Published by: Ingrid King. Last Updated on: February 9, 2023 by Crystal Uys
It’s impossible for me to wrap my mind around the devastation in Texas following hurricane Harvey. To think about what the people and the animals in the flooded and destroyed areas are going through just breaks my heart. The one bright spot in all of this, to me, has been to see the many images of pets being rescued – a marked difference from what we watched twelve years ago after hurricane Katrina.
Animal rescue groups from all over the country have mobilized to help the animals affected by the storm, getting animals out of already crowded Texas shelters to other parts of the country where they will be adopted into loving homes to make room for pets displaced by the storm in hopes of reuniting them with their guardians. And all of these groups need your help.
The following organizations are just a few of many that are involved in rescue efforts. Please check their websites for information on what they need, and how to donate.
Friends for Life, a no-kill shelter in Houston, has been on the ground at the George R. Brown Convention Center from the very beginning. They are helping thousands of animals and people–dispensing desperately needed food and supplies, providing free veterinary care, and finding emergency housing for animals whose humans might otherwise have to abandon their pets in order to find shelter for themselves. Visit their Facebook page for frequent updates on their efforts, and click here to donate.
Austin Pets Alive! has been helping shelters directly in the path of the hurricane.
SPCA of Texas They took in 123 cats from a Corpus Christi shelter on Friday in advance of the storm, and they’re putting every available resource behind to help pets and people who evacuated the Gulf Coast to the North Texas area.
The Jackson Galaxy Foundation is partnering with GreaterGood to transport animals out of the areas affected by Hurricane Harvey. Click here for more information and to donate.
Alley Cat Allies has deployed an expert, bilingual disaster response team and is sending additional resources to help Texas and Louisiana organizations rescue cats and other animals. In many cases, community cats were left on their own when their human caregivers evacuated as floodwaters rose. The Alley Cat Allies team will help shelters and caregivers throughout Texas and Louisiana to rebuild programs that were in place to help community cats. They will also be forming a network of people to check on colonies, resume feeding them and place new cat houses and shelters as necessary. Click here to donate.
Wings of Rescue is flying rescued pets out of the flooded areas to shelters in other parts of the country.
Most organizations will probably need money rather than goods. With floods blocking off many roads, and many warehouses in flooded, the logistics of storing donations may overwhelm organizations whose volunteers are already stretched to the limit. Also, keep in mind that there is going to be a long term need for donations for months and possibly even years, so take that into consideration when planning your donations.
Image: screenshot from ABC News video of cats being rescued from a Houston home, click here to watch the full video.
About the author
Ingrid King is an award-winning author, former veterinary hospital manager, and veterinary journalist who is passionate about cats.
