Southwest Airlines flies shelter animals out of Houston

Southwest Airlines flew more than 60 cats and dogs left orphaned by Hurricane Harvey from Texas to California.

The San Diego-bound flight carried the animals intended for the Helen Woodward Animal Center in Rancho Santa Fe, the Huffington Post reported. 

Many animal shelters in the storm-drenched area of Texas were overcrowded and without power or vital supplies, according to a Facebook statement from the animal center. 

“Operation Pets Alive!” opened up valuable space in Texas shelters, sparing many animals who would otherwise have been euthanized because of shelter overcrowding. 

“We’re humbled and inspired by the teamwork shown by our partners and employees to coordinate and fly 64 animals from Houston shelters that needed to be moved to make room for families’ displaced pets,” the organization said on its Facebook page.

Hurricane Harvey brought devastating floods to the Houston area and killed more than 70 people. 

Other groups are preparing similar rescue flights for animals as Hurricane Irma quickly approaches the Florida coast.