RedRover: Remembering Hurricane Katrina

On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina slammed into Louisiana and Mississippi – the largest and most costly natural disaster to hit the United States. Katrina touched off RedRover's (known then as United Animal Nations) largest, longest and most arduous animal rescue and relief effort ever. In its emergency response to both Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita, RedRover's team of more than 400 volunteers, including 15 veterinarians, from 40 states and Canada cared for and rescued 2,100 animals in 6 locations in Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas. Hundreds more people made donations that enabled us to purchase needed supplies, equipment and medicine, and to support animal agencies that were decimated by the storm.

RedRover's 2-month-long Hurricane Katrina response ended on October 22, as staff and a handful of volunteers closed the emergency shelter in Monroe, Louisiana, where they had been caring for more than 200 dogs rescued from New Orleans. More than four dozen dogs were reunited with their owners, and those who weren't reclaimed were transferred to long-term foster homes. RedRover also disbursed $255,000 in hurricane relief grants to bring additional help to animal victims and the people who care for them.

Now, seven years later, our thoughts are with those who face impact from Tropical Storm Isaac. Families threatened by the storm are encouraged to bring pets along when they evacuate. Read our press release for pet disaster preparedness tips.

REMEMBERING HURRICANE KATRINA:

New Orleans: Water Rescue Operation
An exhausted and starving puppy, finally safe in the care of rescuers. Photo courtesy of Stewart Cook, IFAW
RedRover, IFAW and Code 3 Associates have worked together to rescue hundreds of animals from the flood-ravaged streets and homes of New Orleans. Photo courtesy of Stewart Cook, IFAW
Jackson, Mississippi: RedRover Temporary Shelter
Reno-based volunteer Jane Hollingsworth "suits up" every day to take care of five puppies with ringworm. Jane took a month off to help the animal victims of Hurricane Katrina. Photo by Anne Chadwick Williams
Billy Mac, and evacuee from Mendenhall, MS, spends quality playtime with his dog, Nikki. RedRover Responders volunteers describe him as a "very doting, very grateful" owner. Photo by Anne Chadwick Williams
As a welcome rain falls, veterinarian Sophie Grundy talks to a young evacuee and her baby sister. The family has two Siberian huskies staying at the shelter. Photo by Anne Chadwick Williams
Livia McRee, a newly-trained RedRover Responders volunteer from Palo Alto, California, enjoys taking a walk with some smaller residents of the Jackson shelter. Livia was rarely caught without her wide-brimmed hat. Photo by Anne Chadwick Williams
Thanks to generous donations from individuals and businesses, the RedRover shelters have all the supplies they need. Photo by Anne Chadwick Williams
Monroe, Louisiana: RedRover Temporary Shelter
Angel was brought to the Monroe shelter after spending three weeks in the New Orleans floodwaters. Here, Virginia-based RedRover Responders volunteer Linda Barber gives Angel some much-deserved attention. Photo by Anne Chadwick Williams
Barbara Jones, DVM, is spending 13 days in Monroe to help provide medical care for the animals displaced by the hurricane. Jones' trip was sponsored by the Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights.
In the wee hours of the morning on September 20, 2005, RedRover Responders volunteers unloaded 134 dogs who were tranferred from the main staging area in Gonzales, Louisiana. One dog, a yellow Lab named Toby, was reunited with his family later that day.