Photos courtesy Mark Cirillo, spcaLA Public Information Officer

Animal welfare organizations on the ground this week in Galveston, Texas, continued their work with cat and dog rescues in the wake of Hurricane Ike, according to Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Los Angeles. The eight humane agencies that were permitted to enter the areas hit hardest are busy as ever.

“Since Tuesday, spcaLA has been hard at work rescuing the animals left behind in storm-ravaged Galveston, with a lot more work to be done,” said Madeline Bernstein, spcaLA president.

The nonprofit organization made 70 search-and-rescue attempts in the past two days, she said. The Disaster Animal Response Team was deployed for another full day Thursday.

Since arriving, the rescuers have assisted countless cats and dogs, five ducks, three geese, three pet birds, three prairie dogs, and a hedgehog. Members of spcaLA make up part of the Texas State Animal Rescue Team, led by the Houston SPCA.