Answering the Call: 20 Years of Disaster Relief, Starting with Katrina

Aug 28, 2025

Twenty years ago, as the floodwaters of Hurricane Katrina swallowed neighborhoods and displaced thousands of families, a small convoy of PAWS Chicago volunteers loaded up five vehicles and headed south. Their destination: a shelter outside Little Rock, Arkansas, packed with animals surrendered or stranded in Katrina’s devastating wake. Their mission: to help.

It was the first time PAWS Chicago had mounted a disaster relief effort. Fueled by heartbreak and hope, the team worked side by side with overwhelmed southern shelters, transferring in animals that had already been in the system—making space for newly displaced pets and giving families the time and opportunity to find their beloved companions. 

From that moment in September 2005, when the first vanload of dogs and cats arrived back in Chicago to cheers, news crews, and the beginnings of a line of potential adopters that stretched down the block, a legacy began. 

“That first rescue brought over 100 animals to safety. It also sparked a tidal wave of support from Chicagoans, who donated supplies, opened their homes to foster, and helped fund further trips,” remembers Paula Fasseas, PAWS Chicago’s Founder and Executive Chair, who was part of that rescue effort. “Within weeks, two more convoys followed,” she said. 
 
Four dogs rescued by the Ohio National Guard—including a puppy named Lucky who had survived alone for nearly two weeks—were among the animals who found a safe haven at PAWS.

In the 20 years since Katrina, PAWS has completed more than two dozen large-scale disaster relief missions. From hurricanes in Louisiana, Texas, and Florida to tornadoes across the Midwest, floods in Tennessee, and even massive abuse cases like the one on the island of Dominica in 2023, PAWS has answered the call—again and again. 

Each mission starts with a need. Often, it’s a call from a shelter in the path of a storm or a partner organization struggling to keep up in a devastated region. Before PAWS vans ever leave Chicago, they are packed with donations—bottled water, pet food, blankets, and essential supplies for families and animals in crisis. 

Once on the ground, the team works closely with local shelters to take in animals already in their care, not the newly displaced. This strategic approach ensures space opens up for pets who have just been separated from their families—and increases the chance they’ll be reunited. 

“The round-trip drives are grueling. Volunteers take shifts behind the wheel, often returning to Chicago less than 36 hours after departure,” Paula marveled at the energy and passion of the PAWS Community.  

The first Hurricane Katrina rescue mission 

Every animal receives full medical care upon arrival, including vaccinations, spay/neuter, and treatment for common illnesses like heartworm and respiratory infections that are often overlooked in overburdened shelters. 

“None of this work would be possible without the people of Chicago. Our fosters, adopters, donors, and volunteers always rise to the occasion. When disaster strikes, our community expands—opening hearts and homes to animals in desperate need,” Paula said. 

Importantly, these rescue efforts never interrupt our lifesaving work here at home. Our commitment to local animals, especially those from Chicago Animal Care and Control, remains unchanged.  
 
“When we take on a disaster mission, we simultaneously expand our foster network and operations to make room. It’s all part of PAWS’ No Kill mission—to save lives, wherever and whenever they are at risk,” Paula clarified. 

What started as a heartfelt response to one of the nation’s most devastating hurricanes has become a defining part of PAWS Chicago’s identity. Twenty years later, the mission remains the same: to show up, to save lives, and to be the voice for animals—especially when the world around them falls apart. 

Today, 20 years later, as we reflect on the devastation and remember all that was lost, we pay tribute to the human spirit, the heroism, resilience, and sustained transformation that emerged in the aftermath of tragedy. From the darkest moments, lasting legacies are born.

Support to the Disaster Relief Fund ensures that PAWS Chicago is there when the next disaster strikes.

Thank you for standing with pets when they need you most.