Shelter Pets Hit By Texas Cold Flown To Morristown Airport

MORRISTOWN, NJ — As million of people recover from the recent Texas cold and issues with utilities, some of the state's shelter pets found hope. St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center went to Morristown Airport on Sunday to pick up dozens of dogs and cats that came from Lone Star State shelters.

Many of the animals lived in shelters that lost power or had pipes that froze and exploded during the winter storm. St. Hubert's will soon make them available for adoption at its Madison facility.

Wings of Rescue — an organization that flies shelter pets from disaster areas and overcrowded centers — flew the animals to Morristown Airport in partnership with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). Most of the dogs and cats came from the Humane Society of North Texas.

St. Hubert's WayStation program has moved more than 20,000 animals from areas of need through a network of more than 80 sheltering organizations. The program also helps move homeless animals after natural disasters.

Staff have been camping out at the Humane Society of North Texas shelter to ensure animal safety, according to Colleen Harrington, director of St. Hubert's WayStation program.

"The dogs and cats being welcomed here today are animals that were up for adoption," Harrington said, "lightening the load for shelter staff as they prepare to reopen and making room for pets lost or displaced in Texas communities. We know that this special group of pets will be adopted into loving homes very soon."

Millions of Texans lost power last week amid freezing temperatures. More than 14.4 million people — half of Texas's population — reported disruptions in their water service, according to CNN.

Top Texas lawmakers have called for investigations into the Electric Reliability Council of Texas — the electric grid operator which manages the deregulated market for 75 percent of the state.

Ways to Help People in Texas

• The Dallas Wings of the WNBA organized a fundraiser with the American Fidelity Foundation and OurCalling to help shelter people at the Dallas Convention Center.
• The Austin Disaster Relief Network has accepted donations to help provide people with emergency housing, gift cards and supplies.
• The Houston Food Bank is collecting donations.
• Organizations helping feed people on the ground include the North Texas Food Bank, the San Antonio Food Bank and Feeding Texas, which partners with about two dozen food banks throughout the state.

The Los Angeles Times compiled the following groups seeking mutual aid funds. Many accept donations via Venmo, Cashapp and Paypal:

• Mutual Aid Houston
• Mutual Aid Austin
• DFW Mutual Aid
• RGV Mutual Aid
• Feed the People Dallas
• Not My Son Dallas
• Para Mi Gente
• Trinity Mutual Aid
• Funky Town Fridge
• Canidae Collective
• T.e.j.a.s. Barros (Texas Environmental Justice Advocacy Services)

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