Animals at Kentucky Humane Society will make room for pets displaced after the storm
LOUISVILLE KY – around 10 p.m. Wednesday, September 8, the Kentucky Humane Society received over 60 shelter animals from Louisiana communities ravaged by Hurricane Ida.
Approximately 30 dogs and 30 cats will be housed temporarily at KHS’ Sam Swope Pet Retreat in Jeffersontown until they are medically assessed and ready for adoption or fostering. KHS uses the Pet Retreat as an emergency staging center for animals coming from large-scale rescues as well as for dogs needing behavioral rehabilitation before adoption.
All the unclaimed pets coming to KHS were in animal shelters prior to Hurricane Ida’s arrival.
“By taking in these shelter animals, KHS is helping Louisiana shelters make room for more owner-surrendered animals as well as lost pets so they can be reunited with their families,” said Karen Koenig, Vice President of Animal Welfare. “Taking in animals that were in shelters before disasters hit is one of the best ways that other animal shelters and adopters can support communities in crisis.”
Companion Animal Alliance, a nonprofit animal shelter in Baton Rouge LA – and Code 3 Associates, an animal disaster response organization – handled the disaster response. The Humane Society of Tulsa (HST) assisted with evacuations. BISSELL Pet Foundation provided funds associated with getting the pets out of Louisiana to the HST’s emergency hub, where they were prepared for transports to over a dozen animal shelters across the United States, including KHS.
“Rescue efforts are ongoing in Louisiana in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida, and hundreds of pets are in need of evacuations and further help from our partners,” said Cathy Bissell, founder of BISSELL Pet Foundation. “We’re grateful to collaborate with the Kentucky Humane Society to take in more of these displaced, adoptable pets from impacted shelters as our partners including Humane Society of Tulsa and Code 3 Associates continue their lifesaving work.”
KHS staff and volunteers will care for the animals at the Pet Retreat until they are healthy and ready for adoption or fostering.
How to Help
The public is asked to help by donating toward the animals’ care at www.kyhumane.org/donate. In addition, people can help by adopting or fostering animals already at KHS to make room for these incoming animals. KHS hopes that some of the Louisiana animals will be ready for adoption within a week. KHS also expects that some of the Louisiana animals will need temporary fostering until they are ready for adoption. View all dogs and cats currently ready for adoption and learn how become a foster caregiver.
