Volunteers from Sultan-based Pasado's Safe Haven are temporarily packing up the camp they set up in southern Louisiana to help animals displaced by Hurricane Katrina to get out of the way of Hurricane Rita.

Using trucks donated by Haliburton, volunteers and nearly 150 dogs, cats and other small animals are heading north for 24 hours to find safety, said Susan Michaels, co-founder of the animal-welfare group.

In the nearly two weeks that Pasado's volunteers have been in Louisiana, they have rescued more than 700 animals, Michaels said.

The animals that didn't need serious medical attention were taken to a makeshift shelter at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales, La., Michaels said.

Michaels said volunteers will be sent to the Houston area in the coming days to help animals that may be affected by Hurricane Rita. She said they hope someone will donate a farm where volunteers can sleep and animals can be cared for.

Northwest military returning to Gulf Coast

Military crews based in the Northwest are headed back to the Gulf Coast, this time to assist people in the path of Hurricane Rita.

About 30 Coast Guard members from Port Angeles, Astoria, Ore., and North Bend, Ore., traveled to Sacramento, Calif., yesterday, where they will await deployment to areas hit by Hurricane Rita.

The Coast Guard crews include flight mechanics, rescue swimmers and helicopter pilots.

Nearly 60 Coast Guard members from Oregon and Washington have been deployed for Hurricane Katrina relief.

Meanwhile, an Air Force Reserve crew from McChord Air Force Base south of Tacoma left yesterday to deliver equipment to Beaumont, Texas, in preparation for Hurricane Rita.

During the first week after Hurricane Katrina, McChord crews evacuated more than 1,100 people from New Orleans and delivered more than 550 tons of equipment, water, food and medical supplies.