Abandoned in Texas, home in Windsor

By Angelica Haggert

Fifteen dogs and seven cats.

It was quite the van ride home from Texas for the Moggy Cat Rescue team.

Lauren Edwards, Moggy Cat Rescue founder, was struck by the images of abandoned animals and overflowing animal rescues after Hurricane Harvey hit Texas in August, so she and other volunteers at Moggy Cat Rescue sprung into action.

“Laura Strathdee and I got talking one night about going down and bringing back as many dogs and cats as we could,” said Edwards. “We reached out the next day to a couple local rescue groups and they were all willing to take in dogs, so we decided to go for it and started fundraising and planning the trip the next day.”

It only took Moggy Cat Rescue two weeks to raise the necessary funds to make the trip. Edwards credits the quick action to the volunteers.

“We have a lot of amazing volunteers, including Jeffrey Slavik who came with us on the trip, and supporters,” said Edwards.

Three dogs ended their trip in Detroit, staying with DAWG Rescue. Another three dogs went to the London Second Chance Auction Animal Rescue and eight dogs went to the Windsor Humane Society. All seven cats remained in Moggy Cat Rescue’s care.

The animals will spend two weeks in medical quarantine before being up for adoption.

“Some may be in foster [care] for a while before going up for adoption depending on their needs,” said Edwards. “The cats were all assessed by our vet today and other than one needing a dental surgery they are healthy and will be up for adoption soon.”

The Detroit Animal Welfare Rescue Group is a no-kill non-profit shelter in Romeo, Mich., and took in three of the dogs brought back from Texas.

“We were contacted to see if we could take in some puppies from Texas that were in need and we received three. They are currently in loving foster homes and will be ready for adoption soon,” said DAWG.“We have not received animals from disasters, but we have saved animals from other states and other countries like Thailand.”

None of the Moggy team had ever been to a disaster rescue before. On the drive home, Edwards got attached to puppy Tex, who has a broken leg and jaw – so she adopted him.

Heightened interest for the Texas rescue animals was apparent through comments on the Moggy Cat Rescue Facebook page. The animals will be available for adoption as their medical clearances permit.