Hurricane Harvey Dogs On Way To Tinley Park -- And Forever Homes

TINLEY PARK, IL -- Volunteers from PAWS of Tinley Park went on a mission of mercy to drenched Texas and are now en route back to Chicago carrying 18 dogs rescued from the flood waters of Hurricane Harvey. The 18 pooches of assorted sizes and breeds are expected to arrive late Thursday evening in Tinley Park. All of the dogs will eventually be put up for adoption or placed into permanent foster care.

Beth Berenson, of Homer Glen, and fellow PAWS volunteer Will Hastert of Mokena, left on their 32-hour round trip in a supply-filled PAWS van for Texas early Wednesday morning, heeding a call to animal shelters nationwide to help save dogs and cats in danger of drowning on the Texas coast. The pets being relayed to higher and drier ground by transport groups were already waiting in shelters to find their forever homes when Hurricane Harvey made landfall on Aug. 25. Local first responders are working to clear the area’s animal shelters so that recovered pets may be reunited with their families.

The dogs were waiting on a farm near Dallas, TX to be transported back to Illinois. Dallas-resident and animal lover Rachel Ralston Miller risked her life to rescue the dogs “who had to swim a little” in their flooded shelter.

“I had been following the news when I saw all the shelters had to be cleared out. This shelter happened to be one that flooded,” Berenson said via phone, having dodged a tornado near Memphis on her way back to Chicago. “It’s terrible down there. The shelter people have lost their homes, their cars, their living and their dogs. They are amazing.”

Riding back to Illinois are a cute bulldog, some bullies, and a blue heeler. One dog is so traumatized he hasn’t stopped barking since he got on the PAWS van for his ride back to Tinley Park, Berenson said.

“It’s not safe to go down there,” she said. “There are flies in the water. The dogs are a little traumatized. They were in water.”

The dogs will be examined by a vet and brought up to date on vaccinations since the Houston animals’ medical records washed away. Dogs will also be spayed or neutered, if necessary. One of the dogs being brought back to Chicago has cancer. The dog will be placed into permanent foster care where he can live out his final days.

“We’re going to let them settle down,” said Terri Buckley, vice president of PAWS of Tinley Park. “We’re going to give them time to relax and adjust until they realize they’re safe.”

The Tinley Park animal shelter has another van leaving for Texas this weekend. The van is not going down empty. People can drop off donated supplies at PAWS of Tinley Park, 8301 W. 191st St., Tinley Park. Needed are pet food, water, cat litter, leashes, bowls, old towels and blankets. What can’t be used for Texas animal relief will go to shelters where tens of thousands of Texas residents are holed up in shelters.

Buckley said they’ll keep the 18 Texas dogs and place them in good homes, but the shelter is working with Midwest Animal Hospital to place the next transports within its network of Chicago-area shelters. Visit PAWS of Tinley Park for more information on adopting the Texas dogs or to make a monetary donation for gas or their medical care.

Cover Photo Beth Berenson