Photos from Hurricane Harvey show the bond between us and our pets

What would you save from your home if a natural disaster were to strike?

That was the heartbreaking question thousands of people living along the gulf coast of the US have had to face over the past few days. Eight people have been confirmed dead as a result of Hurricane Harvey, which has battered parts of Southern Texas and Louisiana since it hit last Friday. Tens of thousands more have been forced to leave their homes, leaving many possessions behind. Amidst the chaos of the tragedy, images of these displaced people carrying their dogs through the flood waters are heartwarming. As part of the relief effort, animal charities have led a drive to help rescue pets across the affected areas. Cats and dogs in shelters across the south have also been transferred to shelters as far away as New York and California to make room for animals separated from their owners, reports USA Today. An estimated 600,000 animals were killed or stranded in Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans in 2003 and authorities are aiming to prevent something similar happening now. One of the most powerful photos of all is surely this one of a man and his pet dog outside his ruined home in the aftermath of the storm. Steve Culver and his wife took shelter in the house when Harvey swept through their hometown of Rockport on Saturday. It was "the most terrifying event in his life," according to Getty. The shot of Steve and dog Otis proves how much comfort pets can give in such a dark time and shows exactly why people are scrambling to save theirs.