Rescued from Hurricane Beryl, these cats and dogs have come to RI looking for homes
EAST PROVIDENCE − The Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has taken in 38 cats and 13 dogs from Texas that were in danger of dying from heat exhaustion and disease after Hurricane Beryl devastated their living quarters and much of the surrounding area.
The animals, including kittens, arrived Thursday, driven more than 1,800 miles from Texas, according to Stephanie Van Patten, director of community engagement for the RISPCA.
After Hurricane Beryl tore through Texas, the SPCA of Brazoria County contacted the Rhode Island agency to see if it could help.
"The storm that hit our area on Sunday night ... caused more damage than we anticipated – or that we were ready for. In general, we saw thousands of downed trees and power lines, which caused a loss of power that impacted millions of people," Jami Doddroe, transport coordinator for the Texas agency, wrote to Olivia Warburton, cat and small animal manager for the RISPCA.
The SPCA of Brazoria County is in Lake Jackson, about 50 miles south of Houston. The hurricane knocked out power and damaged the Texas SPCA's facilities, exposing the dogs and cats to possible heat exhaustion, disease and death, according to Doddroe.
"Our animals already in care are struggling and we expect to see a flood of intakes as Animal Control Officers pick up animals lost during the storm," Doddroe wrote.
The RISPCA says it typically won't accept dogs from out of state, because its kennels are "constantly full with dogs from Rhode Island that are in need of new homes."
"Sometimes, however, friends need help," Van Patten wrote in announcing their agreement with the Texas SPCA.
To accommodate the cats and dogs from Texas, the RISPCA reopened the kennel at its former headquarters in East Providence and is relying primarily on a team of volunteers to care for them. It's also looking for additional volunteers to "help with cleaning, feeding, and socializing."
The cats and dogs should be available for adoption at the end of this month.
The RISPCA is asking for the public's help with its efforts. Anyone interested in volunteering can visit rispca.org/volunteers for more information. Those who would like to help keep the agency's supplies stocked can visit their wish lists at rispca.org/wish-lists. Financial donations can also be made through the RISPCA's website.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: RISPCA takes in 51 dogs, cats from Texas after Hurricane Beryl
