and sometimes get down on the floor with her and just hug her until the sadness passes.  Thanks for letting me share my Katie story with you.  ---  Kathy C. 

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