Thousands of families and their pets wrenched apart by Hurricane Katrina are still separated, so the national animal welfare group, Best Friends Animal Society, is hosting a three-day event to create as many reunions as possible.

‘Locate Your Lost Katrina Pet’ will be held Friday, Dec. 16th, through Sunday, Dec. 18th, at the Garden District Hotel in New Orleans.

"Several thousand families are still searching for the pets they lost in the hurricane. And it has been very difficult for them to navigate all of the available resources," said Francis Battista, Director of the Best Friends Hurricane Relief Center.

"This event will allow people to get help and do comprehensive searches in one place for their pets. We will set up banks of computers and invite families to work with reunion specialists to search for their pets -- on a first-come, first-served basis," Battista said.

All rescue groups that have developed databases and/or are fostering the lost pets are invited to participate in this weekend of compassion.

Organizations that will be involved include Best Friends Animal Society, Louisiana SPCA, the Humane Society of Louisiana, St. Bernard Parish Animal Control, Grassroots Emergency Animal Rescue, Pasado's Safe Haven, Petfinder.com, Stealth Volunteers, and No Animal Left Behind.

  Where:

  Garden District Hotel, University Conference Room

  2203 St. Charles Avenue (corner of Jackson Avenue and St. Charles Avenue)

  in New Orleans.

  When:

  Friday, December 16: 10 am - 6 pm

  Saturday, December 17: 10 am - 6 pm

  Sunday, December 18: 1 pm - 6 pm

If you know anyone in the New Orleans area who is searching for their lost pet,

Please let them know about this.

Hopefully, we can have a few more glorious reunions before Christmas.