Print edition: 
WICHITA — Joe, a 3-year-old Jack Russell terrier mix, spent time Thursday energetically running around and chasing a ball, said Jennifer Campbell, communications director for the Kansas Humane Society.
"You would have never guessed anything happened to him," she said today.
But something did happen to Joe and the other new arrivals at the Humane Society.
When a tornado hit Guthrie, Okla., on May 24, it destroyed the Guthrie Animal Shelter where these cats and dogs lived.
Animal Rescue Corps, a national organization that rescues animals in natural disasters, arranged the animals' transportation to Kansas. The cats and dogs arrived May 27. Fourteen are up for adoption, and a litter of kittens will be available later in June.
Campbell said that whenever possible, the Humane Society offers itself as a resource for regional or national disasters.
With situations like Hurricane Katrina, she said it becomes difficult because though some owners have identified their animals, they have no place to house them so the Humane Society takes care of them until their owners can provide for them.
"That can extend into weeks and months for the shelter," Campbell said.
But the tornado created a different situation. Because the Oklahoma animals were already up for adoption, the Humane Society could put them in its system quickly and start trying to find them owners.
Despite the tornado, Campbell said the animals are quite energetic.
"The really remarkable thing is that the dogs are super happy and super wiggly," she said.
Though the cats seem a little more concerned, she said they're starting to come out of their shells.
To adopt a pet, visit the Humane Society at 3313 N. Hillside. For more information, call 316-524-9196 or visit www.kshumane.org.
The Humane Society is housing about 150 animals, which includes the ones from Oklahoma.
"We would love to get them a happy ending," Campbell said.
The pets available from Oklahoma are:
* Joe, 3-year-old Jack Russell terrier mix
* Tina, 2-year-old terrier mix
* Snickers, 9-month-old flat-coated retriever mix
* Yellow, 3-year-old shepherd mix
* Heather, 6-year-old shih tzu mix
* Buttercup, 1-year-old Pomeranian
* Thistle, a deaf 2-year-old Labrador retriever mix
* Hershey, 1-year-old shepherd mix
* Nina and Reading, 3-month-old chow mix puppies
* Tandy, 2-year-old sable and white medium-haired cat
* Kippy, 1-year-old brown tabby cat
* Zippy, 3-year-old gray cat
* Timba, 6-year-old black and white cat, best as a barn cat.
