HSUS participation in humane work in the Gulf Coast states goes back many decades, but its involvement increased dramatically in the wake of Hurricane Katrina's devastating impact in Louisiana and Mississippi after she roared ashore on Aug. 29, 2005. Katrina changed the environment for animal protection in the region, just as surely as she altered its physical landscape.

The storm surge that followed guaranteed Katrina's legacy as the costliest and most damaging natural disaster in American history. At that time, The HSUS made its own guarantee, pledging to help make the humane infrastructure of the region not merely whole again, but, in the words of CEO Wayne Pacelle, "stronger than they were before."

Katrina changed the environment for animal protection along the Gulf Coast.

That guarantee, and the commitment it entails, is ongoing. The $34.6 million raised for general disaster relief and recovery efforts by The HSUS since Sept. 1, 2005 was spent or will be spent in the Gulf Coast states affected by Katrina, and on programs central to The HSUS's role as a leading disaster response entity in the post-Katrina era.

Rescue, Relief, Reconstruction and Recovery in the Strike Zone

The HSUS allocated $6.3 million to direct response to Katrina, encompassing the rescue, relief, and rehabilitation of more than 10,000 animals, the management of emergency sheltering facilities with other groups in Louisiana and Mississippi, travel and field expenses for hundreds of volunteers, and the leasing or purchase of essential transportation vehicles and other equipment.

LA SPCA

A view into the new lobby of the reconstructed LA SPCA.

So far, $8.35 million in reconstruction grants have gone to 45 facilities in the Gulf Coast region. This includes $4.5 million and $1.5 reconstruction packages for the Louisiana SPCA and the Humane Society of South Mississippi, mainstays, as well as smaller grants that have allowed dozens of other organizations to restore their services and rebuild their facilities.

Reimbursement grants totaling $2.3 million were awarded to 130 organizations in 29 states that participated in the joint disaster response and recovery operations following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

The HSUS spent nearly $1 million on the operation of a reunion center at its headquarters and on transportation fees to facilitate the return of animals to their owners.

Of $2.76 million worth of in-kind contributions for disaster recovery received by The HSUS since Sept. 1, 2005, most were channeled directly to Gulf Coast organizations.

Humane Society of South Mississippi

Rebuilding along the Gulf Coast.

The HSUS's investments in Louisiana and Mississippi haven't just been good for animals. They have also aided people. The infusion of spending in local economies in the immediate aftermath of Katrina brought needed dollars, jobs, and business to the devastated areas, with strong multiplier effects in the food service, temp services, security, transportation, building trades, veterinary services, and other sectors. These effects continue as local humane societies spend HSUS grant monies within the regional economy during what remains a very difficult period.

Promoting Companion Animal Health and Controlling Animal Overpopulation

Experts agree that Hurricane Katrina exacerbated the animal overpopulation problems that have long plagued the Gulf Coast states. Without addressing this challenge, which threatens to consume their resources, it won't be possible for the region's animal care and control organizations to return to their full range of activities. That's why, thus far, The HSUS has spent or allocated $3.8 million in support of pet health and overpopulation initiatives in the states hit by Katrina, working with the Humane Alliance, Southern Animal Foundation, Mississippi SPAN, and numerous local groups to spay and neuter tens of thousands of animals.

These financial commitments include grants of $800,000 and $900,000 to the schools of veterinary medicine at Louisiana State University and Mississippi State University. These two partnerships will provide basic veterinary care and spay and neuter surgeries to animals whose owners cannot afford such services, and help to educate citizens on the importance of routine pet medical care.

The HSUS is also working with Maddie's Fund to bring additional funds to Louisiana and Mississippi animal shelters as part of a full-scale effort to improve the lives of dogs and cats. This multi-million dollar partnership, set to commence in fall 2007, will focus on the development of a broad social marketing strategy designed to address the Gulf Coast region's tremendous pet overpopulation problem.

The promotion of spaying and neutering, and the development of enhanced capacity to provide such services, will help to ensure that there will be fewer homeless animals on the streets, minimizing the potential for animal suffering should another disaster strike.

Developing Emergency Overflow Capacity in the Gulf Coast States

The HSUS/C. Sisneros

Richard Palmer, one of many inmates who cared for Katrina's animal victims at DCI.

Another highlight of The HSUS's commitment to the Gulf Coast states is the $600,000 being spent on an emergency shelter/surgical suite at the Dixon Correctional Institute in Jackson, La., where HSUS veterinarians and other staff members cared for several hundred animals during Katrina. A second overflow facility for use in regional disaster response is also being built, at a cost of $750,000. To further strengthen disaster response capacity, The HSUS is distributing $563,000 worth of disaster preparedness grants to animal care institutions in the region, to better enable their response to emergencies in the future.

The Future of The HSUS's Disaster Program

One thing Katrina made clear is that a small-scale disaster response program will not be sufficient in the event that another major catastrophe strikes in Louisiana, Mississippi, or in surrounding states. With this in mind, The HSUS has committed $5 million to expand its Disaster Services department, to better meet the needs of emergency response and pet rescue work in the Gulf Coast region and other hurricane zones in the future.

The HSUS/HSI

An international disaster response team in India in 2006.

Today, HSUS Disaster Services personnel work year-round preparing for disaster response, training others, and responding to floods, fires, large-scale cruelty cases and other situations that require hands-on competency. Such continuous experience with the range of scenarios in which animals are at risk will enhance The HSUS's capacity to respond when another large-scale disaster occurs.

Since Katrina, HSUS Disaster Services personnel have responded to a number of other natural disasters, including an earthquake in Pakistan (2005), flooding in India (2005), Hurricane Wilma's strike in Florida and Mexico (2005), and, most recently, to Hurricane Dean in Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. All of this work was accomplished for $250,000.

Never Again: The Legislative Safeguard that Protects Animals in Disasters

Arguably the most significant achievement of the post-Katrina landscape is the passage of legislation to prevent forced mass abandonment of pets in future disasters. In Katrina's aftermath, tens of thousands of companion animals were left to fend for themselves as authorities refused to allow evacuees to bring their pets. In August 2006, with The HSUS leading the way, the U.S. Congress approved the Federal Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards (PETS) Act, which guarantees the inclusion of companion animals in disaster preparedness planning. The HSUS spent less than $600,000 to achieve this result.

Since January 2006, 16 states (California, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, Vermont, Virginia) have passed similar legislation. Louisiana's bill passed in June 2006 with the full support of The HSUS.

The Road Ahead

Two years later, there is real hope that the tragedy of Katrina, which took the lives of untold thousands of animals, will be remembered for ushering in a new era of humane services and activities.

The HSUS's investments in the recovery of humane institutions in the Gulf Coast center on creating lasting solutions to the historic problem of animal overpopulation, promoting a higher standard of companion animal veterinary care, establishing a strong infrastructure for disaster response, and strengthening the capacity of local societies to address the range of ordinary challenges they face in their daily work to help animals.

By working with established institutions and organizations in the region, and supporting innovative work in the key states of Louisiana and Mississippi, The HSUS hopes to do its share to transform the terrible blow struck by Katrina into a greater good that will benefit animals in the Gulf Coast region for years to come.