LOUIE’S LEGACY ANIMAL RESCUE – EMERGENCY HURRICANE RELIEF

When a natural disaster strikes, we are very aware of the toll it takes on humans.  Lives uprooted in an instant. Families displaced.  Also at risk are the four legged members of our families, along with animals living at shelters or on the streets.

When Hurricanes Harvey and Irma struck the U.S. this summer, there was an urgent need to rescue animals.  Louie’s Legacy Animal Rescue has had volunteers on the ground from Southeast Texas to the Florida Peninsula.  To date, Louie’s Legacy has brought more than 200 dogs and cats (even a pig!) into its foster homes and various branches. All of these animals are from shelters.

“The idea was to help create space in local shelters where animals displaced by the storm could safely go to be found by their families,” said Emily Gear, Founder of Louie’s Legacy Animal Rescue.

Additionally, Louie’s Legacy took 78 of their pets from a shelter which provided emergency boarding to county residents.

“We are so grateful for our partners who have helped to make this work possible.  Groups like Best Friends Animal Society, with whom we have partnered, are doing some of the hard work of matching up owners to their lost pets in the affected areas,” added Gear.  “Our part was to help create a safe space for that to occur, and we are grateful, as a foster based rescue without a shelter, that so many foster homes, both new and old, have offered help to our mission.”

Anyone who still wants to help can offer to foster a pet, as there will eventually be a need to place some of the animals being held in the affected areas if they are never claimed.  Medical bills will be immense. More than 20 animals with heartworm disease were taken into rescue, in addition to numerous cases of demodectic mange, neurological injuries, eye injuries, animals with burns and even a dog who will require orthopedic surgery to repair a broken pelvis among others.

Louie’s Legacy Animal Rescue is the primary beneficiary of the 2^nd Annual Go Get It LIFE 5K Race.  Run, Walk, Volunteer or Sponsor to help support the ongoing rescue, treatment and foster efforts of Louie’s Legacy.

Founded in 2009, Louie’s Legacy is a non-profit 501(c)(3), grass roots, all-breed animal rescue organization dedicated to caring for and finding adoptive homes for the dogs and cats it saves from high-kill shelters across the country. From it’s conception, the rescue, which operates in Cincinnati, OH and Staten Island, NY, will save over 9,000 animals by the end of 2017 thanks to its many volunteers, transporters, fosters, adopters, sponsors and contributors. To contribute to Louie’s Legacy please visit: www.louieslegacy.org