Latest news with #KarenGuerrero
Daily Mail
08-07-2025
- Climate
- Daily Mail
Hellish Texas flooding leaves 'thousands' of pets missing
Animal rescue groups are desperately searching for 'thousands' of lost pets swept away from their families and homes during the deadly Texas floods. The horrific flash floods have claimed the lives of at least 108 people as of Tuesday afternoon, and officials have confirmed the operation has shifted from rescue to recovery. As authorities continue to search for the 23 people still missing across the state, volunteers are combing through the ruins for lost pets and working to reunite them with their owners. Kerrville Pets Alive, a local animal rescue at the epicenter of the damage, has already taken in 40 animals and received 100 reports of either lost or found pets since Friday, according to the New York Post. 'We are seeing an influx of animals because the water is receding,' Karen Guerrero, founding member of the nonprofit, told the outlet. 'There are thousands of pets out there.' One pup, named Superman, was found alone on a large pile of debris after the floods killed his owner, according to partner animal rescue Austin Pets Alive. 'Fearful and aching after being swept away from his home, Superman was hesitant to trust the search and rescue crews, snapping as they were trying to save him,' the rescue said. 'With patience and a bit of dog-whispering, volunteers were finally able to earn his trust and safely remove Superman from the scene.' The animal rescue said relatives of Superman's owner are doing everything they can to get him back, and the rescue was able to put him in foster care until they are ready to bring him home. CEO of Austin Pets Alive, Dr. Ellen Jefferson, told ABC News Live teams are working around the clock to address the growing needs of hurt and lost animals. 'We are in the thick of it,' she said. 'We are triaging animals that are coming in with medical needs, injured or ill, found by good Samaritans. 'It is overwhelming. There is so much damage; it is surreal. You can't comprehend it until you see it, and it is the stuff that makes nightmares, honestly. 'But, when a pet is found, even if that pet is no longer living, and we're able to identify who it belongs to and let the people know, there's still a sense of relief.' Jefferson explained that her organization worked to relocate animals already in the shelter system before the flood, so they serve as lost and found centers. 'We need to go through the process of making sure that every pet has been identified and that the owners have every opportunity to reclaim before there is ever a hint of re-adopting,' she said. Both shelters have shared dozens of photos of the pets they've rescued in hopes of reuniting them with their owners. 'There's not a single piece of this that has been easy or simple,' Jefferson told CBS News. 'We've been trying to do a little bit of everything down there in this time of chaos and extreme need. 'The number one thing we need right now is funding. We have a lot of people working on this. We have a lot of medical care that is going into this. We have a lot of transports going out of the state. 'We are doing so many different things and we have received, thankfully, a lot of supplies. 'We're still working on medical supplies and other donations like that there's so much to do that we could always take more fosters and volunteer. So, there's really no limits to what people can provide. We need it all.' For every rescue there are dozens of more tales of heartbreak, including the story of William "Bill" Huston and his dog Sage. The owner and his dog were swept away while staying at the HTR Campgrounds. Sage's remains were discovered seven miles down the river, while Huston is still missing.
New York Post
08-07-2025
- General
- New York Post
Texas animal rescue group helps ‘influx' of missing dogs and cats as floodwaters recede: ‘Thousands of pets out there'
KERRVILLE, Texas — Volunteers have been scouring the flood ravaged Hill Country landscape in Texas looking for lost and frightened pets, sometimes whistling in the wasteland in the hopes of encouraging a timid dog or cat to come forward. Rescue group Kerrville Pets Alive has already taken in 40 animals separated from their owners and received 100 reports of either lost or found pets since Friday's hellish floods. 'We are seeing an influx of animals because the water is receding,' Karen Guerrero, founding member of the nonprofit, told The Post on Monday. 'There are thousands of pets out there.' Advertisement 4 Kerrville Pets Alive is a volunteer organization looking for lost pets in the wake of the devastating floods in Texas. LP Media Kerrville Pets Alive is looking to reunite pets with their owners, and find pets whose owners may have died in the tragic flooding. Volunteers are also looking through wreckage to find the bodies of pets that didn't survive the once-in-a generation flooding. Advertisement Sadly, the group is already handling about 20 dead pets. But one that emerged from the devastation was a 'brave' Whippet whose owners were killed in the floods. 'She's by herself,' said Lauren Singleton, a 33-year-old Kerrville resident and teacher who is fostering the orphaned pooch. 4 Lauren Singleton, 33, is fostering a dog whose owners died in the Texas floods. LP Media Advertisement 'I have pets of my own so as soon as I saw they were needing help and support, the first thing I did was step up and foster.' 'She's so sweet, too. She's been giving me kisses,' Singelton said, adding the dog is skittish. Eventually, the Whippet will head to a breeder. 'I'm happy she's not going to be in the kennel,' Singleton said. 'She will have a safe space to go lay down and have a good night's rest.' Advertisement Volunteers expect there will be about 50 dogs and 50 cats up for adoption. There have been about 15 reunions so far. 4 Kerville Pets Alive expects to have 50 cats and 50 dogs who will be up for adoption. LP Media 'It's just incredible,' Guerrero said. The death toll from the catastrophic Texas floods surpassed 100 on Monday as rescue workers continue to sort through the destruction looking for survivors. Meanwhile, the volunteers from the Kerrville Pets Alive have been on the hunt for beloved pets. One of those volunteers, Kelly Kirby, 50, came from San Antonio to help look for lost animals. 'This was somebody's baby,' she said holding a dead Cockatiel after coming back from her search near the river. 'It's heartbreaking.' Advertisement 4 Kerville Pets Alive has reunited about 15 pets with their owners so far. LP Media Kirby, whose family lives in the area, said she's been hoping she can reunite pets with their owners. 'We have just been whistling and calling them out and seeing if we can see any pets that are alive or deceased,' she said. Looking for human victims of the flood, she said, was too much. 'I didn't think I had the heart to help on the human side, Kirby said. 'I just don't know if I can do that. But I know I can help on this side.'
