In hurricane-ravished Sabine Pass, Texas, HSUS animal rescuers are scouring the community for furry survivors found only four animals alive. Today they were beginning to think the area's only true survivors were its alligators until they saw an unlikely duo enjoying the flood.
While the responders slowed to herd a parched cow wandering in the road, they caught a glimpse of two swans sitting in a puddle in the middle of a construction site.
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HSUS staff rescued these two swans and located their relieved guardian. © The HSUS |
When they got closer, they discovered that the matching white swans were banded and pinioned, rendering them flightless, and, more than likely, pets.
After calling the animal shelter to make an unusual request—a baby pool—the staffers crated the elegant creatures and took them to safety.
The next day, the rescuers returned to Sabine Pass, this time to search for the swans' home. Although debris made it difficult to pinpoint, the rescuers remembered seeing a property scattered with flight cages and stopped there first.
There, wandering among the rubble, was a man who turned out to be the swans' guardian. The bird lover and his flock had survived Hurricane Rita, he explained to the rescuers, but he was not so lucky during Hurricane Ike.
Before they left, the rescuers searched the property for survivors again, but found no living creatures.
As the rescuers were leaving, the man thanked them and shook their hands, saying he would come by to pick up his sole surviving swans the next day.
After pausing for a moment, he turned to the rescuers and said, "I can't believe anyone cared enough to help my swans. My swans, you have my swans. That gives me reason to go on again."
