Teams from the Houston SPCA loaded tens of thousands of pounds of crates, food, litter, water, newspapers, cleaning and medical supplies, bowls, blankets and other supplies and headed for Galveston. The closer they got to Galveston, the more tragic the devastation. They knew they were faced with a tremendous task...creating a safe haven for those in need where there was no shelter from the storm.

The temporary animal shelter was to be located in an old Police Substation. Advanced crews swept and bleached the floors and moved file cabinets. Upon arrival the teams assessed the areas and began assembling crates. A human chain started ferrying supplies from the truck to the emerging shelter under the warm Texas sun. Before the shelter was even complete or the location announced to the public, people and pets in need found this safe haven! Kind people who had lost everything and experienced personal tragedies beyond belief were bringing lost and frightening pets to the shelter. In a matter of hours, what had been a dark, dusty abandoned building was magically transformed into a clean safe haven...a shelter from from the storm with its doors open to all in need.

And, in a race against time, Houston SPCA teams in the field are conducting search and rescue missions on the Island. Yesterday the Houston SPCA responded to 104 calls of animals facing certain death. Over 200 calls came in yesterday to the DIsaster Hotline and additional phones were added to increase the capacity to help.

Today the Houston SPCA is bringing another 46,000 pounds of supplies to Galveston which will be used at the shelter and for distribution to people and pets in need on the Island.

And, finally six hundred baby squirrels have come in to the shelter since the hurricane struck. These innocents were blown from their nests and compassionate people are bringing them to us. Staff and volunteers are feeding round-the-clock!

For more information on Houston SPCA, please visit www.houstonspca.org.