In September 2005, three weeks after Hurricane Katrina left thousands of people and animals homeless, and one year after his mother passed away, Los Angeles-based actor Tim Maddock volunteered to rescue animals in Louisiana. He packed up his car with food, water, clothing, work boots, flashlights and spare batteries, said goodbye to his life-partner and sheepdog, and headed east. Because They Have No Words recounts Maddock's experiences in post-Katrina Louisiana.

Co-writer and producer Lottie Louise Pharriss describes the project as "an imporant [way] to commemorate the disaster by giving a voice to a few of the victims and survivors Tim encountered on his journey." Maddock plays himself in the ensemble production and a portion of the proceeds benefit animal rescue organizations.