First of Rescued Louisiana Flood Dogs to be Adopted Friday

Encinitas, CA – The first of the "Flooded With Love" dogs that arrived in San Diego one week ago from Louisiana is expected to be adopted shortly after 11 a.m. Friday at Rancho Coastal Humane Society in Encinitas. Shelter officials began accepting adoption applications when the dogs arrived. The pre-screened applicants will meet the dogs in the order that their applications were filed.

After flooding in Louisiana left families and pets homeless a coalition of San Diego animal rescues including Rancho Coastal Humane Society, Thrive Animal Rescue, Labradors and Friends Rescue, SPOT Animal Rescue, and Animal Samaritans received 65 dogs on Sept. 23 in operation “Flooded With Love.”

The dogs flew from Louisiana to San Diego aboard a “Wings of Rescue” plane. When the plane landed at Gillespie Field rescuers poured onto the tarmac and began removing the dogs and distributing them between the five organizations. Reporters and photographers were on hand when the first Louisiana dog "set paw" on California soil.

• 'Flooded With Love': Louisiana Flood Victims' Dogs to Get New 'Fur'ever Homes in San Diego

After several bowls of water and some short walks so they could "water the bushes" the dogs were loaded up and taken to shelters, kennels and foster homes.

"Some Louisiana families were able to escape with their dogs," said RCHS President Jim Silveira. "Others were lucky to get out with their lives. Some of these dogs were already in shelters when the flooding began. Our goal is to match them with their new families as soon as possible."

The dogs are receiving health exams, updated vaccinations and being spayed or neutered at RCHS before being adopted. SNAP (Spay Neuter Action Project) is scheduled to alter 30 to 35 dogs on Sunday at RCHS.

"Some of the people who came to RCHS to meet the flood dogs will end up adopting other dogs," said Silveira. "That’s great. They all need homes."

RCHS is accepting donations to help cover the medical costs of "Flooded With Love." For more information call 760-753-6413, visit RCHS at 389 Requeza St. in Encinitas, or log on to Sdpets.org.