Greatest Pet Rescue Reunion in NOLA 5-Years Post Hurricane Katrina Hosted by Award-Winning Filmmaker

Aug. 24, 2010 - PRLog -- New Orleans – In 2005, Tom McPhee traveled to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina to help provide relief to those affected. While in New Orleans he discovered the world of animal rescue and the community that devotes a lifetime to these compassionate efforts.  Now five years later, Tom McPhee is a part of the team behind the K5 Hurricane Katrina Animal Rescuer's Reunion to be held August 27 - 29th in New Orleans.  This will be one of the largest reunions to occur for the animal rescuers post Katrina.   The animal rescuers will be traveling from all across North America.  The weekend is about bonding and having fun, it’s also about continuing education and resolving issues in a comfortable atmosphere.  Many attendees plan to stay in the region past this event and volunteer again with Animal Rescue New Orleans (ARNO), as well as the ALL EYES ON THE GULF Expedition.

The K5 animal rescuer reunion will include a “Meet & Greet” on Friday evening at the historic Maison St. Charles Hotel, a screening of Tom McPhee's award-winning documentary “An American Opera: The Greatest Pet Rescue Ever!” on Saturday, round table discussions about how Hurricane Katrina has changed their lives and the world of animal rescue, a tour of NOLA animal rescue sites, and a rescuers celebration at the Creole Gardens Hotel with performer Arthur Yoria which will be shared through the website via Live Video Feed

Throughout the entire weekend, Tom McPhee will be filming interviews with rescuers who want to share their stories.

Everything you need to know about the event is located on this website: http://www.petercrowe.com/K5Reunion/index.html

About An American Opera - In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, America suffered the worst domestic animal crisis in its history. Tens of thousands of house pets were left to perish in neighborhoods all across the gulf. An American Opera (http://www.anamericanopera.com) is an unflinching, operatic vision the human-animal interactions that occurred when the people of New Orleans were forced to evacuate without their beloved pets. An American Opera follows the story of the Pets, Vets, Owners, Officials, Rescuers and Adopters of animals as they all work through the chaos to do what is right only to discover not everyone is working toward the same goal. The film is set against a soundtrack of mostly independent alternative rock.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iK6BioQaXQ



About Tom McPhee - Tom McPhee is the Executive Director and Founder of the World Animal Awareness Society - WA2S.org.  He is an award winning producer and director of film, TV, multi-language interactive media, as well as a specialty film/media distributor.   He is the owner of two media companies, Cave Studio and Man Smiling Moving Pictures.   Tom also served as producer and host/character in 2009 for two animal centric TV shows affiliated with The Pet Network of Canada.  Tom traveled to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina to help provide relief to those affected.  While in New Orleans Tom discovered an entire world he had no idea existed--a world most people are not aware of---the world of animal rescue.  This discovery led to him producing and directing the award-winning documentary An American Opera and set Tom on a quest to witness the many ways humans and animals co-exist.  Through the World Animal Awareness Society, Tom scours the nation for stories to film about this relationship.   Tom has experience working in post-disaster environments and responds well with impromptu decision making required in these situations.  He participates in short course Q&A sessions that involve documenting disasters.   Tom recently participated in the relief efforts that occurred shortly after the earthquake in Haiti and is now leading the ALL EYES ON THE GULF Expedition chronicling the effects on Life in the Gulf after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

About World Animal Awareness Society - WA2S.org - The mission of the World Animal Awareness Society is to focus a lens on a wide range of human-animal interactions in order to have a filmed record of our behavior in expectation that it will create a window to observe human evolution. The moving image is arguably the rawest, most powerful educational tool we have to witness our behavioral patterns, attitudes and interactions and aid us in our continued growth. Visit the World Animal Awareness Society website and click donate to support our efforts in the Gulf http://www.WA2S.org

If you are a member of the media and would like to attend this event or schedule an interview, please contact Tom or Michelle:
Tom McPhee, 646-546-5640, tommcphee@wa2s.org
Michelle Way, 310-734-6886, michelle.way@wa2s.org

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World Animal Awareness Society (WA2S.Org), a non-profit, incorporated in the state of Michigan for the purpose of filming contemporary human-animal interactions at the point of intersection, to be shared with the world.