Wednesday, July 9: Best Friends worked closely with shelters impacted by the floods and those in the surrounding area to determine which pets could be moved out of the immediate area to make space for pets displaced by the floods. We funded today’s Wings of Rescue flight of 47 dogs and 80 cats, who had been cleared for adoption and are looking for new homes. That way, local Hill Country, Texas, shelters are able to focus on finding temporary homes for lost and displaced pets until they can be reunited with their families.

Of the 127 animals who were moved, 59 went to Dallas-area animal welfare organizations and the remaining 68 went to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah.

Best Friends has also helped fund emergency supplies that will be dropped off in San Angelo and San Marcos, Texas, as well as funded local organizations to take in pets from flood-impacted shelters. Pets will be airlifted from Eldin, Texas, to partners in the Midwest tomorrow.

Tuesday, July 8: In the rush to evacuate a disaster like this weekend’s flash floods, pets often become separated from their people. It then becomes the work of first responders and shelter workers to find and house these lost pets until they can be reunited with their people.

Pets already in shelters or who have been surrendered by their people due to the disaster also require evacuation and support to help them heal from their traumatic experiences.

To provide relief to communities affected by the devastating Texas floods, Wings of Rescue, in partnership with Austin Pets Alive! and funded by Best Friends Animal Society, is making an emergency flight. The pets will be moved to Fort Worth, where some will be taken in by local animal organizations, with the remaining animals flying on to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah.

The airlift will move dogs and cats already in shelters out of the area to provide space for pets displaced by the floods, as well as help reduce overcrowded conditions in shelters directly impacted by the floods.

Best Friends Animal Society is providing funding and supplies for shelters and rescue groups directly impacted and those helping with search and rescue in the area. If you would like to help, we’ve set up an Amazon wish list of the articles most needed to aid the pets impacted by the floods.

Sunday, July 6: Central Texas is under a state of emergency due to catastrophic flash flooding caused by torrential rainfall. A river in the Kerr County area rose more than 25 feet in less than two hours, causing evacuations and massive search-and-rescue efforts in impacted areas.

Best Friends teams jumped into action and immediately contacted partners in the area to assess the needs. Best Friends has funded some of our partners to take animals out of the Kerr County shelter and other impacted areas to make room for animals affected by the flooding.

We are also working with a partner connected to Wings of Rescue, a flight transport organization we worked with during the California wildfire rescues. Dates for the flight have not been confirmed, but we are actively working on getting pets to our sanctuary in Utah.

San Angelo, Texas, has also experienced significant flooding. Best Friends is providing a grant to the city’s nonprofit shelter partner, Concho Valley Paws, to help support displaced families and their pets while the community works through the emergency.

Reports from impacted areas are still coming in, and we will continue to adapt our support as the needs arise. We’ve been in contact with other shelters and key partners around the area, checking in to evaluate needs. Many have indicated they are in a holding pattern waiting for flooding to recede to assess the volume of displaced pets and community needs.

Visit Best Friends’ Facebook page for updates and to follow our work on the ground. Working with our local partners, we are committed to providing support and safety to the animals in Texas.