As the flood waters rise around Houston, Texas, our hearts are sinking. It is hard to see fellow Americans and animals suffering and in distress. Many people have reached out to us at the SPCA of Wake County to find out how you can help.
The BEST thing people can do is to donate money to the local rescues there in the flooded areas and the surrounding areas where shelters are taking in as many of the animals as they can.
People love to donate things, but by the time those "things" get to the destination, it's often more of a burden for rescue workers to sift through everything, check expiration dates and arrange transport to get it to the people or animals who need it.
By donating money directly to the local charities, they can buy exactly what they need, right when they need it. There was a great article on CBS the other day about this and how it is much more cost effective to donate money rather than sending supplies: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/when-disaster-relief-brings-anything-but-relief/
Giving local means your money stays local, is managed by the people who live and work regularly in the affected areas and can make the highest and most immediate impact. Be aware that the ASPCA is not an umbrella organization for all SPCA’s. When you donate to the ASPCA, your money goes to that specific organization which is in New York. It is an independent organization, just like us and other SPCA’s across the country.
Here in North Carolina, we are also familiar with the devastating impacts of hurricanes and flooding. Take steps now to create your own disaster preparedness plan for your family and pets and create a pet emergency kit.
Today.com has an article linking to several of the animal rescue groups in the areas devastated by Harvey: https://www.today.com/amp/pets/hurricane-harvey-flooding-how-help-save-animals-pets-t115618
Reviewing the Houston SPCA’s website and social media, including the Houston SPCA, here are other shelters that have been affected by Harvey:
Austin Pets Alive!
https://www.facebook.com/austinpetsalive/
Fort Bend County Animal Services
http://www.fortbendcountytx.gov/
https://www.facebook.com/FortBendAnimalServices/
Harris County VPH (Friends of County Pets) https://www.friendsofcountypets.org/
https://www.facebook.com/FOCPets
BARC Animal Shelter and Adoptions
https://www.facebook.com/BARCHouston
Rescued Pets Movement
http://www.rescuedpetsmovement.org
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rescued-Pets-Movement/432336290208624
Humane Society of Aransas County
http://www.rockportfultonhumanesociety.org
https://www.facebook.com/Humane-Society-and-Adoption-Center-of-Rockport-Fulton-187136354640613/
Gulf Coast Humane Society
https://www.facebook.com/GulfCoastHumaneSocietyCorpus/
SPCA of Brazoria County
https://www.facebook.com/SPCABrazoriaCounty
Humane Society of Southeast Texas
http://www.humanesocietyofsoutheasttexas.org/
https://www.facebook.com/humanesocietyofsoutheasttexas.org/
Westbury CARE (Westbury Compassionate Animal Rescue Efforts)
http://www.westburycare.com/ https://www.facebook.com/WestburyCARE/
Wharton City Animal Shelter
https://www.facebook.com/wcspot/
Texas Litter Control
http://www.texaslittercontrol.org/
https://www.facebook.com/TexasLitterControl/
League City Animal Shelter
http://www.leaguecity.com/index.aspx?NID=592
https://www.facebook.com/leaguecityanimalshelter/
Ingleside Animal Shelter
http://inglesidetx.gov/animal-control/
https://www.facebook.com/InglesideAnimalControl/
Jacinto City Animal Shelter
http://www.jacintocity-tx.gov/animal-control/
St. Landry Parish Animal Control, Opelousas, Louisiana
http://stlandryparish.org/department/animal-services
https://www.facebook.com/StLandryParishAnimalShelter/
Bayou Animal Services
http://www.bayouanimalservices.org/
https://www.facebook.com/bayouanimalservices/
Aransas Pass Animal Control
https://www.facebook.com/APAnimalControl/
Tails Tails Animal Rescues
https://www.facebook.com/pg/TallTailsanimalrescue/about/?ref=page_internal