Petfinder Blog

As of Saturday morning, the International Fund for Animal Welfare had set up the Petfinder.com Foundation's emergency pet rescue van in lower Louisiana and was busily assisting the Louisiana State Animal Rescue Team with pet rescues in Louisiana.

As the central shelter for pet evacuees and pet rescues from Hurricane Ike, the Houston SPCA has a full-house today. They are housing about 300 dogs, 400 cats, 60 horses and 40 other farm animals. The SPCA also has taken in wildlife including pelicans, falcons, owls, ducks and (a) bear, which is part of an animal cruelty case. (At right, two kittens at the shelter.)

If you have lost or found an animal due to the storm, please use the SPCA's Lost and Found Pet Tool.

The SPCA's Animal Rescue Hotline number is 877-661-0161 or 713-861-0161

Read the SPCA's "Ike Updates."

Read FOX News.com's story about the busy Houston SPCA shelter, coping with Ike refugees."

As of 12:00 PM Central Time, September 12, the Houston SPCA had activated its Animal Response Hotline. Operators will be accepting lost and found reports, rescue reports, and offering other animal-related information. The Animal Response Disaster Hotline, pictured at right, will be staffed Friday from noon to 6 PM, and 10 AM to 6 PM on following days. Call notes are available so those who call in after hours may leave a message which will be returned first thing the next morning. The TOLL FREE NUMBER is 877-661-0161 or 713-861-0161.

(Read more about the Houston SPCA Animal Response Hotline and rescue efforts after the jump.)

After mandatory evacuation orders from the Governor of Texas, people and pets are fleeing Hurricane Ike. You can read a blog about the Houston SPCA's on-the-ground work, rescuing pets and providing shelter for evacuees' pets.

At left, above, workers at the Houston SPCA set up temporary homes for evacuated pets.

Thanks, Houston SPCA, for being there for pets!

Texas residents should call 2-1-1 for pet evacuation information:

"The 2-1-1 operators assist evacuees with other information, and operational animal shelters are another important piece of information the operators can provide evacuees," said Dr. Matt Cochran, emergency management veterinarian with the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC), the state's livestock and poultry health regulatory agency. The TAHC is one of more than 30 agencies on Texas' Emergency Management Council for the Governor's Division of Emergency Management."

Reminder: Evacuating pets must be in carriers.

Petfinder urges residents of the Gulf coast of Texas and Louisiana, from Port Mansfield, Texas to Cameron, Louisiana--and including the towns of Galveston and Houston, Texas to prepare themselves--and their pets--for disaster. Hurricane Ike promises to be a savage storm, likely a Category 3 or 4 hurricane with winds of up to 130 m.p.h. and a storm surge of 20 ft. that will flood not just low-lying areas, but possibly parts of Houston, as well.

Visit our Disaster Preparedness page, where you will find a Disaster Plan and a Disaster Plan Checklist and many other tips and tools to help ready your pets and your family for the storm. Here, again are some steps you can take today to ensure your pets' safety.

Quick Tips for Disaster Preparation

-- Prepare your disaster plan and review it with all your family members.

-- Take photos of your pet with your cell phone. If you and your pet become separated, the pictures will help rescue groups reunite you more easily.

-- Have a pet carrier ready for your pet in case of evacuation. You will need a carrier for safe transport in your car and for any public evacuation transportation. Also, emergency shelters will not take pets without carriers. Write the pet's name and your cell phone number on the top of the carrier, in permanent ink.

-- If you do have to evacuate, take your pet with you. We learned from Hurricane Katrina and Rita. Don't risk your pet's safety and life.

South Texas residents, beware! Here comes Hurricane Ike. Currently a Category 2 Hurricane, Ike is predicted to make landfall on the U.S. mainland on Saturday, September 13, possibly as a Category 3 hurricane.

Texas Gulf coast residents are already being warned to prepare for disaster and plans have been put in place for evacuations and emergency shelters.

The Environmental News Service reports:

Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs is making hurricane housing resources for communities available on the agency's website. The department will contact community action agencies in the projected path of the storm and advise them that they may be called upon to serve more people.

Texas Animal Health Commission is coordinating with its member agencies and encouraging residents to call 2-1-1 for the latest shelter information for pets and livestock.

The Emergency Management Council and State Operations Center are fully activated. The State Operations Center is closely monitoring Hurricane Ike, and holding twice daily conference calls with federal, state and local officials, private industry partners, volunteer organizations, and the National Weather Service.

Petfinder reminds residents in the storm's path of some of the important steps to take to prepare your pets for emergencies. Find disaster preparation tips after the jump.