Nearly two decades after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, the Louisiana SPCA is reflecting on the lessons learned—and remembering Houston’s generosity in a time of crisis.
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In a recently released documentary, the group highlights the struggle to evacuate both people and pets as the storm bore down on Louisiana. Former Louisiana SPCA chief humane law officer Kathryn Destreza recalled with KPRC 2 how their team scrambled to move shelter animals before the hurricane hit.
“We had evacuation plans and disaster plans since 1992, but at that time we were still the only shelter that would evacuate their animals,” Destreza said.
Ahead of Katrina’s landfall, the Louisiana SPCA loaded up more than 300 pets and drove them to Houston, where the Houston SPCA welcomed them with open arms.
“Houston absolutely saved us. We got to Houston, we had all these animals—and they were ready,” Destreza said.
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Current Louisiana SPCA CEO Ana Zorrilla says Houston’s response is something she’ll never forget.
“They were the shelter that, when we called, they said yes – bring all the animals,” Zorrilla said. “They set up temporary housing, tents, volunteers to tend to the animals, and worked on reuniting the ones that could be reunited.”
The Houston SPCA took in even more animals after Katrina. Hundreds of pets had been brought to the Superdome with their owners, but after the building suffered storm damage, evacuees were moved to the Astrodome in Houston, and pets weren’t allowed inside.
“I’d say about 800 animals that the Houston SPCA was able to take in,” Kuenstle said. “Not only from the Louisiana SPCA, but also from the people of New Orleans who arrived from the Superdome to the Astrodome. And when they arrived they were told they couldn’t bring their pets inside the Astrodome.”
SEE ALSO: How Houston’s Astrodome became a beacon of hope
Houston SPCA Vice President of Communications and Marketing Julie Kuenstle said staff and volunteers stepped in to intercept those pets, collect owners’ contact information, and make every effort to reunite families.
For Kuenstle, the images of loss and resilience are unforgettable.
“Watching people who’ve just lost everything from a natural disaster, and the one thing we can provide them is their pet—it’s something you don’t ever forget,” she said.
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Zorrilla says the partnership between the two SPCAs shows the strength of a rescue community dedicated to saving lives in the most difficult circumstances.
“I can’t say enough about Patti Mercer and the team there,” Zorrilla said. “They truly are looking out for what’s best for the animals, and giving the very best outcome they possibly can.”
You can learn more about the Louisiana SPCA’s Katrina response effort in their new documentary here: “20 Years Stronger: Remembering Katrina.”