Saturday, October 8, 2016

HSUS transports shelter animals in advance of Hurricane Matthew

This week, the Humane Society of the United States and Greenville County Animal Care relocated South Carolina shelter animals before Hurricane Matthew hit the Southeast coast.

The HSUS’s Animal Rescue team moved the animals from Charleston Animal Society to the HSUS’ Maryland office, where they were transferred to HSUS Emergency Placement Partners to make room for pets expected to arrive with residents evacuating coastal areas. They arrived in Maryland on Thursday afternoon.

At the same time, additional HSUS Emergency Placement Partners transported animals out of Greenville County Animal Care to make room for flood victims.

“We are grateful to be working with the Charleston Animal Society and Greenville County Animal Care to ensure animals will be safely housed during this strong storm,” said Wanda Merling, senior manager of disaster response for the HSUS.

“Shelters often experience overcrowding during hurricanes so early preparation is key. We hope residents are taking this threat seriously and are evacuating with their animals to safe ground.”

The HSUS provides financial assistance to the Emergency Placement Partners taking in animals to help with initial costs. The EPPs involved in this effort include:

  • Dutchess County SPCA in Hyde Park, New York 
  • Angels of Assisi in Roanoke, Virginia 
  • Hudson Mohawk Humane Society in Menands, New York 
  • Animal Care Sanctuary in East Smithfield, Pennsylvania 
  • SPCA of Anne Arundel County in Annapolis, Maryland 
  • Washington Animal Rescue League-Washington Humane Society in Washington, DC 
  • Tri County Animal Shelter in Hughesville, Maryland
  • Humane Society of Washington County in Hagerstown, Maryland 

The organization will also be available for assistance upon request in South Carolina following the storm.

Image credit: Meredith Lee/HSUS

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