As the new year rushes in, many might be happy to bid adieu to 2017, which brought with it such catastrophic hurricanes as Harvey, Irma, Jose, and Maria, roiling through the Atlantic and causing major destruction across the United States, leaving hundreds of fatalities in their wake. It was a revealing time throughout the country, when Americans who had been bickering heatedly throughout the year—just read your Facebook—suddenly came together to help, offering food and lodging to stranded travelers, donating supplies to those left homeless and adrift, and providing funding where needed. And when it comes to the animals—many stranded, as their forever families were forced to flee for their lives from the more than 156-mile-per-hour winds—corporations across America showed their true humanitarian side. One of those that flew to the rescue in early September was Dallas-based Southwest Airlines.
While major airlines have been in the news of late for reportedly bad behavior (read: United Airlines and Delta’s abrupt passenger pull-offs), Southwest teamed with San Diego-based Helen Woodward Animal Center (HWAC) to assist Operation Pets Alive! (OPA) with the transportation of area animals after Hurricane Harvey blew fiercely across the Lone Star State. Southwest, jointly with HWAC, relocated more than 60 animals from Houston animal shelters to San Diego in an effort to clear out the shelters and make more room available to those animals left behind after the devastating September storm.
