Snowball1?

Hi,

I have been following this story for a while and I remember when I first saw the little white dog on TV, I kept thinking about the lady who owned the dog. I remember seeing a news cast right after the hurricane when the news was talking to the people on the interstate and they showed an elderly lady with this dog in her lap. I want to say she was in a wheel chair but I can't remember. I feel that the dog you thought belonged to the boy is actually the dog who belongs to this elderly lady. My family and I are so distraught over what has happened. I feel that because we all thought the dogs name was snowball that is why we have not found him. Maybe if the search is focused more on the little white dog from the interstate we might find some answers. Because the women was elderly she may not have access to a computer to see the picture of her dog and the reward money. Maybe if someone can get a reporter to put the story on the news across the nation we might find the lady and the dog. Another idea is if you could get to the tapes of all the coverage you might be able to see the lady with her dog and you could go from there. Just some ideas that I had. All the animals are in my thoughts and prayers. Please keep me informed.

Thanks, Mickey

September 16, 2005 : 3:20 PM ET
posted by: Tinakeeling

After doing extensive research and listening to all of the broadcasts again, and then reading all of the information on Snowball over and over, I have come to 2 different conclusions:

This is the dog of an elderly woman that was loaded on a bus on the bridge. She said "there goes a companion of 9 years".

This dog too must be found and so must the elderly woman (owner) of this "Americas Snowball".

2. The Snowball that was taken from the small boy at the Superdome was said to have been a "puppy", not an older dog. There is no footage of that puppy, but he too must be found.

The only way to reunite either of these dogs with their owners, is to
find the owners first, then get descriptions of the dogs. Show the footage of the bus to the elderly woman after she is found, and ask her if that is her dog, and if so, what it the breed, age, sex, and
name of her dog.

Do the same after locating the boy that had Snowball taken from him.

I was on vacation at the time of the hurricane and was watching much of the coverage. I have no cable so I watched local fox wsvn which switched to cnn for the news. on one of the stories they were talking to a white woman with her son and a small white dog he was carrying around in a plastic storage box.

At that time I wondered what would become of the dog .a day or so later I read in the sun-sentinel about the snowball story and wondered if that was the boy and dog I saw on the TV story.

If you need to see this story I think it was on cnn/fox and you really see the boy and dog up close. If necessary maybe I can do more research. I wanted to come forward with this story sooner but I have no knowledge of e-mails as this is my first one and I am using my e mail address at work.

I too have wondered about the veracity of the story. It is not that difficult for a writer to make up details so that there are details like the boy threw up do not prove anything. And this writer may not be an AP staff writer but a stringer. News organizations have cut the number of reporters so much that there are almost NO experienced reporters left to actually report. However I have seen it reported that there was more than one reporter on this story. However, the others may be her editors or rewrite people who took the “facts” she presented and then wrote them up. She wouldn’t be the first stringer “spicing” a story or making a “composite.” Or it may be vice versa. Mary Foster may be the writer taking info from others that was less than accurate and now stuck with having to admit she didn’t substantiate it before she ran it. Ala Dan Rather. I’d like to know what the sequence was for USA Today to write the story that the dog was found. God knows standards aren’t what they were when I went to J school but !!!

I also have seen where another website contends the dog was found and reunited with the family but the family didn’t want a media circus so it was done quietly and not reported. I’m sorry but media circus or not- I’d need that 10 grand reward not to mention the likelihood of getting better housing, jobs etc. that would come form the media circus. There isn’t a decent reporter out there that couldn’t talk that family into a public reunion. And not one who wouldn’t given the chance. Witness James the seeing eye dogs reunion on camera. The most interesting email was the person who said they saw the boy and white dog on the local news that picked up a CNN feed about a white family with small boy and dog. . Problem is tape is often reused within a very short time so it may have been erased already. But if that person can contact that local station they might have a lead about the boy. Because it was a CNN feed doesn’t mean it was a CNN reporter. CNN also uses stringers often amateurs trying to break in to the business. If that person could contact that station and explain the situation they might be able to get another step. The person who filmed that tape handed a story like this -I would hope to God- would have the reporting instincts to take off with it. It would be a great coup-and that’s how normal reporters think… Don’t call CNN –call that station and see if they can find that feed and explain why you need it. Dangle this story like bait and there’s gotta be a real news hound (pun intended) SOMEWHERE! Luck! Pamela Keeley, fierygoldenraven@cox.net

