Lucy Pribbenow drove a yellow school bus that doubles as her mobile home to New Orleans, intent on saving lives after Hurricane Katrina ravaged the city.
Pribbenow rescued pets from the flooded city streets and fought off gang members attempting to steal dogs for illegal fighting rings, said Nanette Martin , a Colorado Springs photographer who chronicled Pribbenow’s efforts after the storm. Since Katrina, Pribbenow has saved hundreds of animals held at the city’s shelters from euthanasia by finding and transporting them to new homes across the country in her bus, Martin said.
Martin will host an exhibition of her images to raise funds for Pribbenow Friday at the Denver Police Protective Association Event Center from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Pribbenow will discuss euthanasia and animal adoption at the show and will be joined by eight puppies she rescued from the New Orleans animal shelter that are available for adoption.
“Unless you were there, you can’t understand the sacrifice of these rescue workers,” Martin said. “I made it a month and a half in New Orleans before I had to leave. Lucy has been there for two years.”
New Orleans’ shelters are plagued by lack of funding, space shortage and a growing segment of pet owners giving up their animals because they can’t afford to care for them while trying to rebuild their lives post-Katrina, Pribbenow said.
“People mistakenly think they can take the family dog to the shelter, and it will get a good home, but there just isn’t the space,” she said. ” Most dogs don’t even see a kennel. They go straight to the euthanasia table.”
The shelter Pribbenow works with, Hammond Shelter, is the largest in New Orleans and puts down 50 to 80 animals a day, which is why she bought her school bus, she said.
Pribbenow said she pays the upfront medical adoption costs such as spaying and neuturing fees to get the animals ready for adoption, which is covered in her $125 adoption fee, but relies on donations for her travel costs.
In addition to the fund-raising show, Martin said she donates 25 percent of the money she makes from her project “People and their Pets” to Pribbenow. Martin said she offers free pet portraits for a $20 donation.
“There isn’t a line Lucy won’t cross to help an animal,” Martin said. “I can’t do what she does, so it’s my job to tell the world what she does.”
Event information:
Denver Police Protective Association Event Center – Aspen Room
2105 Decatur St.
For more information call 303-575-1026
Puppies available for adoption:
Ezmarelda – Rat Terrier-Italian Greyhound (younger than 2 years)
Sassy – Rat Terrier-Fox Terrier (about 1.5 years)
Lucky – Lab mix (6 to 8 months)
Little Guy – Deerhead Chihuahua (younger than 2 yrs)
Ashton – Spitz Mix (younger than 2 years)
Brownie – Rednose Pitbull (younger than 2 years)
Dillon – Feist (8 months)
Yoda – Terrier Mix (6 months)
Staff writer Cassie Hewlings can be reached at 303-954-1638 or at chewlings@denverpost.com.
