A rescue flight has transported 90 cats and dogs from flood-impacted Texas to Salt Lake City to create space in shelters for displaced animals. The transport, coordinated by Best Friends Animal Society, follows severe flooding that swept through central Texas in June 2026, forcing evacuations and displacing pets from their homes.
The flight, facilitated by Wings of Rescue, delivered 42 cats and 48 dogs to the Best Friends Pet Adoption Center in Salt Lake City. These animals were already in shelters prior to the floods and are being moved to free up critical kennel space for pets arriving from the disaster zones. Among those arriving in Utah was Mai Tai, an orange-and-white kitten.
The relocation effort is part of a broader strategy to support Texas shelters, including Austin Pets Alive!, Footbridge Foundation, and Hill Country Humane Society, which serve as the primary receiving shelters for animals from the impacted communities. Best Friends Animal Society confirmed that no pets lost during the floods are being transported out of the area until every effort has been made to reunite them with their families.
To support the ongoing crisis, Best Friends is partnering with Wings of Rescue, the Humane Society of North Texas, Operation Kindness, SPCA of Texas, and the Castroville Animal Shelter to transport 18,000 pounds of supplies to Texas. The shipment includes 19 pallets containing water, pet food, airline crates, leashes, personal protective equipment, and other animal supplies, which are being distributed in Castroville.
The emergency response addresses a significant scale of displacement. During the height of the crisis, eight shelters were required to evacuate all of their animals, while an additional eight shelters anticipated substantial admissions due to displaced pets. Volunteer Skyler Williams, who has family in the flood-impacted area, assisted with the unloading and settling of the animals upon their arrival in Utah.
The influx of animals is being managed through a network of local partners. Eleven Best Friends Network Partners in the Salt Lake City area have stepped up to take pets into their care to ensure every animal has a safe place to land. Monica Ostrom, the Best Friends shelter partnerships manager, noted that this collaboration helps create space on-site for current animals as well as the new arrivals from Texas.
Best Friends Animal Society continues to work toward its goal of making Utah a no-kill state. The organization's Salt Lake City pet adoption center is foster-based and manages over 2,500 animals annually, including neonatal kittens. The center remains open daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. to facilitate adoptions and fostering opportunities.
The organization also manages upcoming local events, including the return of the annual fundraising dog walk and festival, Strut Your Mutt, to Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on October 17. Additionally, Adventure Buddy Day is scheduled for September 19, allowing community members to take adoptable dogs on local adventures.
