RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) - Cats and dogs affected by the flooding in Texas are getting a second chance at life thanks to the caring arms of animal lovers across the country.
It stems from one non-profit’s drive to save as many animals as possible.
“Wings of Rescue’s mission is to fly at-risk pets from disaster areas and overcrowded shelters to shelters where there is empty shelter space, waiting for adopters,” Ric Browde, CEO of Wings of Rescue, said.
Browde said there was no question his group was coming to help after the catastrophic flooding in parts of central Texas
“We delivered around 5 or 6 tons worth of dog food, water,” Browde said. “We brought some medical devices and things, a whole litany of things to tell you the truth.”
They left Texas with a plane full of cats and dogs.
Shelters are usually swarmed by an influx of animals, strays and surrendered pets, after a natural disaster occurs.
This often forces them to euthanize existing animals in the shelters to make room for more, Browde explained.
“There was enough death, enough carnage, enough sadness going around,” Browde said. ”They didn’t need any more.”
On Saturday night, July 12, Wings of Rescue landed at the Richmond International Airport where shelters from across the commonwealth awaited.
It marked the end of the crews fourth trip to Texas.
“It’s some of the best work that we do because we do these disaster rescues year after year and we certainly know and hope that others in the field would be there for our animals if this were ever to fall on our area,” Tabitha Treloar, Richmond SPCA Director of Communications, said.
The Richmond SPCA took in 18 cats and kittens.
Treloar explained the Texas shelters need to move the cats to free up more space for animals displaced by the flooding.
Around 20 other cats, as well as dogs, were taken to shelters in Norfolk and Fredericksburg.
They are now recuperating and getting ready for their new forever homes.
“They are sort of decompressing and already soliciting attention,” Treloar joked.
The Richmond SPCA hopes the cats can be ready for adoption in the next couple weeks, some maybe as soon as next week.
A special marking on the website will let adopters know they’re from Texas.
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