Plane filled with 60 stray cats and dogs is flown from Louisiana to California to keep them safe from Hurricane Ida

A plane filled with 60 stray cats and dogs was flown from Louisiana to California to ensure the needy animals were spared the wrath of Hurricane Ida. The 60 pets landed in El Cajon, about 17 miles east of downtown San Diego, in a flight flown by volunteers and coordinated by Seattle-based nonprofit Greater Good Charities.

The pets came from overflowing animal shelters in Louisiana ahead of Hurricane Ida, including this dog called Tiana. The landed on Saturday afternoon.

‘In Louisiana and Mississippi  they were maxed out to capacity. Kennels were full and kennels were lining hallways,’ Jessica Gercke, public relations coordinator for the Helen Woodward Animal Center in San Diego, told local station KFMB. ‘Due to Hurricane Ida, they had to evacuate,’ said Gercke, who replied ‘absolutely’ when Greater Good asked them about hosting some of the animals.

‘To see them fly in is really touching to all of us,’ Gercke shared. ‘It always makes me feel like crying.’ The 60 cats and dogs were evacuated ahead of the storm, which is expected to reach 155 mph winds.

The evacuation was organized by the Seattle-based nonprofit Greater Good Charities. Camp Run-A-Mutt helped shuttle the dogs from the airport to San Diego-area shelters.

Shelters and kennels in Louisiana and Mississippi are reportedly full of pets lining the hallways.

Pictured: A dog named Athena was one of the 60 lucky dogs flown to California.  

Hurricane Ida is expected to land in Louisiana Sunday, bringing heavy rains and storm surge.

Experts estimate expected damage to be in the billions. Pictured: Two people check out the high waves on Lake Pontchartrain, a large estuary directly above downtown New Orleans.

The cats and dogs arrived in California Saturday on a flight flown by volunteers.

Ida’s smaller size means it will be a stronger storm with more localized impact in Louisiana.

An organizer of the pet evacuation asks people to consider fostering, which is free.

If the pets aren’t adopted, ‘Animals ultimately face a sad ending and have to be euthanized,’ said one animal shelter employee.