This year marks the solemn 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina’s landfall in August 2005. In the wake of unprecedented destruction across the Gulf Coast, thousands of animals were left stranded, abandoned or in peril, but we answered the call. North Shore Animal League America mounted thirty-six road trips and two unprecedented airlifts, ultimately rescuing 1,327 cats and dogs from impacted areas. Our Emergency Rescue Team was among the first onsite after Katrina (and shortly thereafter Rita), and we established a Katrina Animal Rescue Fund to ensure sustained recovery support.
The situation on the ground was heartbreaking. Entire neighborhoods were submerged, and families who fled often had no choice but to leave beloved pets behind. Estimates suggest between 200,000 and 600,000 companion animals were displaced or perished in the storm’s aftermath. Shelters across Louisiana and Mississippi were overwhelmed, lacking power, clean water, and staff to meet the immense need. Into this chaos, our team arrived with our Mobile Rescue Units, supplies and a determination to provide safety, food and urgent medical care to every animal we could reach.
Our Mobile Units became lifelines, delivering rescued animals to triage sites and eventually to our Port Washington, NY campus, where they received veterinary care and the chance to be adopted into new homes. One of the most memorable operations took place in Tylertown, Mississippi, where our staff and volunteers worked in makeshift facilities, sometimes nursing dogs and cats who had survived days clinging to rooftops or floating debris.
We also remember the human connections we made along the way. People clapped in the streets and honked their horns as our Mobile Rescue Units rolled by. At roadside stops, strangers approached to bless us for being there. Some had lost everything, and our team shared supplies and food for their animals. We deployed our veterinarians, technicians, behavior experts, and support staff, who triaged animals still with their owners and cared for those in desperate need.
Katrina also revealed the profound strength of the human–animal bond. Many people risked their own lives by refusing to evacuate without their pets, creating danger for themselves and for first responders. In the aftermath, shelters for displaced people began to change their policies, recognizing that families cannot be separated from their animals in times of crisis. This shift marked a turning point, paving the way for legislation such as the PETS Act of 2006, which mandated that pets be included in disaster planning nationwide.
The lessons we learned in Katrina’s wake reshaped our future. We saw firsthand that large-scale disaster response required coordination, transport resources, and a long-term commitment to animals long after the headlines fade. Katrina cemented a philosophy we still uphold; our responsibility does not end with immediate rescue, but extends to recovery, medical care and placement into loving homes.
Two decades on, our commitment remains unwavering. As the world’s largest and longest-running no-kill animal rescue and adoption organization, we continue to stand ready to ensure no animal is forgotten. We are so proud of all we did then, and so grateful to all our supporters who made it possible. Please continue to partner with us so we can provide loving care today and be there again when disaster strikes.