I am sorry to say... I think the whole story was an elaborate hoax, to get a story. Then when America took this little dog and the boy to heart, the reporters didn't want to talk to anyone.
I hate to say it, but we have no proof such a boy ever existed. And I, like all other dog lovers, cried myself to sleep at night. One good thing about it, was that this story brought attention to the horrible plight of the many innocent animals suffering, and may have saved lives.
But I would personally like to get MY hands on this reporter for perpetuating such a hoax. I think the dog in the picture probably belonged to the elderly lady, and hopefully she can be re-united with her beloved pet if he is indeed one of the dogs pictured. If there is such a little boy, I certainly hope he can be reunited with his pet also. And I want to say God Bless, to all who cared and the heroes who saved countless lives both human and animal.
I still am having nightmares, having lived through a terrible hurricane, Audrey, which claimed many lives.
I have 6 dogs and 1 cat of my own, but my heart and home are open to help out with fostering. I have already applied, but this is one small thing I can do to help these helpless creatures.
Christine

From: Georgia Dawes 789@yahoo.com>
Date: Sat Sep 17, 2005 3:36pm
Subject: Search for Snowball ,what questions would YOU like answers to? georgia_d789

I believe Snowball was thrown back into the Superdome.
When people evacuated, all except a few who managed
to sneak animals into luggage were forced to leave
pets behind. Officials acknowledge that at least 50
dogs remained alone running around the Superdome after
all people were evacuated. (and 50 is a very small
number, considering that 15,000 + people were brought
there!).
I believe Snowball died in the Superdome, either by
starvation/dehydration or by attack from other hungry,
traumatized animals. There were many dead animals in
there when the came to finally retrieve bodies.
Officials do not want to acknowledge any of this.

Subject: Picture of "Snowball" at Bus

Depending on what the real story is, this poor little white dog
desperately wanted to be with her family. Is the dog at the bus the same dog as the dog in the Coast Guard officer's arms (DOD picture)? Can that dog at least be reunited? Amazing, how the press does not want to deal with any of us.
In the past, when I did not get satisfaction, I went directly to the President or CEO. Sometimes you with get a secretary or Assistant, but it is their job to make sure you are satisfied. The pressure from the
top down, can sometimes get action that going direct to the local level does not. (The local level probably will not be any nicer, but at least you get answers)
Anne Dallas

From: "Beth C. Thompson"
Date: Sat Sep 17, 2005 3:17pm
Subject: Snowball -- AP Louisiana News Bureau could care less!
Aren't we learning so much about the media, and what they consider to be "important"? It's interesting to me that they always accuse the American public of having an attention span of six seconds; it seems to me the American public is keeping their eyes on the ball -- the media has the short attention span.
B. Thompson

I think that one thing we should find out from the AP is if, in fact, there was a little boy who had a dog named Snowball or if they just made up this story and it got associated with the video of the little dog we all know as snowball. Where did this original story come from? Surely if a reporter saw a little dog taken from a child and saw the reaction of the little boy, they personally would have picked the dog up themselves and made sure that it got back to the owner. I know that members of this group would.

We need to the size of the dog and what kind it was.
We need to know what the little boy looked like and who he was traveling with, like his parents, etc.

Where did this happen? By the superdome?

When did it happen?

Where was the bus that the child was on going?

There are just so many things that we need to know.
I really appreciate everyone who is trying to solve this mystery. I know that it keeps me awake at night trying to think about how we can get Snowball back to his owner and find the little boy's Snowball as well.

Trudy

Here's my theory.

I believe Mary Foster made up the entire story about a little boy and his dog. She took a picture of a little white dog and fabricated a story around it, looking for her 15 minutes of fame. I don't believe she ever expected the response from people like you. Now, she's got herself in a bit of trouble, because she knows a) there's an outpouring of concern and support for this 'boy and his dog', b) a lot of people are looking for both of them, c) there's a lot of money involved, and d) she's about to outed as a fraud, along with her editor.

However, as the saying goes, every cloud has a silver lining. You've been able to muster an incredible army of people to save the animals. You've collected supplies, organized teams of rescuers, and reunited people with their beloved pets. As I said before, angels DO walk this earth, and you've been in the lead.

