PAWS Chicago’s disaster relief program began in 2005 when the organization took in more than 200 pets in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, according to the shelter. Since then, PAWS has rescued pets from areas impacted by Hurricane Helene last year and rescued 33 dogs from Houston shelters after storms in 2023.

Heavy rains caused multiple rivers in Central and North Texas to swell by more than 20 feet. Search efforts for victims of the July Fourth floods were suspended until Monday.