04:27 PM CDT on Monday, August 29, 2005

By Christina Lee / 11 News

Eight truckloads of four-legged evacuees came to Houston from New Orleans and now they need new homes.

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The dogs must stay in temporary crates at the SPCA.

The Louisiana SPCA was forced to load up all of its homeless animals and send them to higher ground.

Now the Houston SPCA resembles a nursery full of furry babies who need constant attention and a lot of tender loving care.

"When they first got here they didn't want to use the bathroom... have any water," said Jennifer Ranero with Louisiana's SPCA.

On Sunday morning, 263 cats and dogs took a 10-hour long road trip from New Orleans to Houston.

"The animals are stressed... lots of diarrhea," explained Laura Maloney.

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Many of the animals were a little stressed after their long road trip from Louisiana.

Maloney heads Louisiana's SPCA. She and 13 staff members never hesitated to get their animals out of Katrina's way.

"Our shelter is under water so we're not able to take them back right now," said Maloney. "I'm not sure when we'll be able to head back to our animal shelter."

Crates of cats and dogs are now crowded into Houston's shelter.

In fact, there are so many extra dogs at the SPCA that the dogs from Louisiana have to stay in temporary crates until more room opens up, they're adopted or they go back to Louisiana.

The goal is to get all the animals adopted right here in Texas.

"We'd love for Houstonians to turn these Cajun kitties and puppies into Lone Star dogs," said Alice Sarmiento, Director of Community Outreach for the Houston SPCA.

You can help by either adopting a pet or donating to the Houston SPCA. They need dog and cat food as well as money to pay for all the extra care of these animals. To make a donation online, click here: SPCA donations.