12:00 AM CDT on Tuesday, September 2, 2008

By GREGG FIELDER / The Dallas Morning News

As Hurricane Gustav evacuees streamed into the Dallas Convention Center, Dallas Animal Services was busy taking in boarders as well.


Dallas Animal Services officer Jennifer Selesky walked Oreo on Monday morning at the makeshift animal shelter on the first floor of Reunion Arena's parking garage. The shelter currently houses 43 dogs, one cat and a turtle, but more animals are expected.

Animal services has set up a shelter on the first floor of Reunion Arena's parking garage to house the pets of evacuees staying at the convention center. The shelter currently houses 43 dogs, one cat and a turtle, an official said Monday.

More animals were expected to trickle into the shelter throughout the day, but there's no way to tell how many, said Lynetta Moore, the city's assistant director of code compliance. The makeshift kennel can accommodate up to 310 animals.

At the parking garage on Monday, several rows of large chain-link cages lined one side of the concrete floor, opposite rows of smaller individual cages. The shelter also has more unassembled units stacked on site in case they need the space, Ms. Moore said.

Animal services is providing transportation for the pets if their owners are unable to take them there. Once they arrive, all animals are checked by a veterinarian and given vaccinations if needed.

Workers also are grouping pets by family to ensure owners receive all their pets when they are able to return home.

"We just want to make sure we provide the best care for our guests," Ms. Moore said.