Gustav pets cared for in parking lot by animal shelter.

By GREGG FIELDER / The Dallas Morning News

As Hurricane Gustav evacuees streamed into the Dallas Convention Center, Dallas Animal Services was busy taking in boarders as well

Animal services has set up a shelter, located on the first floor of Reunion Arena’s parking garage, to house the pets of evacuees staying at the convention center. The shelter currently houses 43 dogs, one cat and a turtle, an official said Monday.

More animals are expected to trickle into the shelter throughout the day but there’s no way to tell how many, said Lynetta Moore, the city’s assistant director of code compliance. The makeshift kennel can accommodate up to 310 animals.

At the parking garage on Monday, several rows of large chain link cages lined one side of the concrete floor, opposite rows of smaller individual cages. The shelter also has more unassembled units stacked on site in case they need the space, Ms. Moore said.

Animal services is providing transportation for the pets to the shelter if their owners are unable to take them there. Once they arrive, all animals are checked by a veterinarian and given vaccinations if needed.

Workers also are grouping pets by family to ensure owners receive all their pets when they are able to return home.

“We just want to make sure we provide the best care for our guests,” Ms. Moore said

Re: Gustav pets cared for in parking lot by animal shelter.

I am glad they learned from the devastation 3 years ago. i felt so bad for all those animals left behind and that had to be rescued days after because America was on New Orleans case after seeing pics on TV. I think they said on the news that 200,000 people evacuated this time because they could bring their pets. Alot said if the pets couldn't go they were not going. So I am glad pets were able to evacuate.