In South Texas, rising floodwaters made an evacuated neighborhood unreachable, leaving some residents separated from their pets. Rescue crews from Austin Pets Alive! worked late into the night to reach dogs trapped inside water-damaged homes and kennels that were partly underwater.
What happened?
Teams from Austin Pets Alive! were deployed across several flooded Texas communities — including Kerr County, Uvalde, and Batesville — during a four-day response effort, as reported by the Austin American-Statesman.
Near Crystal City, one initiative focused on a neighborhood stranded by floodwater. Austin Pets Alive! spokesperson Suzie Chase said rescuers spent roughly an hour trying to figure out how to get inside before the local fire department allowed them through.
By about 7 p.m., crews had begun bringing out the first animals. They then went from house to house, rescuing dogs in dangerous conditions — flooded houses and kennels where water was already covering parts of them. Chase said some shelters were “underwater or facing euthanasia due to overcrowding.”
Rescues in the field continued until around 10 p.m., and crews remained until about 1 a.m. to provide care for pets left stranded in poor condition.
Why does it matter?
When floods force evacuations, pets can quickly become a major part of the crisis. Some owners cannot safely transport animals, while local shelters may be overwhelmed just as the need for help surges…