I was riding Uptown in New Orleans one day when I spotted DeRay standing outside with his beautiful dogs, and I asked if I could get a photo of them together.He let me know these pups were actually his daughters that he takes care of, but he once had a dog he loved and cared for that passed away years ago.“Theory”, as he named him, was a Japanese Iketa that DeRay picked up in 2003.He continued to affectionately speak about their bond, and the very special experience of how they survived hurricane Katrina together 17 years back.“So when Katrina came, I don’t leave for these storms. I live right across the street from a hospital. So I go right across the street and I stayed in the hospital with my family (two dogs)”“When the people come to rescue you, they say it’s your luggage you have to leave behind, and your pets.”“I told them no thank you, can my dog come? I said alright then we’re okay. See ya when I see ya, y’all go rescue somebody else. Telling me my dog can’t come, I’m not coming. Nope, I stayed behind.”Somehow the humane society of the U.S heard of DeRay’s refusal to leave New Orleans without his dogs. They sent a boat big enough for DeRay, Theory and his neighbors dogs and took them to safety.“I took the responsibility when I took that pet, if I wasn’t gonna take care of them, if I wasn’t gonna lay down my life for them leave them where they at, cause I’d needs to lay down for me he gone do it, so return the favor. Meaning not go nowhere. Let’s ride.”DeRay and Theory were awarded for their bravery at the 10 year anniversary of hurricane Katrina at the convention center in New Orleans. People from across the globe came to meet them and hear their story.Though Theory may be gone in the physical, he has his two daughters dogs that are just as special to him, and treats like family.

I was riding Uptown in New Orleans one day when I spotted DeRay standing outside with his beautiful dogs, and I asked if I could get a photo of them together.He let me know these pups were actually his daughters that he takes care of, but he once had a dog he loved and cared for that passed away years ago.“Theory”, as he named him, was a Japanese Iketa that DeRay picked up in 2003.He continued to affectionately speak about their bond, and the very special experience of how they survived hurricane Katrina together 17 years back.“So when Katrina came, I don’t leave for these storms. I live right across the street from a hospital. So I go right across the street and I stayed in the hospital with my family (two dogs)”“When the people come to rescue you, they say it’s your luggage you have to leave behind, and your pets.”“I told them no thank you, can my dog come? I said alright then we’re okay. See ya when I see ya, y’all go rescue somebody else. Telling me my dog can’t come, I’m not coming. Nope, I stayed behind.”Somehow the humane society of the U.S heard of DeRay’s refusal to leave New Orleans without his dogs. They sent a boat big enough for DeRay, Theory and his neighbors dogs and took them to safety.“I took the responsibility when I took that pet, if I wasn’t gonna take care of them, if I wasn’t gonna lay down my life for them leave them where they at, cause I’d needs to lay down for me he gone do it, so return the favor. Meaning not go nowhere. Let’s ride.”DeRay and Theory were awarded for their bravery at the 10 year anniversary of hurricane Katrina at the convention center in New Orleans. People from across the globe came to meet them and hear their story.Though Theory may be gone in the physical, he has his two daughters dogs that are just as special to him, and treats like family.