• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

  713.863.9835

  Email Us

  Enrollment

  • ADOPT
  • VOLUNTEER
  • FOSTER
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
FFL Logo 2020

Friends For Life Animal Shelter

#BeUnsheltered

  • Our Animals
    • Dogs
    • Cats
    • Adopt
    • Recently Adopted
    • Stay Tuned
  • Get Help
    • Drive-Thru Clinic
    • Pet Food Bank
    • Enrollment
    • Rescues × Other Shelters
    • Pet Behavior Support
    • Financial Assistance
    • Animal Control
    • Animal Cruelty Report
  • Resources
    • Wellness
    • Pet Ownership
    • Behavioral Resources
    • Disaster Preparation × Crisis Response
    • Shelter Best Practices
  • Programs & Events
    • Behavior
    • Fix Houston
    • Thinking Outside the Shelter
    • #ProjectWARM
  • About Us
    • #Unsheltered
    • Our Shelter
    • FAQ
    • Blog
    • Partners
    • Press
  • Donate
    • Make A Donation
    • Wishlist
    • Store
    • Medical Cases
    • Sponsorship Opportunities

Harvey Response

September 8, 2017 by Friends For Life

On Sunday, August 27, while the storm was still raging and waters were still rising, we were asked to manage the care for animals arriving with evacuees to George R. Brown convention center.

Our director sits on the advisory board of the city of Houston animal shelter (BARC) so it was logical that we got the call. The only No Kill shelter in Houston, we have disaster-trained staff and an army of passionate volunteers. We took on this challenge, knowing that our results will define how the nation thinks about sheltering people with animals during a disaster.

  • At its peak, the shelter at the George R Brown housed approximately 10,000 people
  • We cared for nearly 3,000 animals between August 27 and September 8
  • Approximately 1,500 animals received free veterinary care and supplies

We realized that what had to happen was that we needed to set up a shelter within a shelter, and what was needed in terms of supplies was everything.

Salise Shuttlesworth, Friends For Life Executive Director

During Katrina many died because they would not evacuate without their pets. When Harvey struck, Houston took the opportunity for a smarter and more empathetic response. Friends For Life took the lead at George R Brown and created a “proof of concept” for the nation—showing that people and animals can safely be sheltered together.


What it looked like in the moment…

Behind the Scenes at George R. Brown
Animal Care at George R. Brown

A Template For the Nation

In collaboration with the USDA, the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, and the American National Red Cross, Friends For Life helped to create a national disaster manual for launching and running a cohabitated shelter. Extensive field guides already exist to brief jurisdictions on every aspect of human-shelter management, ranging from handling HVAC systems to parking. This new manual, based in part on Houston’s experience with Harvey, supplements those materials, providing a crash course on how to keep families intact while also attending to public health and safety concerns.

Cohabitated-HumanHousehold-Pet-Sheltering-Toolkit

For FAQ about the manual, please click here.

Facebook0Tweet0Pin0Print0

Category iconDisaster Preparation & Emergency Care,  Shelter Best Practices Tag iconcommunity,  evacuation

The #FFLArmy makes what we do possible.

Make a difference with a single or recurring contribution, or by starting a fundraiser.

Donate Now

Footer

Friends For Life Shelter

Don Sanders Adoption Center
107 E 22nd Street
Houston, TX 77008

713-863-9835

Hours:
Adoptions are still happening!
We've transitioned to curbside
services, so give us a call if
you need something.

Petsmart Cattery

2902 S. Shepherd
Houston, TX 77098

Adoption Hours:
Showcasing cats
Saturdays, 12-5PM

Join Our Newsletter

Get updates on animals in their forever homes, FFL news, and where we'll be around Houston.
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Email us at info@friends4life.org

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube

© 2021 Friends For Life Animal Shelter. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit. | Website by Road Warrior Creative

  • Contact Us
  • Blog
  • Press
  • Volunteer Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Return To Top