HSVMA on the Ground with HSUS Disaster Response Team
Bonnie's Story Will Touch Your Heart

HSVMA joined HSUS on the ground in the aftermath of recent disasters to help rescue disaster victims and provide medical care for animals in need.  

HSVMA Board Member Dr. Paula Kislak traveled to Texas to assist in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey and helped rescue animals from homes that had been destroyed by the storms. Dr. Kislak and HSUS Animal Rescue Team member John Griffin also found animals wandering in abandoned neighborhoods and transported them to safety.   

One heartwarming story amidst the tragedy and chaos is Bonnie, a young shepherd mix who was rescued by Dr. Kislak in a devastated area of Rockport, Texas, where she was found wandering with a collar and rope attached to her.

Bonnie had a broken maxilla and needed immediate medical care, so Dr. Kislak transported her to an emergency clinic in Corpus Christi that night. Fortunately for Bonnie, her injury was treatable and, within days, she was able to be released to a local rescue group for foster. Once local animal control representatives had determined that Bonnie did not have a family looking for her, her good fortune continued when rescue team member John Griffin, and his family, fellow HSUS staffer Katie Conlee and their daughter Hazel, decided to adopt her.

The only remaining hurdle for Bonnie’s happy ending was that John and his family live in the Washington, DC, area and Bonnie was in Texas. So in stepped Bonnie’s foster mom and Dr. Kislak to coordinate a transport to the DC area. Bonnie is now happily adapting to her new family and hometown, with play dates already set at the local dog park and planned visits to the HSUS office through the dogs at work program.

Bonnie’s story has been replicated multiple times as HSUS has rescued and transported animal disaster victims to safety and returned them to their owners or found them new homes with caring families throughout the United States. 

For more updates on the disaster response efforts, visit the HSUS Facebook page.