Four-legged survivor of Katrina going home after two-year absence

DENVER - When Sandra Henry fled her New Orleans home after Hurricane Katrina, she asked God for help in making a wrenching decision.

Henry, 50, prayed before leaving her dog, Tasha, while she, her daughter and six others fled from her home on a makeshift raft.

The 3-year-old black Labrador retriever was scheduled to fly to New Orleans this week to be reunited with Henry - nearly two years after living with a foster family in Denver.

"My baby's coming home," said Henry. "I knew in my heart that my baby was alive; I just didn't know where. When I got a call about Tasha, I said, 'Thank you, Jesus,' and fell on my knees."

Tasha's journey started when Lorraine May drove to New Orleans shortly after the hurricane to pick up animals that were left behind. She heads the Misha May Foundation in Lakewood, an animal rescue group.

A New Orleans shelter had initially rescued Tasha and other animals. It implanted a microchip in the Lab so the dog's whereabouts could be tracked.

May said she brought back 80 animals, including Tasha, in October 2005. She asked people to open their homes for these animals, knowing that one day their original owners may try to find them.

Sunni Rodgers, 27, of Denver, took in Tasha and named her Rita.

"We were always told about the possibility that they would find the owner. After seven or eight months of fostering her, we thought, 'It's been a long time. Let's just adopt her.' And now here we are."

An agency that reunites Katrina pets with their owners traced Tasha to Rodgers, who agreed to give up the dog.

But it hasn't been easy.

"I've gone through the emotions of angry, sad, angry. Right now we are losing a member of the family. That's very difficult," she said.

Henry said she's still haunted by her decision to leave her dog. But she felt she had no choice.

Henry said she was looking after two elderly women as the flood waters rose.

"I didn't know how to swim. My daughter wanted to carry me on her back," she said.

Henry gathered all the dog food and fresh water in the house and brought it to the living room for Tasha.

"She climbed on the sofa and didn't move. She looked at me with those eyes, as if she knew I had to leave her there. And I told my baby, 'I'm sorry I'm going to have to leave you.' I felt as if I were leaving my daughter. She didn't follow me to the door. I cried all the way."

Henry thought she'd be able to return home in a day or two.

But she and her daughter were evacuated to Houston, where they remained for some time.

It's unclear why it took nearly two years to bring about the reunion. Henry is grateful that so many people pitched in to keep Tasha safe.

"I know it's hard for her to let her go," Henry said of Rodgers. "I love her for allowing her to come home to me."