MOMENT FOR PAWS: KATRINA PETS ARRIVE.

Byline: Dana Bartholomew Staff Writer

VAN NUYS - They limped into Los Angeles on Friday - animal saviors from Hurricane Katrina beset by a journey of flat tires and big-rig pile-ups. And dozens of half-starved dogs and cats.

The caravan of barking dogs was met by a Hollywood reception of B-actresses and animal doters on hand to give them L.A. hugs and foster care.

``Poochy poochy poochy pooh,'' cooed Deborah Bass of Simi Valley, wagging the paws of Stormy, a black cockapoo rescued this week from New Orleans' 9th Ward. ``We are incredibly blessed to be able to help.''

Bass, co-founder of Bichons and Buddies animal rescue, had joined Rescue for Ruffugees II - 10 rescue groups and more than 60 mostly women volunteers to triage, treat and take in 35 four-legged foster pets. Each will be kept a month before being put up for adoption to allow for a possible reunion with its owners, who are being sought via the Internet.

As a New Leash on Life Emergency Rescue Team unloaded its cargo at a Van Nuys Airport hangar, the reception committee turned to mush at the site of 30 suffering pooches and five skinny kitties.

``This is very hard,'' said Danielle Nicolet of Studio City, an actress who lives in New Orleans part of the year. ``A lot of my friends lost their dogs ... I'm here to help the doggies.''

The animals followed the 232 dogs and 13 cats now in Los Angeles foster homes or shelters as a result of Hurricane Katrina. The event, hosted by the New Leash on Life of Santa Clarita and Much Love Animal Rescue, could well be the last.

There were thin German shepherds. Frowzy-haired terriers. Beagles with sores. Pomeranians with mouth tumors. And limping mutts that had nails pulled from their paws.

There were also prancing chows. Sprightly pit bulls. And springer spaniels willing to lick the faces of strangers.

Like other Katrina rescues, more than half of the dogs and cats were believed to have contracted heartworm and other parasites. They had endured toxic floods and had little to eat but garbage and carrion.

``We found them in houses, in closets, locked in bathrooms, under beds. A lot of them running in packs on the streets we couldn't catch,'' said Jane Rosner, 49, of Calabasas, one of 22 volunteers to join Bobby Dorafshar and his New Leash rescue team in New Orleans.

``Some came in happy, wagging their tails - 'Oh, my God, I'm so happy to be here,''' said Karen Betzold, 39, of Glendale, another rescue team volunteer.

``Some came in sad - 'I just want to go back in my cage.' Some came in aggressive - 'Get the hell away from me, I've had enough. I'm hungry. I'm scared.'''

En route to Los Angeles, a caravan of five trucks and vans suffered one accident with a semi, two flat tires, one dead battery, and one air conditioner failure for the dogs and cats.

Each animal was welcomed Friday at various stations to be photographed, microchipped and medically treated before going to its foster home. A listing for each pet will be posted on the Internet one month before it is available locally for adoption.

``It was important that they get out of Louisiana, because they're dying where they stand,'' said Kim Finger, director of Rescue for Ruffugees, which took in a planeload of 93 dogs and 13 cats last month.

``We have a lot of rescue groups in Los Angeles willing to open up their facilities and houses to these pets.''

The SPCA-LA, which took in the first flight of dogs and cats last month from the hurricane-stricken area, said more than half of its 118 dogs and seven cats are in foster homes through December and the remainder are in area shelters.

One dog was reunited last week with a single mother and her son,from New Orleans.

``We were all crying,'' said Madeline Bernstein, president of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Los Angeles. ``We feel great to be able to help these animals out.''

Dana Bartholomew, [phone]

dana.bartholomew(at)dailynews.com

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10 photos

Photo:

(1 -- 6 -- color) A dog awaits a ride to a rescue shelter after arriving at Van Nuys Airport; above, a face book of newly arrived pups.

(7 -- 8) Actress Danielle Nicolet of Studio City, above, holds on to a small dog from the Gulf Coast after its arrival at Van Nuys Airport on Friday. Matt Dawson, left, holds a curly-haired pooch brought to L.A..

(9 -- 10) Volunteer Kim Warren, above, tries to guide a large dog toward a veterinarian. Thirty dogs and five cats arrived in Van Nuys on Friday.Actress Susan Blakely, left, comforts an anxious rescued dog after its flight into the Valley on Friday.

Andy Holzman/Staff Photographer