ASPCA Provides Ongoing Support for Hundreds of Pets Displaced by Hurricane Ida and Tropical Storm Nicholas

SCHRIEVER, La. – At the request of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, the ASPCA^® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals^®) remains on the ground in Southern Louisiana providing ongoing assistance for pets and shelter animals impacted by the long-term effects of Hurricane Ida. In addition, the ASPCA is assisting with the rescue of animals at risk of severe flooding in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Nicholas. More than 65 animal relocation and disaster response experts from the ASPCA have been on the ground since before Hurricane Ida made landfall, providing emergency relief efforts for more than 550 impacted animals through pre- and post-storm evacuations of homeless cats and dogs, water and land search-and-rescue, emergency sheltering, and pet food distribution.

The ASPCA, in coordination with national, state and local organizations including American Humane, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), and the Louisiana State Animal Response Team (LSART), is providing emergency sheltering for dozens of pets and shelter animals displaced by Hurricane Ida. The animal welfare groups collaborated to set up an emergency shelter in response to an urgent request from Terrebonne Parish Animal Shelter and Lafourche Parish Animal Shelter after both shelters and their staff were impacted by the storm. The animals, including many whose owners were forced to evacuate from their homes ahead of the storm, are receiving much-needed housing and care, including medical and behavioral services, until they can be reunited with their families or, if surrendered, placed into new homes.

“People and animals alike are continuing to experience the devastating effects of Hurricane Ida weeks after the storm made landfall and are now at risk of additional flooding impacts from Tropical Storm Nicholas. The ASPCA is committed to meeting these ongoing needs to ensure pet owners and local animal welfare professionals have essential support and resources to get back on their feet,” said Susan Anderson, director of ASPCA Disaster Response. “We know the best way to approach disasters of this magnitude is through strong collaboration, and we are grateful for the many groups we’re working alongside to bring displaced animals to safety and help impacted families care for their pets.”

The ASPCA disaster response team has also been on the ground in Jefferson Parish and Plaquemines Parish at the request of Jefferson Protection and Animal Welfare Services (JPAW) and Louisiana SPCA, respectively, providing additional sheltering support, conducting water and land rescues, and assisting with pet food distribution. In addition, the ASPCA assisted with the emergency evacuation of more than 200 homeless shelter animals before the storm hit and immediately after landfall. The ASPCA is able to assist animals impacted by Hurricane Ida and Tropical Storm Nicholas in part thanks to support from the Alex and Elisabeth Lewyt Charitable Trust.

Earlier this week, the ASPCA announced the results of a nationally representative survey confirming that more than one in five pet owners have evacuated their homes due to a disaster or emergency and nearly half left at least one pet behind when they evacuated. Additionally, 83 percent of current pet owners reported living in a community that faces natural disasters. The ASPCA is sharing lifesaving expert tips on keeping animals safe during a disaster and urging residents in the pathway of approaching hurricanes to include pets in their evacuation plans. To learn how to incorporate pets into preparedness plans, visit aspca.org/disasterprep.