Helping the Victims of Hurricane Harvey

UPDATE ON SEPTEMBER 8, 2017


HSVMA Board of Directors member Dr. Paula Kislak (left) is on the ground with members of the Humane Society of the United States Animal Rescue Team helping rescue abandoned animals in the area of Rockport, TX. 

Dr. Kislak reports that they are trapping some animals as well as finding others as strays in abandoned and devastated neighborhoods and then transporting them to the local animal shelter in Rockport. Additionally, Dr. Kislak has helped some of the injured animals, such as the dog Bonnie (in left photo) with veterinary care. You can check out the latest Facebook report about the Animal Rescue Team here as well as read a news article about the several recent rescues here.

 

Support

  •  Please donate to support these efforts here

 

VOLUNTEER OR REQUEST ASSISTANCE FOR HARVEY DAMAGES
The Texas Veterinary Medical Association is working with a variety of agencies to provide assistance to those impacted by the hurricane. The TVMA is also gathering contact information for veterinarians willing to provide veterinary assistance for hurricane victims, including providing medical care or boarding displaced animals. For more information, visit their website.

Veterinarians In Action

For information on what some in the veterinary community have been doing to help in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, here's some recent news articles and links:

VOLUNTEER OR REQUEST ASSISTANCE FOR HARVEY DAMAGES
The Texas Veterinary Medical Association is working with a variety of agencies to provide assistance to those impacted by the hurricane. The TVMA is also gathering contact information for veterinarians willing to provide veterinary assistance for hurricane victims, including providing medical care or boarding displaced animals. For more information, visit their website.

 

INITIAL REPORT ON AUGUST 30, 2017

As we have all seen and heard in recent days, Hurricane Harvey has been an incredibly destructive storm. The total devastation is still unknown and hard to comprehend. With more than 50 inches of rain falling in some locations of southeastern Texas, including in the area of Houston, the nation’s fourth largest city, and torrential rains now arriving in Louisiana, the storm has the potential to impact millions of people and animals including companion animals, community cats, farm animals and wildlife. Rescue efforts will undoubtedly be massive and long-term.

As the storm approached, the Humane Society of the United States utilized its partnerships with various local rescue groups and shelters to help move animals out of harm’s way to inland shelters.  And in the wake of the storm, the HSUS Animal Rescue Team is helping move animals out of the City of San Antonio animal shelter to shelter partners to the north to make room for animals displaced by Harvey. The Animal Rescue Team is also on the ground in the area of Texas City, one of the areas affected by torrential rain, and is working with local agencies and law enforcement to assess the greatest need there.  You can view some live rescues by the team here.

Veterinary needs in the wake of the storm are still unknown but are likely to be significant.  News reports have shown that saving their pets is critical for many fleeing from the storm’s damage and, thanks to federal legislation passed in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, pets are now required to be included in disaster planning and, after some initial confusion at least at one location, shelters for Hurricane Harvey victims are accepting pets.

Veterinarians Can Apply for Temporary Licenses to Help in Texas

HSVMA will send out requests for help as soon as we know of any specific veterinary needs. In the meantime, for those out-of-state veterinarians who may be interested in responding to help with Texas disaster relief efforts, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has issued a disaster proclamation which allows the Texas Board of Veterinary Medicine to issue temporary licenses to help with the response. Licenses will be issued within one day, if possible, according to the board. Click here for information on how to apply.

To stay up to date on efforts to help the animals in the wake of this storm, you can visit the HSUS Hurricane Harvey FAQ page for more information and also the HSUS Facebook page.  We will post updates when we know of any veterinary supply or volunteer needs but, in the meantime, financial donations to support the immediate rescue efforts are most helpful and can be made here.