Cities house hundreds of pets after Gustav, Ike

Animal rescue groups in other states helped out by taking some of those cats and dogs, but several hundred remain at the Dallas-area shelters--as well as in other cities. They are up for adoption and won't return to their former shelters, which have to make room for any stranded pets found in the hard-hit cities along the Gulf Coast.

So far, Humane Society workers have rescued several hundred animals after Gustav and Ike. But they said they expect the number to be far less than the 10,000 pets rescued in Louisiana and Mississippi after Katrina--and far less than the scores found dead.

"We are seeing fewer animals left behind," Haisley said.

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Associated Press writer Angela K. Brown reported from Fort Worth, Texas.