Nearly 200 dogs and cats are heading to new lives in the Northeast this week after being pulled from storm-hit shelters in South Florida where four-legged refugees are continuing to pour in needing homes, authorities there say.
At Palm Beach International Airport, a van full of cats and three city buses filled with dogs pulled onto the tarmac Wednesday morning. Animal rescue workers hoped the animals would be able to board a flight to shelters in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
Hundreds Of Animals Await Evacuation From Florida's Storm-Hit Shelters
“By moving these animals out, it’s definitely going to allow us some more space to help the new pets coming in,” Elizabeth Harfmann, community outreach manager for PBC Animal Care and Control, told HuffPost. She stressed that they started running out of shelter space before Irma even made landfall.
“We had close to 100 that came in before the storm,” she said, noting there were “people just bringing them into the shelter because they were evacuating and not taking their pets with them.”
In the other instances, animals were found abandoned outside their homes, some tied to trees or cars.
Advertisement
“So we had to send a whole team of officers out to round up dogs and cats that were left behind,” she said.
Fortunately for anyone who lost a pet during the storm, their pet should still be in local shelters for pick-up.
“When [animal shelters] see a storm coming, they want to get in, pull animals out of the shelters that are already ready for adoption, so that lost pets have a place to go for people to come get them,” said Rich Anderson, executive director of Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League.
That lesson was learned following Hurricane Katrina, when pets lost in the storm were rounded up and moved out of state, he said.
“The people not only lost their homes, but they also lost their pets,” Anderson said. “So today, you see everybody’s effort is to keep the lost animals in their community so that they can be reunited with their families.”
On Wednesday, only 29 dogs were able to fit on the plane. None of the cats were able to snag a seat.
The workers had expected to fit more animals during their first flight on Wednesday, they said, but the larger dogs’ crates took up more room than expected.
Workers remained determined, however, and on Thursday morning they managed to get 91 cats and 10 dogs on a flight to the New Hampshire SPCA and Second Chance Animal Shelter in Massachusetts. Another flight planned for Friday is expected to move around 30 dogs and 15 cats to a shelter in New York.
Advertisement
Meanwhile, areas outside Florida are welcoming the animals, with both temporary and permanent homes.
In Duncan, South Carolina, where the ASPCA set up an emergency shelter for animals affected by the storms, Tim Rickey, vice president of ASPCA Field Investigation and Response, said they expect to take in 300 to 350 animals on Wednesday and Thursday alone.
“I expect that number to grow pretty rapidly,” he told HuffPost. “Our animals relocation team has been working around the clock trying to get as many animals out of harm’s way.”
He said one of the ASPCA’s biggest challenges during such a crucial time is the emotional toll it takes on workers.
“This has been a bit of a mental overload for everybody,” he said. “We put a lot of effort into the Hurricane Harvey response and typically you’re able to take a breather before you are able to shift focuses, but we weren’t able to do that.”
Advertisement
Harfmann echoed that stress, describing their round-the-clock work to take in animals, find foster homes, locate planes and compile paperwork.
Some puppy love between a Great Dane and a pit bull before 29 dogs hightailed it out of South Florida pic.twitter.com/CUTSzc8RMr
“Lots of coffee. Lots of Starbucks runs,” she said. “But it’s worth it. It’s super exciting for us. It’s worth the no sleep.”
Anyone wanting to help donate to the ASPCA’s efforts can do so through their website. Rickey stressed the need for monetary donations, which allow them to purchase specific items they need right away.
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.