Dog News

Dog Lovers Unite To Rescue 21 Canine Harvey Victims in One Boat!

by Amy Drew

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Keeping dogs afloat in Texas, these men — and Walter — are certainly heroes. Photo: Betty Walter/Facebook

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Betty Walter prepped ahead of time for Hurricane Harvey.

In a report on People.com, she gathered up her own dogs along with those of her friends and neighbors and even a few foster dogs awaiting adoption and holed up in her southeast Houston, TX, attic. Flood waters began to rise as they waited for help. It was crowded, to be sure. Some dogs were small but others, like the 120-pound Great Pyrenees, took up more space and were more difficult to move.

Walter kept folks apprised of her situation via Facebook posts, alerting folks to her needs as supplies ran out, but refused to leave the dogs behind.

Fourteen hours after reaching out, help arrived in the form of three men — Buck Beasley, Jeremy Williams and Anthony Hernandez — who had been out in a boat helping other Harvey victims. Already in their vessel, a man and his Doberman. They were there to help, but Walter cautioned them about how many animals she had with her, worried they wouldn’t all fit.

They were adamant about helping, though, and managed to get 21 dogs aboard, walking alongside the boat until they reached Beasley’s truck. They drove roughly 20 miles to his hometown, which was dry.

Beasley and wife, Amy, had been rescuing animals since Harvey started; the pair are volunteers for Bay Area Pet Adoption and, conveniently, had space at their home where the dogs could stay temporarily. They offered the four rescued humans and two dozen dogs a place to stay for the time being.

Before long, Walter had updated her Facebook page with the good news that all the dogs were in safe places — some with her, others at boarding facilities, foster homes or back with their owners.

Walter has set up a YouCaring site to help fund the rescue efforts. Click here if you want to help!