Here's One Way You Can Help Hurricane Harvey Victims: Foster a Pet

In the wake of Hurricane Harvey, it’s estimated that at least 30,000 Texans have been rendered homeless and forced into temporary shelters. While rain continues to fall as the tropical storm moves along the Gulf of Mexico, many people are wondering what they can do to help. If you’re a pet lover with some extra space in your home, why not consider fostering one of the thousands of pets who’ve been displaced because of the storm?

By being proactive, Texas nonprofit Austin Pets Alive! was able to transport more than 235 animals to its facility—and out of harm’s way—by Saturday morning. But, according to the organization's website, “there is still a lot of work ahead of us. As we continue to care for the animals we have already saved, we have to prepare for even more animals who will need us in the coming days. We’ve been receiving reports from shelter partners in areas hit hardest by the hurricane and areas expecting the most flooding that over the course of the next 24 to 72 hours, they are anticipating another significant influx of animals that they may not be able to help.”

In addition to donations of money and pet supplies like litter boxes and leashes, APA is looking for foster parents who can commit to keeping a pet through adoption, a process that includes meeting with potential adopters, taking photos of the pet, and generally spreading the word about the ball of fuzz you're sharing your home with. Visit the organization’s website to find out about their current needs, and email foster@austinpetsalive.org if you’re able to assist.

Texas isn’t the only place where shelters are lending a helping hand. In Davenport, Iowa, King’s Harvest Pet Rescue is asking people to open their homes to displaced dogs, with the shelter providing all of the necessary supplies, including food, beds, and treats.

In Tenafly, New Jersey, Robyn Urman—founder of Pet ResQ—is working to transport 200 cats and dogs from Texas to the Garden State. On Tuesday morning, more than a dozen pets arrived in New Jersey, with another 60 expected this week. (Potential fosters can email petresqinc@aol.com.)

Not all of the animals being transported were directly affected by Harvey. On Monday morning, Wings of Rescue flew 105 animals—20 dogs and 85 cats—from Louisiana to California to make more room in local shelters in the south. In Georgia, the Atlanta Humane Society began making room for pets in the path of the hurricane so that Texas shelters would have as much space as possible to care for affected animals. “They reached out to us and we're happy to help,” Atlanta shelter manager Amanda Harris told WSB-TV. “So they can be close to their owners and have the best possible chance to be reunited with their families.”

Even if you don’t have the ability to foster a pet, there are plenty of other ways to help victims of Hurricane Harvey, from donating diapers to giving blood.