Hurricane Katrina
Abandoned Pet Foster Program FAQs
HOW DOES THE ABANDONED PET FOSTER PROGRAM WORK?
More than 200 pets are being flown from the improvised animal shelters in the gulf area to St. Louis. These animals are currently considered “abandoned pets” and must be kept in foster care for a minimum of 30 days in order for their owners to find them. Their photos will be placed on www.petfinder.org to expedite the reunions. At the end of five weeks, if unclaimed, these animals will become Humane Society of Missouri pets and could be available for adoption.
Please consider carefully if you are willing to give a temporary home to these homeless animals for a minimum of 30 days. Please note that unlike the initial need for foster caregivers (where the pets were owned, and their behavior and medical needs known) the temperaments and medical needs of these animals are unknown to us. These animals have been rescued from various situations as a result of the hurricane. Some might be owned and lost, some might have been owned and their owners are deceased, some might have been strays. Unfortunately, we simply do not know anything about them.
At the end of a minimum of 30 days, if your Foster Pet has not been claimed, legal ownership of the pets will go to the Humane Society of Missouri. You will be required to relinquish your custody of the pet at that time and deliver the pet to the Humane Society of Missouri, 1201 Macklind Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110.
Pets with good temperaments will be available for adoption.
WHO PAYS FOR MEDICAL COSTS AND/OR FOOD?
Since these pets are currently without owners, the Humane Society of Missouri is paying for medical care for treatments that occur if the pet is taken to either of our two veterinary medical facilities. Appointments are required. WE WILL NOT REIMBURSE FOSTER CAREGIVERS FOR TREATMENTS PROVIDED BY OTHER VETERINARY FACILITIES.
Thanks to the generosity of Nestle Purina Pet Care, foster pet caregivers will be given an initial supply of the appropriate food for their foster pet.
WHERE ARE THESE PETS FROM?
These pets were rescued from communities in southern Mississippi and have been in a temporary shelter in Hattiesburg, Mississippi since their rescue.
WHERE CAN I RECEIVE VETERINARY CARE FOR PETS IN THE ABANDONED PET FOSTER PROGRAM?
Humane Society of Missouri Veterinary Medical Center
St. Louis Location
1201 Macklind Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63110
(314) 951-1534
Hours:
Monday - Friday: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Closed all major holidays
Humane Society of Missouri Veterinary Medical Center
Westport Area Branch Location
2400 Drilling Service Rd (Off Dorsett, two miles east of I-270)
Maryland Heights, MO 63043
(314) 951-1590
Hours:
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Thursday: 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Closed all major holidays
Please call for an appointment. Please identify this pet as part of the Katrina foster program. Please provide at least one of the following:
- The pet’s identification number (Humane Society of Missouri's "A-number")
- The pet’s microchip number
- Your name and phone number
WHAT IF THE ANIMAL(S) IS/ARE NOT WORKING OUT IN THE FOSTER HOME?
Please call the Humane Society of Missouri at (314) 951-1579 and leave a detailed voicemail message including your name, phone number and the animal’s HSMO A-number. Our personnel resources are currently limited; we will do our best to return your call as soon as possible.
Arrangements will be made for you to relinquish the pet.
HOW WILL I KNOW IF THE OWNER IS LOCATED?
A Humane Society of Missouri representative will contact you if the pet’s owner is located. DO NOT give the animal to anyone other than a Humane Society of Missouri representative.
DO I NEED TO BE A MISSOURI RESIDENT?
At this time, participants in the Humane Society of Missouri’s Abandoned Pets Foster Program must be either a Missouri or Illinois resident.
CAN I ADOPT ANY OF THESE ANIMALS?
After a minimum of 30 days, if the Abandoned Pet(s) in your care has/have not been claimed, legal ownership of the pets will go to the Humane Society of Missouri. You will be required to relinquish your custody of the pet at that time and deliver the pets to the Humane Society of Missouri, 1201 Macklind Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110.
Pets with good temperaments will be available for adoption.
If you would like to adopt a pet, we have year-round, continuously full shelters with animals looking for good, loving homes right here in the St. Louis area! Visit www.hsmo.org to get hours and locations of our four adoption centers and to see photos of the pets available for adoption.
HOW CAN I PREPARE MY HOUSEHOLD FOR THIS NEW FOSTER PET?
- ALWAYS keep your resident pets current on their vaccinations.
- Please keep your foster pet(s) segregated from your resident pets for two weeks. After two weeks, please supervise all interactions between the foster pets and your resident pets.
- We have behavior information that will be useful.
HOW CAN I LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF MISSOURI IS DOING FOR THE HURRICANE RESCUE EFFORT?
Read the diary that our rescue team members are updating daily. It's extremely informative and interesting.
Ways to Help Pets Affected by Hurricane Katrina
