When a hurricane bears down on the Gulf Coast, the focus is rightly on protecting lives. But for the animals left behind, abandoned or displaced in the chaos, the storm can mean something far more uncertain: an overcrowded shelter, a dwindling chance of adoption and an already strained system pushed beyond its limits. In late August 2021, as Hurricane Ida strengthened and barreled toward Louisiana, Operation Kindness Humane Society did not wait to see what would happen. We sprang into action.
Working quickly alongside rescue partners, we coordinated the emergency transport of 77 homeless pets out of the storm’s path before Ida made landfall. Moving animals that are currently in shelter spaces ahead of severe weather events is a critical strategy in disaster relief. It creates much-needed space in regional shelters so that when the storm passes and lost or displaced animals flood in, there is room to receive them. Every kennel cleared before a hurricane can mean a life saved after one.
Conquering the Storm: Prince Sr. and Foxy’s Stories
Among the 77 animals who arrived at our shelter during that effort were two dogs who would go on to capture the hearts of our entire staff: Prince Sr. and Foxy. Both dogs settled into shelter life at Operation Kindness Humane Society and spent extended time in our care as they waited patiently for the right family to find them. Long-stay dogs hold a special place in a shelter’s story. Staff get to know them deeply. They become personalities, regulars and beloved faces between the walls of our shelter. Prince Sr. and Foxy were exactly that. Staff favorites whose resilience and warmth reminded everyone around them just why this work matters.
The wait was worth it. Both dogs were eventually adopted into loving homes, finding the families they had been waiting for. And Prince Sr.’s story didn’t stop there. His adopters have since taken him on international travels alongside his new furry sibling, giving him a life that once might have seemed impossible for a dog who rode out a hurricane in a transport van headed north. Today, they are both living their best lives.
Stories like Prince Sr. and Foxy’s are a powerful reminder of why disaster relief is lifesaving work, not just in the immediate moment, but in the second chances it creates. As Operation Kindness Humane Society celebrates 50 years of service, we are proud that when the call comes in, whether from a hurricane’s path, a shelter in crisis, or a community in need, we are always ready to spring into action.
