Southwest Airlines Fills Cabin With Pets Orphaned During Houston Storm In Dramatic Rescue
In scenes reminiscent of the Biblical story of Noah and his ark, Southwest Airlines took the extraordinary step this week of filling up the cabin of one of its planes with orphaned animals from flood-hit Houston.
Animal shelters all over Texas are at maximum capacity after Hurricane Harvey devastated the region, leaving many pets homeless and desperate. Enter Southwest Airlines, who together with animal rescue groups helped dozens of animals escape the floods, easing the burden on overworked shelters and creating room for more rescued pets.
Flying the orphaned animals to the Helen Woodward Animal Center in San Diego, California was literally a life-saving gesture. The Texas rescue group, Operation Pets Alive! had taken in an overwhelming number of orphaned dogs and cats who had inhabited shelters before the storm and were suddenly facing euthanasia simply because they had no place to go. The joint operation between the Helen Woodward Center and Southwest Airlines to relocate these animals allows Operation Pets Alive! to increase animal rescue operations in Houston, as it begins to recover from the effects of the devastating hurricane.
Volunteers helped board the animals into crates in the specially converted cabin of the aircraft, giving them a chance of a new life in California where it is hoped that they will eventually find homes. We don’t yet know if they had access to in-flight entertainment and meals, but we would like to think so!
Anyone who would to help animals affected by the current storms in Texas and Florida are encouraged to adopt or temporarily foster pets. This frees up space in local shelters for animals left newly homeless or separated from their owners. Get in touch with your local shelter for more details.
More info: Helen Woodward Animal Center | Operation Pets Alive | Florida Animal Rescue
418Kviews
Share on Facebook
It's probably too late for United. Which would probably kick the pets off the flight.
Load More Replies...
We are at Tampa Int'l Airport in the Southwest terminal and there are an unbelievable number of pets everywhere. I think I heard the checkin people say they are waiving the pet fees. Leaving ahead of Irma due to hit Florida by Sunday. Cheers to Southwest Airlines.
Lovely :) I hope the poor pets can be reunited with their owners soon (or find a better home where they're not left behind) and don't end up getting killed in a shelter
I think these were all the shelter animals that did NOT have family. Now in their new location they hopefully will get adopted.
Load More Replies...
Hey Folks, Southwest Airlines are always doing great things and caring. Other Airlines take note
Look guys an airline is finally not in the news for royally f*****g up but for actually doing something good...that makes me happy
There is usually a lot of love when pets are involved unless there is a horrible/abusive person involved. Just look at the faces of the people cuddling and petting the animals for a moment during these horrible storms they are smiling. Animals reduce stress.... No doubt!!!
Thank you, Southwest!! It's awesome to see people reach out like this! <3
This is just one more reason why I love Southwest Airlines. Won't fly any other airline unless I have no other choice. Keep up the good work and good will SW.
is there goin to be a post or info where furrbaby families may look to see if theirs is at the LA shelter?
will there be an address etc for people to look for their lost furrbaby?
Saint Francis would be smiling!! Sometimes angels come with wings with jet engines on them... Prayer by Saint Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals ....for our Animal Friends 🐕 🐾❤🐾 Heavenly Father, our human ties with our friends of other species is wonderful and special gift from You. We now ask You to grant our special animal companions your Fatherly care and healing power to take away any suffering they have. Give us, their human friends, new understanding of our responsibilities to these creatures of Yours. They have trust in us as we have in You; our souls and theirs are on this earth together to give one another friendship, affection, and caring. Take our heartfelt prayers and fill Your ill or suffering animals with healing Light and strength to overcome whatever weakness of body they have. Amen
Saint Francis would be smiling!! Sometimes angels come with wings with jet engines on them... Prayer by Saint Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals ....for our Animal Friends 🐕 🐾❤🐾 Heavenly Father, our human ties with our friends of other species is wonderful and special gift from You. We now ask You to grant our special animal companions your Fatherly care and healing power to take away any suffering they have. Give us, their human friends, new understanding of our responsibilities to these creatures of Yours. They have trust in us as we have in You; our souls and theirs are on this earth together to give one another friendship, affection, and caring. Take our heartfelt prayers and fill Your ill or suffering animals with healing Light and strength to overcome whatever weakness of body they have. Amen
i hope they also helped the poor people that couldnt afford the high prices
I always knew Southwest Airlines has a heart. It's in their logo.
I always knew Southwest Airlines has a heart. Just look at their logo.
I really hope they clean everything properly. A lot of people could get very sick if not.
This is why, given a choice I ALWAYS fly Southwest Airlines, they are LITERALLY putting the passenger's needs ahead of everything else
This is why I ALWAYs fly Southwest Airlines given a choice, they LITERALLY put their passengers FIRST KUDOS
I cry every time I see photos of pets trying to survive in a hurricane. GOOD JOB SOUTHWEST, YOUVE MADE ME AND OTHER ANIMAL LOVERS PROUD TO BE HUMAN FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FOREVER
God Bless these people that really step up to the plate to help the furry kids....we are their caretakers and we just be doing our job for those that can't help or understand what is happening!!!
What a heart warming story, so kind of them to rescue these animals. We need more people like this in the world.
Southwest Airlines Fills Cabin With Orphaned Pets, Sells Them to Vietnamese Restaurant.
That had to be one of the most well-behaved flight the crew ever had to deal with.
