Just more than a week after Hurricane Ike whirled across parts of Texas, and the long road to recovery continues for humans and animals.

Relief workers are pitching in with everything from clearing away debris and restoring electricity to hundreds of thousands still without power. Others are helping storm victims and their pets get the assistance they need.

One of several organizations behind the animal rescue effort is the Humane Society of Missouri. In Galveston, the HSMO Disaster Response team has rescued close to 700 pets so far and fed and watered approximately 1,500 animals including several hundred livestock.

See photos of the HSMO’s animal rescues by clicking here.

On Monday afternoon, HSMO Disaster Response Team member Tim Rickey reported that mold is becoming a factor in the health of many of the rescued pets. They are developing respiratory problems on top of dehydration and starvation caused by mold growing in hot and humid conditions inside many of the abandoned homes. One rescued cat was found trying to keep cool in the sink of an abandoned home. It was rescued by the HSMO when its cries were heard coming from inside the home. 

In another side of the animal rescue story, owners can now search an online database for their lost pets.

The Disaster Response Pet Portal (click here) is a joint effort of the Houston Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Pethealth Inc. and Pets911.

The database is updated every 15 minutes as animals are rescued and lost animal reports come in.

Owners who find their pets in the database can call the hotline at (713) 435-2990.

Their information will then be added to the animal’s file to speed up the process of being reunited with their pet.