Now, what to do ... if you could send me a timeline of events, I will make sure every news agency in the world knows what's happened. Maybe they can get to the bottom of this story. I'd love to see a copy of Mary Foster's superior's 'full' accounting of this story, also. Also, if you send me Mary Foster's email address and phone number, I'll provide that to everyone I contact. I don't have money, and I'm disabled, but what I do have is a tenacious spirit, an internet connection, and a lot of time.
I'm completely pissed about this probable fraud and deception. As if the truth weren't tragic enough ...
Thank you for everything you've done and may God bless you and your army.

Maggie

Subject: Re: Search for Snowball ,

Good afternoon,
Are we saying the AP made up the story and put these pictures with it???? Should we be looking for a different dog, than trying to match up to the one the policeman are holding. I thought the DOD photo was almost identical to the original one we are all looking at, and we were on the road to success.
I am a rescue person in Dallas, and at the moment have 4 stray dogs-I did have 6 stray dogs. I keep looking through the internet news and the TV News. I emailed Fox News (THe Fox Report) about the small white dog on their news, and to date have had no reply. If and when I do, I will post it.
Anne Gordon
Dallas,TX

From: Olivia <
Date: Sat Sep 17, 2005 2:57pm
Subject: Snowball -- AP Louisiana News Bureau could care less!

Hi all,
I just called the AP LA News Bureau to politely request that they follow up on their original story regarding Snowball, to write more about the original incident and try to determine where she might be now. I was rudely interrupted by the woman they put me through (Catherine Porter?) to who said, "That's impossible!" I said, "Why? It's a big story and your readers would like to know what happened." She snapped at me, "We are not going chasing after some dog!" I replied, I'm not asking you to become a dog-chaser; I'm asking you to follow up on a tremendously important story that your bureau originated. I can't understand why you wouldn't at least consider it." To which she very angrily replied, "We're busy!"

I'm not sure what other emergent causes her bureau is involved in at the moment, other than perhaps trying to win a Pulitzer for their reporting, because they're sure not out there rescuing lives (human, animal or otherwise) but I found the exchange very distressful. I called back and asked for an address to write to so that I could file a complaint. The person gave me this address in short order and hung up on me as soon as he huffed it out. Please write and voice your concern on how this whole situation has been handled:
Associated Press
attn: Board of Directors
450 West 33rd St. NY NY 10001
Regarding: Mary Foster (original reporter) and the AP's Louisiana News Bureau

Be sure to Cc the AP Louisiana New Orleans Bureau too:
AP Louisian Bureau New Orleans
1515 Poydras St., Suite 2500
New Orleans LA 70112-3723
(504) 523-3931
586-0531 Fax
I'm so angry at their seeming indifference and callousness about this dog and other animals the press has used to further their own stories without caring about how their reported-on "subjects" fare after being used!!!

Date: Sat Sep 17, 2005 4:18 pm
Subject: Re: questions about Snowball

Personally, I've suspected from the beginning that the reporter took some "liberties" and fabricated the Snowball story to get ratings. If there were a child this distraught about his pet, someone would have heard about it. The people being sheltered have not been totally shut off from news accounts as some would believe. The Houston Chronicle for one, has an ongoing blog that mentions some of the ways messages have been communicated to residents at the Astrodome. It's likely that other shelters also have means of sharing information. We've been told so many stories about the outcome of Snowball and his boy-none of which held up-that it increases the likelihood of this being a just a great human interest story that "could have" happened, but didn't. People often become annoyed and rude when caught in deception.

Date: Sat Sep 17, 2005 4:17 pm
Subject: Re: [Katrina-Pet-Rescue-info] Snowball -- AP Louisiana News Bureau could care... pinkcarla3000

I wonder if this Mary Foster decided to take a picture from here a comment from there and make the rest up. That would explain why no one wants to talk about it or dig for details, sounds like they are trying to cover their butts for some reason.

From: "Beth C. Thompson"
Date: Sat Sep 17, 2005 3:17pm
Subject: RE: [Katrina-Pet-Rescue-info] Snowball -- AP Louisiana News Bureau could care less! machbragal Aren't we learning so much about the media, and what they consider to be "important"? It's interesting to me that they always accuse the American public of having an attention span of six seconds; it seems to me the American public is keeping their eyes on the ball -- the media has the short attention span.

B. Thompson

From: "Lesley Hobbs"
To: justsaveonemore@yahoo.com
Subject: Re: Is this Snowball?
Date: Thu, 15 Sep 2005 17:33:42 -0400

Jean,
I emailed the journalist who wrote the star-telegram.com story (Chris Vaughn) back on Sept 13 and asked him if the female stray Maltese puppy that Romello Freeman took with him from the Superdome on Sept 2 might be Snowball. He replied to me that day and said he planned to visit the evacuee shelter later that afternoon to ask Romello and his family about the dog.

