As Hurricane Rita begins to make landfall, evacuees are stuck in gridlock traffic. In some areas traveling a single mile can take up to four hours. And these folks are seeking shelter for their animals.

“The traffic is maddening,” said Jean Cook with the Texas Racing Commission. According to her, volunteers workers from a shelter who were trying to evacuate had to turn around because the heat was to stressful for the animals to endure.

“There has been a tremendous outpouring of help from people trying to help those evacuate,” Cook said. “One man even placed a sign on the side of the road telling people they could water and rest their horses there.”

The Texas Animal Health Commission has post a list of hold sites willing to take in horses evacuating from the coastal areas. Holding areas include Gillespie County in Fredericksburg and Manor Downs in Manor. The list can be found at https://www.tahc.state.tx.us