Please know that animal rescues work closely together in regard to the animals, including having public sites and lists among each other of animals needing to find their homes (ex: Facebook public sites), helping each other and working with shelters, and finding owners of the animals. They do not take the dogs and “misplace them,” but instead simply find someone to care for and house them during the process of finding their owners and whether or not they have one. They would love for the animals to be reunited with their families, helping anyone that contacted them about a lost pet.

Rescuers, animal control officers and shelter workers can do great things with animals in disastrous situations with their experience and training – they’re not uneducated. A “dog catcher” has a set of skills that are important in these situations and are called upon. So, let’s be grateful vs. doubt the efforts of those who have worked together and spent countless hours assisting, organizing, protecting, caring for, and working to reunite animals with their owners. They have a great network of people, veterinarians, etc., that help the displaced animals and make sure they are taken care of properly.

Perhaps, if you’re interested in helping animals and aren’t currently involved with the efforts, you could contact shelters or rescues looking for assistance and help get information out about the flood victims (animals) in need.

Since I’m not in TN any longer and not active in the current events, I obviously cannot answer all of your questions or concerns. Your best bet would be to talk to those locally working on the flooding efforts with the animals, and I’m sure they’ll be happy to assist you.