20 Years after Katrina

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—ultimately making emergency responses more humane for pets and the people who love them. This watershed moment also directly impacted LSU 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 LSU 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.