All those dogs and kitties, look like best passengers ever! But I would also save other animals too, and much more of them if possible. Every living creature should be saved, if possible. I am so sorry that storm happened, that's horrible. :(
As sad and incredibly devastating these natural disasters are, they really tend to bring out the humanity in people. Too bad people aren't this nice all the time.
Inspiring!!!! My kind of airline. Thank you to ALL who made this happen. May all pups and kitties find fabulous forever homes.
HOW MANY CATS AND DOGS WERE MISSED? a communication, marketing post! look at the internet but every aviation company is really bored by "stray cats", because they just lost you cat and you sign something that say "i'm ok with that if my dog, my cat is lost or kill".EASY on the "GREAT!". they call me after...
I'm used to be downvoted for telling the truth. No problem with that, if it can help some cats and dogs, some good owners
Load More Replies...
Next time you get hurt badly, don't call 911. Just die. It's the circle of life.
Load More Replies...
It's probably too late for United. Which would probably kick the pets off the flight.
Load More Replies... We are at Tampa Int'l Airport in the Southwest terminal and there are an unbelievable number of pets everywhere. I think I heard the checkin people say they are waiving the pet fees. Leaving ahead of Irma due to hit Florida by Sunday. Cheers to Southwest Airlines.
Lovely :) I hope the poor pets can be reunited with their owners soon (or find a better home where they're not left behind) and don't end up getting killed in a shelter
I think these were all the shelter animals that did NOT have family. Now in their new location they hopefully will get adopted.
Load More Replies... Hey Folks, Southwest Airlines are always doing great things and caring. Other Airlines take note
Look guys an airline is finally not in the news for royally f*****g up but for actually doing something good...that makes me happy
There is usually a lot of love when pets are involved unless there is a horrible/abusive person involved. Just look at the faces of the people cuddling and petting the animals for a moment during these horrible storms they are smiling. Animals reduce stress.... No doubt!!!
Thank you, Southwest!! It's awesome to see people reach out like this! <3
This is just one more reason why I love Southwest Airlines. Won't fly any other airline unless I have no other choice. Keep up the good work and good will SW.
is there goin to be a post or info where furrbaby families may look to see if theirs is at the LA shelter?
will there be an address etc for people to look for their lost furrbaby?
Saint Francis would be smiling!! Sometimes angels come with wings with jet engines on them... Prayer by Saint Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals ....for our Animal Friends 🐕 🐾❤🐾 Heavenly Father, our human ties with our friends of other species is wonderful and special gift from You. We now ask You to grant our special animal companions your Fatherly care and healing power to take away any suffering they have. Give us, their human friends, new understanding of our responsibilities to these creatures of Yours. They have trust in us as we have in You; our souls and theirs are on this earth together to give one another friendship, affection, and caring. Take our heartfelt prayers and fill Your ill or suffering animals with healing Light and strength to overcome whatever weakness of body they have. Amen
Saint Francis would be smiling!! Sometimes angels come with wings with jet engines on them... Prayer by Saint Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals ....for our Animal Friends 🐕 🐾❤🐾 Heavenly Father, our human ties with our friends of other species is wonderful and special gift from You. We now ask You to grant our special animal companions your Fatherly care and healing power to take away any suffering they have. Give us, their human friends, new understanding of our responsibilities to these creatures of Yours. They have trust in us as we have in You; our souls and theirs are on this earth together to give one another friendship, affection, and caring. Take our heartfelt prayers and fill Your ill or suffering animals with healing Light and strength to overcome whatever weakness of body they have. Amen
i hope they also helped the poor people that couldnt afford the high prices
I always knew Southwest Airlines has a heart. It's in their logo.
I always knew Southwest Airlines has a heart. Just look at their logo.
I really hope they clean everything properly. A lot of people could get very sick if not.
This is why, given a choice I ALWAYS fly Southwest Airlines, they are LITERALLY putting the passenger's needs ahead of everything else
This is why I ALWAYs fly Southwest Airlines given a choice, they LITERALLY put their passengers FIRST KUDOS
I cry every time I see photos of pets trying to survive in a hurricane. GOOD JOB SOUTHWEST, YOUVE MADE ME AND OTHER ANIMAL LOVERS PROUD TO BE HUMAN FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FOREVER
God Bless these people that really step up to the plate to help the furry kids....we are their caretakers and we just be doing our job for those that can't help or understand what is happening!!!
What a heart warming story, so kind of them to rescue these animals. We need more people like this in the world.
Southwest Airlines Fills Cabin With Orphaned Pets, Sells Them to Vietnamese Restaurant.
That had to be one of the most well-behaved flight the crew ever had to deal with.
All those dogs and kitties, look like best passengers ever! But I would also save other animals too, and much more of them if possible. Every living creature should be saved, if possible. I am so sorry that storm happened, that's horrible. :(
As sad and incredibly devastating these natural disasters are, they really tend to bring out the humanity in people. Too bad people aren't this nice all the time.
Inspiring!!!! My kind of airline. Thank you to ALL who made this happen. May all pups and kitties find fabulous forever homes.
HOW MANY CATS AND DOGS WERE MISSED? a communication, marketing post! look at the internet but every aviation company is really bored by "stray cats", because they just lost you cat and you sign something that say "i'm ok with that if my dog, my cat is lost or kill".EASY on the "GREAT!". they call me after...
I'm used to be downvoted for telling the truth. No problem with that, if it can help some cats and dogs, some good owners
Load More Replies... Next time you get hurt badly, don't call 911. Just die. It's the circle of life.
Load More Replies...
632
80