A Rochester native is about to embark on a huge rescue mission, to bring back dogs from animal shelters in Houston and put them up for adoption in western New York.
That's the idea behind "Ruff to Rescue Express," founded by Ginelle Baker who now calls Houston her home.
She was in Rochester when Harvey hit, and she's working with other rescue organizations on a plan to drive several trucks to Houston to distribute donated goods to pet owners, and then bring back displaced animals.
"People can take care of themselves. You know we are a very resourceful species. But when you're talking about domesticated dogs and cats, they depend upon us so heavily for their survival. So making sure that they are also taken care of is crucial," she said.
According to Baker, at any given time in Houston there are 300 thousand to 400 thousand street animals.
She says she can't imagine what that number is now after Harvey.
Baker says when she moved to Houston, and saw the staggering number of stray animals, she said something had to be done.
So she started "Ruff to Rescue Express."
"We only pull animals that have been in foster homes down in Texas where we know they're not an owned animal, they were a stray, or dogs coming out of shelters where no one has gone to get them back," she said.
Baker and her team of other rescue organizations are driving back to Houston in four 26 foot trucks on September 9th.
Click this linkif you want more information on contributing to this animal rescue effort.