Livermore Charity Flies Animals To Clear 'Hurricane Harvey' Shelters

LAFAYETTE, LA – More than 300 animals from regional shelters are being flown to California, Washington, Oregon and New Jersey to help make shelter space for pets rescued in the Hurricane Harvey aftermath, according to Livermore-based Wings of Rescue, a flight charity devoted to animals.

"By flying them out, displaced dogs from the flooding in Houston and western Louisiana will have safety where they can be reunited with their family," the organization said.

A Wings of Rescue flight, with 88 dogs and 20 cats onboard from Acadiana Animal Aid in Lafayette, was scheduled to arrive this afternoon in San Diego, the group said.

"We've been told that the hurricane pet victims will begin arriving in Lafayette almost immediately after these pets leave," said John Van Zante of Rancho Coastal Humane Society, Encinitas.

In SoCal:

• Hurricane Harvey Sends 105 Animals To San Diego Shelters

On Tuesday, the volunteer pilots will depart San Antonio with 100 dogs headed to Oregon and Washington, and Wednesday, 100 dogs from San Antonio are bound for Morristown, NJ.

Houston's police chief said this morning that authorities already have made at least 2,000 rescues in the city.

After their arrival, the cats, kittens, dogs and puppies will be transported to shelters and foster homes. The animals are not victims of the storm and will be available for adoption.

"We are so grateful for the opportunity to fly these animals to safety!" based Wings of Rescue said on its Facebook page. "If you would like to help us help them, please consider donating to us to cover the vaccinations, testing and health certificates that they need to fly to safety! https://acadianaanimalaid.org/donate/."

Donations to Wings of Rescue can be made here.

Hurricane Harvey continues to wallop Houston and the Texas coast. The storm that has taken at least eight lives by this afternoon has been called epic, unprecedented and devastating, and its punishing effects harshly linger. Harvey, now a tropical storm, has dropped up to 40 inches of rain in some parts of Houston and surrounding cities. Forecasters say more is on the way, which means this storm’s totality could be more than 50 inches of rain when it’s all said and done.

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--Kristina Houck and Scott McDonald (Patch Staff) contributed to this post/Images via Wings of Rescue