Animals Surviving Hurricane Harvey
@nanette64 (20364)
Fairfield, Texas
September 11, 2017 10:29am CST
A lot of animals died during Hurricane Katrina because people couldn't evacuate their pets along with themselves. So it became a federal law that when a hurricane is imminent, people can bring their animals along with them; which was evident in all the rescues during Hurricane Harvey. Literally thousands of animals were saved and even some very strange critters.
A Cooper Hawk decided to hop into a taxi and didn't want to leave. The driver named the Hawk 'Harvey' (imagine that) and noticed that it's wings were injured. He took it to a shelter where it was healed and released.
A Long Horn Steer named 'Sampson' was stuck in the mud up to its belly for 6 hours and was dehydrated and in shock. After several people dug him out, he was on IV's for hours but recovered.
'Penny' the Guinea Pig and 'Pip' the 3-legged dog were rescued by boat.
A dog named 'Cash' jumped into a storm-chaser's jeep which was 30 miles from the dogs home. The owner of the dog was found through Facebook and reunited.
Alligators (some 7 1/2 feet long) were found in peoples houses. They were retrieved and turned loose elsewhere.
Thousands of animals are in shelters and owners are trying to reunite with their animals. Micro-chipping has helped in a lot of cases, so that is something to take into consideration for future situations.
11 people like this
13 responses
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
11 Sep 17
Yeah, no kidding @MALUSE . Can you imagine? That would freak me out. What are you suppose to do; hold the door open and hope he goes out without taking one of your legs with him?
1 person likes this
@MALUSE (69416)
• Germany
11 Sep 17
@nanette64 Living in Europe has its advantages! :-)
2 people like this
@poehere (15126)
• French Polynesia
12 Sep 17
That is fantastic that people rescued these animals and took them to shelters. However, if I came home to an alligator in my living room or lying on my bed I think I would not be too happy. It is good they found shelter and were saved from the storm. I have micro chips in all my dogs because it is a law here on the islands.
2 people like this
@poehere (15126)
• French Polynesia
13 Sep 17
@nanette64 Here all dogs need it or an ear tattoo. I hate the ear tattoo so I use the chip instead.
2 people like this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
13 Sep 17
@poehere I agree; the chip is better.
2 people like this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
12 Sep 17
Yup, I'll share my bed with a dog or cat, but definitely not an alligator @poehere . 
I wish micro-chipping was mandatory here in the US.
I wish micro-chipping was mandatory here in the US.1 person likes this
@nonersays (3329)
• United States
11 Sep 17
I was asking my husband last night, "Where do the birds go during a hurricane? What about our owls!?" We have a pair of barred owls who live in a small wooded patch behind our house.
I've been and been so sad about all the animals left behind in the flood waters, and wonder how many owners willfully left them behind and how many may have tearfully left them behind.
Right now my Oscar is looking at me with his puppydog eyes. He was curled up in bed with me this morning. I coudln't imagine leaving without him.
2 people like this
@nonersays (3329)
• United States
12 Sep 17
@nanette64 That is a whole lotta kitties! And donkeys too!
1 person likes this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
13 Sep 17
@nonersays Yeah, it's no wonder that my hair is white.
1 person likes this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
11 Sep 17
I think a lot of birds as well as wild animals 'sense' the impending doom and try to retreat to a safe area @nonersays . I have 13 cats and 3 donkeys, so you can imagine what it would be like for me to have to evacuate them.
1 person likes this
@velvet53 (22528)
• Palisade, Colorado
11 Sep 17
@nanette64 It may take time but what people did to save the animals is wonderful!
2 people like this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
11 Sep 17
Yeah, since thousands were rescued, it might take awhile to get animals back to their families @velvet53 .
2 people like this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
12 Sep 17
@velvet53 I think people are realizing that animals DO count.
2 people like this
@ptrikha_2 (45422)
• India
15 Sep 17
@amadeo the tsunami in Indian Ocean in 2004?
1 person likes this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
11 Sep 17
Hopefully to Canada @amadeo . Just kidding. I'm not sure.
1 person likes this
@Courtlynn (66921)
• United States
11 Sep 17
I can't imagine finding a gator in my house.
1 person likes this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
11 Sep 17
Talk about a surprise @Courtlynn . It's bad enough that people have to deal with sewage, mold, destroyed contents, but to see that kind of a critter? Yeowza.
@ptrikha_2 (45422)
• India
15 Sep 17
Yes I saw many images of animals being rescued and people taking extra care of them. Something similar, may be not at the same scale as Hurricane Harvey was also seen in the Mumbai floods. There also some pictures came out of people rescuing dogs from drowning in heavily flooded streets.
1 person likes this
@CinnamonGrl (7083)
• Santa Fe, New Mexico
11 Sep 17
It was heartbreaking to see how many motels wouldn't let peoples' pets in. I thought they could be humane enough to suspend the no pets rule for a circumstance like that.
Imagine coming home and finding an alligator! I feel so sorry for the critters, though.
1 person likes this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
11 Sep 17
And the motels were definitely not following the federal law @CinnamonGrl . So many animals wind up dying in these situations.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (73241)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
11 Sep 17
I think that when it is known that evacuation has to be made there should also be a way for owners to pack up their pets and take them with them.
1 person likes this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
11 Sep 17
A good pet owner would have a crate or carrier to load them up @RasmaSandra .
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40044)
• Laguna Woods, California
12 Sep 17
Today I saw on the news that a woman brought her horses into her laundry room during the storm in Florida. She even put some hay down. I think that it was nice that she had a large enough laundry room to hold two horses!
@just4him (305561)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
11 Sep 17
I'm glad to hear the animals are being taken care of and owners are being sought. Micro-chipping is a good thing.
Sorry , but there are some animals I would be too scared of to try rescuing.@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
13 Sep 17
You ain't a kiddin' @Kandae11 . Those 2 would not be my favorites that's for sure.
