Dogs, cats hit Bay State shelter from the storm
MSPCA seeks donations; rescues relieve overwhelmed Texas facilities
Massachusetts animal shelter workers are on a mission to save 100 dogs and cats from perilous conditions in Texas, after Winter Storm Uri ravaged shelters around the Austin area.
Wednesday, the MSPCAAngell and Northeast Animal Shelter sent a team of eight staff members in four vans “at the crack of dawn” down to Texas to handpick pets to bring back to safety in Massachusetts. Shelters around Austin were overwhelmed by vulnerable animals left out in the brutal weather, and the local infrastructure collapse left them unable to care for them.
“Some shelters were without electricity or running water, so housing animals there became a challenge. Then, their staff was also critically impacted,” MSPCA Director of Adoption Centers Mike Keiley told the Herald.
Even under normal circumstances, Texas generally has the largest population of homeless animals in the country, Keiley said. When Uri hit, shelters were totally overrun.
“What we had was a perfect storm here,” Keiley said.
The Bay State rescue team drove 30 hours straight from Boston to Austin, stopping only for gas and food. After spending a night in Austin, they loaded up more than 30 dogs and 60 cats into pet carriers in four vans, turned around, and headed right back home. It’s the biggest animal rescue mission out of Texas during this emergency.
Most importantly, the team made sure the animals they chose were truly homeless — not temporarily displaced by or separated from an owner by the storm. Keiley said they tried to focus on young animals who would be able to withstand the stressful road trip and be suitable for adoption in New England.
And yes, to prevent any infighting, the cats and dogs were separated for their return trip.
“That’s why we sent so many vans. The cats get their cat-mobile and the dogs get their own vehicle,” Keiley said, and noted that the fleet will stop every four
hours to ensure the animals are fed and comfortable.
Once the dogs are in Massachusetts shelters, they’ll be quarantined for 48 hours and receive a medical checkup.
Keiley predicts the Lone Star animals may be ready for adoption as early as next
Tuesday. In the meantime, both animal welfare groups ask for donations to toward the cost of their care, as the influx of pets will likely “place an enormous strain” on local resources.
“Anytime there’s a disaster, animal welfare tends to rally together,” he said.