At the Animal House Vet Clinic it was all hands on deck Friday. From their basement to the top floor and every room in between, each dog crate was full.
Every one of the dogs was displaced by Harvey.
"We eventually got the call that they needed help in southwest Louisiana getting dogs out to make room for the dogs coming in," Jean Harrison with the Big Fluffy Dog Rescue said.
The Big Fluffy Dog Rescue sent volunteers down south to pick up the pack, 40 dogs in all. Getting back, however, was a bit of a challenge as remnants of Harvey hit Middle Tennessee Thursday evening.
"Those folks were on the roads for 24 straight hours," Harrison said. "I had drivers coming in on 40. They got stranded in high water on 40 and had to come around the back way."
All the while, staff members at the vet clinic waited to help. "God love them, Animal House came in and had staff here at 3 o'clock in the morning to unload, so we're still triaging dogs," Harrison said.
On Thursday, volunteers arrived in groups to do what they can.
"They made a post about it and said, 'We need help, walkers to volunteer,' and I said, 'We should totally do it, in the rain.' We've been in the rain all day yesterday. We love it. We went out to the bars last night in our bathing suits," laughed Brianna Milley.
Milley and her friends have been vacationing in Nashville from Boston, and they jumped on the opportunity to lend a hand. "How often do you go on vacation and there's a natural disaster, and you can go and help out," Milley said.
With a little help and some extra love, the dogs may find a forever home here soon.
"I'm truly blessed that this many people care about 40 dogs from Louisiana," Harrison said.
It will be a couple of weeks before most of the dogs will be available for adoption. The best way to keep up with them is via the Big Fluffy Dog Rescue's Facebook page.
