A four-vehicle caravan loaded with supplies for pets rescued in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina left Lawrence on Saturday evening bound for Gonzales, La.

The supplies are being taken in response to a call for help from the Humane Society of the United States, said Midge Grinstead, executive director of the Lawrence Humane Society. Pet food, pet crates, leashes and buckets are among needed items.

The supplies are being taken to a shelter set up for animals in Gonzales, La., between Baton Rouge and New Orleans.

“There were 500 animals brought in last night and 500 more today,” Grinstead said Saturday.

The supplies were donated by Petco Animal Supplies and Orscheln Farm and Home Supply in Lawrence, Vet-Vax Inc. in Tonganoxie, and Pet Smart stores in Overland Park and Shawnee, said Laurie Peak, a volunteer at the Humane Society.

Grinstead and her husband, Mark Grinstead, were traveling in one of three pickup trucks hauling trailers. Driving the other trucks were Peak’s husband, Russell Peak, Eric Green, and in the fourth truck, Chester Henry and Kevin McMullen.