Hurricane Harvey has domino effect on Texas animal shelters; six dogs now at Angel Ridge
Volunteer Cindy Riggle pets Cindy, a Hurricane Harvey transfer, Tuesday at Angel Ridge Animal Rescue.
Volunteer Cindy Riggle holds Wile Coyote, a Hurricane Harvey transfer, Tuesday at Angel Ridge Animal Rescue.
Volunteers Jenice Stout, front, with Ben, and Mackenzie Gnagey, with Baxter, are shown Tuesday at Angel Ridge Animal Rescue. Ben and Baxter are among six dogs that were brought to Angel Ridge after Hurricane Harvey.
Pets as well as people became victims of Hurricane Harvey, and although this half-dozen weren’t pulled from floodwaters, they arrived at Angel Ridge Animal Rescue, Chartiers Township, in the aftermath of the colossal storm.
So many pets were either lost or abandoned during Hurricane Harvey that animal shelters in the immediate vicinity of Houston are clearing out cages to make room for Harvey’s animal victims in hope of reuniting them with their local owners.
After learning through Facebook of a flight that would carry pets from San Antonio, Texas, to the Allegheny County Airport in West Mifflin, “We immediately said we would participate, and they were overjoyed that another shelter had joined the ranks,” said Angel Ridge founder Nancy Shannon. “We were acquainted with Mary Withrow. She just became executive director of Pittsburgh Aviation Animal Rescue Team.”
Angel Ridge volunteer Stevie Rizor of Washington “saw the post on Facebook,” Shannon said. “She was the one who started the ball rolling.”
The first group of 42 dogs arrived in the Pittsburgh suburb in a special vehicle, soon followed by another planeload of 25. All had an immediate veterinary check.
The six headed for Angel Ridge were among those who made the 30-hour road trip, but Rizor said after returning from the airport rendezvous point, “These dogs are going to fly out of here. Last weekend, people were just waiting to get a Texas dog, not even knowing what they were going to be.”
She focused on “Wiley Coyote,” whom she described as a “very friendly terrier mix, 2 years old” and on the quiet side.
“We looked at our open kennels, and it looked like six was a good number to get,” Shannon said.
Dogs that actually experienced the wrath of Harvey were being brought to shelters so quickly and in such numbers that three and four crates were stacked atop each other in the hallways of the San Antonio shelter. Owners could conceivably track down their pets in shelters close to home, so animals that had been given up or abandoned before Harvey are headed for other parts of the country to make room for storm victims.
Those interested in adopting a Texas dog can fill out a form at the website www.angelridgeanimalrescue.org. Those lacking computer access can call 724-229-7053 for assistance. The prospective adopter must visit in person.
“I anticipate the earliest a Harvey dog could leave Angel Ridge would be next weekend,” Shannon said.
Angel Ridge has participated in the rescue of dogs made homeless by Hurricanes Katrina (2005) and Matthew (2016).
Washington Area Humane Society has not received any dogs from the hurricane area. The Humane Society of Greene County was closed Tuesday, and officials could not be reached for information.