Mr. Vaughn said he had looked at the CBS images of "Snowball" and compared them to Romello's dog Sunje. In his email, Mr. Vaughn said it is "a bit doubtful that Sunje is Snowball. Sunje is tiny, so tiny she looks like a puppy. She stands about 7-8 inches high. Snowball (do we know a gender?) looks a little bigger judging from the cop's hands in the picture."

I have not heard back from the journalist since then.

BUT, this doesn't mean that Sunje isn't Snowball. Mr. Vaughn was comparing Sunje to the CBS footage of a small white dog being carried away by a policeman and then jumping on the bus. I DO NOT THINK THE CBS DOG IS SNOWBALL.

Here's why....As the images of the stranded white dog are shown
in the footage, CBS anchor John Roberts recounts the joy people felt about being rescued. "But," he says, "there was also sadness and separation. No dogs on the bus, and this pet of 9 years suddenly found itself orphaned."

Could this "pet of 9 years," really be Snowball?

The AP article by Adam Nossiter that originally broke the Snowball Story refers to Snowball as a "puppy."

A woman I've been in contact with, Becky (Beckron@aol.com )
said her mother saw this footage live, and afterwards, an elderly woman (presumably the white dog's owner) was filmed saying "There goes 9 years of companionship".

I think the CBS footage is of another white dog (not Snowball) that is owned by this elderly woman.
I noticed on your katrinafoundpets.com website that you think that the CBS footage was shot on the I-10 causeway near the Convention Center. This would be another reason to doubt the footage -- wasn't Snowball abandoned outside the
Superdome, and not the Convention Center?

I do think that the Romello Freeman story is worth pursuing further .

A female Maltese puppy found outside the Superdome on Sept 2 (a day after Snowball was abandoned) seems like a good contender for Snowball to me....

Lesley Hobbs.

Sunday 9/18

Hi...I have been horrified about the fate of Snowball since it was first aired on the news. It really haunts me...I could picture my sons at that age being absolutely hysterical if their pup had gotten the boot like that. I just can't imagine anyone being forced to make such an awful decision, at such an awful time. The animals don't understand hurricanes or rules about who can or cannot ride the bus...they have lived with these people and gave them unconditional love, and then suddenly they find themselves abandoned in the middle of hell?

I have been following this story closely, and then, was even more horrified to hear the story about the older woman and her little poodle, that may be the "Snowball" in the pictures (Some nights I have had trouble sleeping, haunted by the picture of the dog trying to get on the bus, and the picture of the little poodle wondering the streets the next day. It really breaks my heart) Whichever dogs these are and whatever news story these reporters may or may not have fabricated really doesn't matter..they owe it to the public to come forth with the truth!! We don't want glib stories of "oh, they have been reunited" but when they are pressed for details, they give the run around. I don't care that they "don't have time" to answer a few questions...that they are "too busy"? Too busy doing what?...primping for the camera!? Too busy dragging their feet? It certainly can't be that they are out rescuing dogs...if they were, then they wouldn't have dropped the ball on these pooches, and God only knows how many others misfortunate animals they have exploited in the almighty search for ratings. We want to know the outcomes of these dogs...they opened "Pandora's box" by reporting about Snowball, so now they must do some explaining. These dogs' lives depend on them and they have wasted more than enough time hem hawing around. We want these dogs found, preferably alive, and they are wasting valuable time!

Val

Elderly Owner separated from Poodle
Tuesday, September 6, 2005
By: Rhonda McClendon

Bertha Huff tried to get on a bus picking people up on a bridge in New Orleans and was refused entry on the bus with her poodle. She wants her poodle back.

Bertha Huff, 73 years old, was forced to give up her poodle when she tried to enter a bus at Causeway & Veteran in New Orleans on Saturday, September 3rd.

She was told she could not bring the dog on the bus. An Animal Control Officer took the dog from her and said it would be sent to a shelter. The toy poodle, named Tia, is an 8 year old female with a purple collar and a blue rabies tag. Bertha wants to locate her treasured pet so they can be reunited. Anyone
having any information on the location of this poodle can contact the City of Lufkin, TX Animal Control at 936-633-0218 or email
rmclendon@...
I called and was told this is a BLACK poodle is in California and is being flow to Bertha to be re-united.