Local shelters helping animals from Texas impacted by Harvey

WAUKESHA COUNTY, Wis. (CBS 58) – The devastation of Hurricane Harvey across southeast Texas is not only a hardship for people, but also for man’s best friend.

“We all say don’t leave them behind and yeah, that’s true, but what if you’re at work when the water rises. What if you can’t get to your home when the water rises?” says Lynn Olenik, Executive Director of HAWS.

That’s why shelters in our area are working to step up, including the humane animal welfare society of Waukesha County.

HAWS needs foster parents for at least 50 dogs and cats are flying in from Texas on Monday from the Houston area. These aren’t animals affected by the storm but the shelters in Texas want to make room from the pets left behind after the hurricane.

“People want to help, how can we give them that opportunity to do that. Not all of us are capable of going into the flood waters and rescuing horses. God bless those heroes. But if there’s something that we can do from up here, we need to do it,” says Olenik.

The Wisconsin Humane Society is working to free up space for pets coming in from Texas as well.

“We’ve got a lot of dogs, a lot of puppies, cats, and kittens who we really want to get out this weekend to make room for those incoming animals,” says Angela Speed with the Wisconsin Humane Society.

So far, they’ve gotten an overwhelming response of people who want to help so these animals won’t be forgotten.

“Our community is capable of helping. If we ask, the community has always stepped up,” says Olenik.

The foster pet parents are expected to care for the animals for at least three months. If you would like to help, please call HAWS at 262542-8851 or visit the shelter's website here.