When severe flooding swept through communities in central Texas last week, animal shelter staff had to act fast. Rising water forced evacuations, and pets rescued from flooded neighborhoods needed somewhere safe to go. To make room quickly, Best Friends and Best Friends Network Partners coordinated rides out of the affected area for adoptable animals already in shelters before the disaster.
That swift action included a Wings of Rescue flight carrying 42 cats and 48 dogs to the Best Friends Pet Adoption Center in Salt Lake City. Little Mai Tai, a snuggly orange-and-white kitten, was one of the pets on that flight. As the plane touched down, teams were already waiting on the tarmac, ready to welcome Mai Tai and the others to safety and, ultimately, new homes.
Best Friends staff and volunteers made sure all the animals from the Wings of Rescue flight arrived safely and comfortably at the pet adoption center, and some pets were prepared to head out to partner organizations in the area.
“They sent out a call for help as we knew we were getting almost 100 animals from Texas from the floods,” says volunteer Skyler Williams, who has family in the flood-impacted area. “I was able to come in, help unload, and get everyone situated until network partners can come pick them up.”…