OMAHA — A kennel operator is asking dog lovers to open their hearts to canines displaced by Hurricane Katrina.

Doberman Rescue of Nebraska brought 13 dogs to Omaha from the Gulf Coast last fall, and six remain at Tully’s Kennels. The dogs had been at a no-kill animal shelter in Jackson, Miss., after the hurricane.

Tully’s is boarding the dogs for free until they are adopted.

Manager Julie Tully said the dogs are between 1 and 3 years old and include Labrador, border collie and shepherd mixes.

Tully said some people aren’t willing to adopt a dog that isn’t a puppy.

“Some people feel they can’t bond to a dog unless it’s incredibly young,” she said. “I think it’s a myth. I think whoever is caring for and loving the dog is that dog’s human. I think there’s a bond that animal develops with that person.”

Tully said all the dogs are healthy. They have been altered, vaccinated and checked out by a veterinarian. She said they are well-mannered and housebroken.

None of the 13 dogs brought to Omaha by Doberman Rescue was a Doberman. Some Dobermans went to Kansas City, Mo., because there wasn’t room for them in Omaha.

“All we could get were the mixed breeds, but they need to be adopted, too,” said Alice Erftmier, founder of Doberman Rescue of Nebraska, which also serves Iowa and South Dakota. “These are really nice dogs.”

Erftmier said high school students volunteer to walk the dogs staying at Tully’s Kennels.

The Nebraska Humane Society brought 47 displaced dogs to Omaha after the hurricane. Humane Society spokeswoman Pam Wiese said 15 were returned to their owners, five had to be euthanized mainly because of bad health, and 27 were adopted by area families.

Town & Country Humane Society of Papillion is housing three of six dogs and six of nine cats that came from the Gulf Coast, said Diane MacCraw, director of the all-volunteer, no-kill shelter.

Information from: Omaha World-Herald, http://www.omaha.com