It is the nature of the modern news cycle that before we're even done understanding the implications of an event - scandalous, tragic or otherwise - our attentions are drawn to the next one. By the time this newspaper reaches you the furor of Hurricane Katrina and her chaotic aftermath will be but a memory, our notice drawn now to an earthquake in Pakistan, a supreme court nomination.

But for Hilleary Bogley and the rest of the staff and volunteers of the Middleburg Humane Foundation that particular disaster has had enduring personal and professional outcomes, mostly in the form of a host of new "clients" at their Marshall facility.

Bogley and staffers have now taken two trips to the affected area. The first trip left September 9, shortly after the August 29 hurricane and ended in Waveland, Mississippi. That trip included a caravan of three vehicles and trailers packed with literally tons of donated supplies. In Waveland they banded together with a group of concerned citizens and started a makeshift shelter to care for hundreds of animals in need. Bogley and crew came back with 37 animals - dogs and cats.

The MHF staff quickly made accommodations to basically double their capacity. On Sunday, September 25 they held an open house during which visitors could meet the new denizens of the MHF and find out about adoption procedures. All the Katrina animals have to remain at MHF during a 30-day quarantine and during that time period efforts are made to reunite the pets with their owners.

The exhausting nature of this marathon trip might have spelled the end of a person's resolve to help further. But Bogley and crew were only determined to do more. They were home for a week, collected more supplies, and headed south again, this time with Dr. Janet McKim and two vet techs from the Middleburg Animal Hospital. They arrived in New Orleans on October 1, a month after the hurricane. There they obtained Homeland Security clearances from an animal rescue group based in California. With that group, Bogley, Dr. McKim and the vet techs put together a makeshift emergency MASH vet unit based in an elementary school in the Orleans Parish and got to work caring for the hundreds of animals on hand.

That following Monday Bogley and fellow MFHer David Braun, were drafted into the next part of their epic struggle to help the animals of the Gulf region – search and rescue.

Keeping in mind that any animals they found would have gone over 30 days without food and water, Bogley and Braun prepared themselves for the worst. And still, they were shocked by what they saw.

The search and rescue work consisted of going door to door, breaking into homes, and noting for future rescue crews what was found and done at each house – dead pets left behind, barely living ones removed (including information regarding where they were taken too), and food and water stations set up for wandering, now feral animals. All this was communicated via the low-tech method of spray paint on house walls. Since the entire region was still without power this was the best means available.

The living animals found were barely that - emaciated, dehydrated and severely traumatized by the storm and the long, bleak, lonely aftermath. The dogs and cats were carefully removed from shattered houses and taken to the growing shelter at the elementary school. Vet techs and volunteers did what was possible to revive and care for the recovered animals, while Bogley, Braun and about a hundred or so other animal rescue volunteers combed the streets for survivors, and left food and water behind.

Two days into their search and rescue work Bogley and Braun were recruited to a "grid search" effort where blocks of the city were searched in a methodical way. That day 100 homes were entered. Most homes were locked, many with bars on windows, and sledgehammers were sometimes needed to get inside.

These Herculean efforts were rewarded on that one day with the recovery of five live dogs, one cat, one rabbit and some fish. All other animals found that day were dead, most having died of starvation and a handful clearly having drowned in the floodwaters.

According to Bogley the animals that had survived were the result of owners who had made some attempt to provide for them before leaving. Bathtubs were filled with water, cans or bags of dog food were left open. On the other hand, those who perished often did so in the most abysmal circumstances. Many were found tied to beds or doorknobs with their leashes.

Bogley and Braun returned to Virginia this time with 10 dogs, six cats, one hamster, one rooster and three fish. All are recovering, and once finished with quarantine and all efforts to reunite them with their owners have been made, they will be available for adoption.

The MHF team have most likely done all they can in terms of Gulf region rescue work as now they have their work cut out for them back at home. Like all local non-profits the Middleburg Humane Foundation is feeling the pinch of dropped donations. Typically when "epic" disasters come along (like 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina) citizens feel compelled, naturally, to do what they can. This often means sending a monetary donation. Unfortunately for small local non-profits this often comes out of a set amount of annual charitable contributions – money that might normally be sent to a local group.

While the MHF crew now feel compelled to stay in Virginia and care for the animals under their charge they note that the need in the Gulf states is still very real – and will be for some time. Bogley encourages all willing and able bodies to assist in any way possible. Volunteers are desperately needed, and as far as the animals of the region are concerned that need is real and immediate. According to Bogley, "People need to remember, New Orleans and the Gulf Region in general, are going to need help for months to come. But animal rescue groups need help now. Time is critical."

In the meantime the MHF is moving forward in their care and plans for the rescued animals currently under their care. Another Open House will be held on Sunday, October 23 from 1-4 PM at their Marshall facility. For more information please call (540) 364-3272.