Urgent From PETA: Cruel—and Criminal—to Abandon Animals in Texas During Tropical Storm Nicholas

For Immediate Release:
September 13, 2021

Contact:
Brrooke Rossi 202-483-7382

Because tropical-storm and storm-surge warnings are in effect in areas of Texas including Beaumont, Galveston, and Victoria, PETA is issuing a reminder to never leave dogs tethered or penned outside and always take animal companions with you if you have to evacuate.

Believe it or not, every time there’s a natural disaster, many dogs and other companion animals are left outside to fend for themselves and even left behind when humans evacuate. Dogs kept tethered will swim to exhaustion and drown—and there are tethered dogs everywhere. PETA’s Animal Rescue Team has witnessed firsthand the trauma that animals endure when left behind to face floodwaters and flying debris. During previous storms, we have found dead dogs. We have also found dogs up to their necks in water, unable to sit or lie down, and in almost-submerged crates inside houses and seen animals who have been flung around by high winds. And of course, animals are petrified in these kinds of weather conditions.

PETA has released a natural disaster–preparedness PSA featuring Dean Winters. It serves a reminder to make plans to ensure the safety of animal companions long before evacuating. For more information, please visit PETA.org.