COBB COUNTY - People were not the only victims from September's flood.

Cobb County Animal Control Spokesman Nathan McCreary said that 27 animals who were rescued from the floodwaters remain in the Cobb County Animal Shelter, even though 16 families have been identified as owners.

"We understand families were totally displaced from their homes and they haven't had a chance to go back to their residences because of flood damage. Some got moved from temporary shelters to more permanent shelters, or have been to two or three different places. We've just lost contact with them, or the families haven't maintained contact with animal control," McCreary said.

McCreary said the county has been actively pursuing the families through certified mail, phone calls, e-mail addresses and notes posted on their front doors.

"We're trying to make every effort to contact these families to help them or let them know we need to communicate with them or make accommodations for them," McCreary said.

Many of the animals, that are being quarantined separately from the other animals at the shelter that are up for adoption, were rescued by animal control workers as the floodwaters rose inside Cobb homes. McCreary said units were responding to rescue animals just as they were responding to residents in need of rescue, and workers tredged through mud and rescued the animals by boat to keep them alive.

The other animals were picked up along the streets in areas that were hit hardest by the floods, so those animals are also considered displaced because of the floods. Many were also turned in by families because they could not stay in their homes and traveled to homes or shelters where the animals were not allowed.

"Just communicate in some way that you're still interested in keeping your pet and animal control is going to work with you to either keep your pet here until you're settled or, if you're not able to care for the animal, put it up for adoption in the future," McCreary said.

If the animals are not claimed by Dec. 8, McCreary said they will then be available to the general public to adopt.

"The deadline was the 24th. We want to give a little extra time, so December the 8th is the date these animals will go up for adoption to the general population if we can't communicate with the family members," McCreary said.

"This is not just about lost property; for many people these animals are their family members, and we just want to do everything we can to make sure they know they're here and will do what we can to work with them if they still want them."

McCreary said those who know or believe the animal shelter may have their pets should visit the shelter to see the animals, or call the shelter at (770) 590-5600.