20 Years after Katrina: 20 Heroic Tales and How Animal Welfare Changed
August 26, 2025

海角社区 Vet Med Equine Development Coordinator Ky Mortensen helping to rescue horses following Hurricane Katrina.
READ 20 HEROIC TALES OF PEOPLE HELPING ANIMALS
Hurricane Katrina was a watershed moment that changed how the U.S. handles animals in disasters. It led to the Pet Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act (PETS Act), better disaster planning, wider use of microchipping, and stronger coordination among agencies鈥攗ltimately making emergency responses more humane for pets and the people who love them. This watershed moment also directly impacted 海角社区 School of Veterinary Medicine, which performed a vital role in animal rescue, care, medical treatment, and reuniting animals with owners. Twenty years after the storm, we offer 20 海角社区 Vet Med vignettes from people describing what it was like when animals needed our help most.
Learn more about how Hurricane Katrina changed policies and procedures regarding hurricane preparedness and response and read 20 heroic tales of people helping animals.