ASPCA Assists Louisiana SPCA in Relocating 30 Homeless Dogs Displaced by Hurricane Laura

NEW ORLEANS—The ASPCA^® (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals^®) yesterday assisted in transporting 30 homeless dogs from Louisiana to Florida following Hurricane Laura. The unowned animals were relocated at the request of the Louisiana SPCA in New Orleans after they opened their doors to evacuated animals from coastal shelters most impacted by the hurricane. The dogs, homeless before the storm and relocated so Louisiana SPCA could make room for displaced pets, are being transported by the ASPCA to SPCA Tampa Bay where they will be made available for adoption.

This lifesaving transport is made possible thanks to support from The Rachael Ray Foundation™, a foundation started by television host and philanthropist Rachael Ray to help animals in need and which is funded by a portion of proceeds from each sale of Rachael’s pet food, Nutrish®.

“Collaboration within the animal welfare community to support lifesaving emergency response efforts during disasters of Hurricane Laura’s magnitude are essential, and that’s even more true with the added complexities of a global pandemic,” said Matt Bershadker, President and CEO of the ASPCA. “We thank The Rachael Ray Foundation for enabling us to respond quickly when disaster strikes, and we commend the Louisiana SPCA and SPCA Tampa Bay for working tirelessly to safely meet the needs of these at-risk animals.”

“New Orleans is often times on the receiving end of disaster aid so we consider ourselves fortunate to be on the reciprocating side of Hurricane Laura response,” says Ana Zorrilla, Louisiana SPCA CEO. “There are more than 250 owned animals living in hotels throughout New Orleans. By moving our adoptable animals to SPCA Tampa Bay, we are able to safely board these animals until their owners can return home to the devastated Lake Charles area.”

Hurricane Laura brought heavy rainfall and high winds to the Gulf Coast, impacting hundreds of thousands of residents, including pet owners. By relocating homeless animals from areas damaged by emergency situations such as this, not only are those homeless animals brought to safety, but much-needed space and resources are made available for displaced pets in impacted communities.

The ASPCA disaster response team remains in ongoing communications with local and state emergency response agencies in Louisiana and stands ready to provide additional boots-on-the-ground assistance for impacted shelters and displaced animals and pet owners. In addition to assisting with relocation efforts, the ASPCA is mobilizing to provide on-the-ground support setting up an emergency animal shelter and providing transport for displaced pets to the shelter at the request of Calcasieu Parish.

On the heels of Hurricane Laura, and as we approach hurricane season and National Preparedness Month in September, 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.

About Louisiana SPCA

The Louisiana SPCA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to promote, protect and advance the well-being of Louisiana’s companion animals. As the oldest and most comprehensive animal welfare organization in the state, the Louisiana SPCA impacts more than 70,000 homeless and companion animals annually. For more than 130 years, the Louisiana SPCA has been committed to serving the needs of the people and animals in the community and across the region as a 4-Star Charity Navigator rated nonprofit ranking in the top 1% nationally and a GoldSeal of Transparency from Guide Star. For more information, call 504.368.5191 or visit www.la-spca.org.