CINCINNATI — A Cincinnati animal rescue is taking in dogs and cats from parts of the country hit hardest by Hurricane Laura. Taking in stray animals during emergencies is something Louie's Legacy has done for years, but this storm season is different.
Every year, the Louie’s team prepares to make the trip south to relieve shelters hit hard following hurricanes. They can't make the trip due to COVID-19, but they're still taking in animals in desperate need of homes.
Maria Gruber, a longtime foster parent to dogs and cats in need of a home, said more people have joined her than ever before. For this cause, she said more foster families stepping up means more animals saved.
"We've definitely seen adult adoptions, harder-to-place dogs, dogs we wouldn't think would get adopted as quickly getting adopted quickly,” she said.
That spirit is needed as Louie's Legacy prepares to take in dogs from areas impacted by Hurricane Laura, coming to Cincinnati to make room in their hometown shelters and sometimes bringing hefty medical expenses with them.
"We take on the medical expenses, so when a dog comes into rescue, we really don't know much about them,” Gruber said. “We know if they're heartworm positive. We know what that expense is."
Relocating the animals saves them from potential euthanasia, but Louie's Legacy needs donations to get them healthy and ready for adoption.
"They're highly adoptable dogs,” Gruber said. “Once they're healthy and ready to go, they should be adopted in no time."
You can make a donation to Louie's Legacy, monetary or otherwise, on the organization's website here. The puppies you saw in the video above will be available for adoption next week.
