Hurricane Gustav Update: ASPCA Helps Care for Evacuated Animals

In its first day of pre-storm assistance on the Gulf Coast, the ASPCA helped care for 38 evacuated animals from St. John Parish Animal Shelter in La Place, La., which is now closed until after Hurricane Gustav. The 24 dogs and 14 cats from St. John Parish Animal Shelter were taken to the Louisiana SPCA in New Orleans, where they will join animals there for transport to shelters in Texas. In addition, the ASPCA coordinated a transfer of animals from Acadia Parish, where 23 dogs and cats will likely soon be on their way to the Wild Animal Orphanage in San Antonio, Texas.

Members of the ASPCA disaster response team are at the site of the Louisiana Mega Shelter in Shreveport, where more than 180 animals belonging to evacuees have arrived and are being cared for; homeless animals in shelters are being transferred to agencies outside of the areas at risk of the hurricane. One of the ASPCA’s disaster response trailers is also on site, and the ASPCA’s partner agency, the Saranac Technical Rescue Team, is en route.

Photos from the Louisiana Mega Shelter:

The ASPCA Disaster Response Trailer.

Checking in an evacuee's pet.

A Pug waiting out the storm at the Louisiana Mega Shelter.