Support to Animals after Hurricane Helene
In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene’s devastation across Florida, South Carolina, Georgia, and neighboring states, and with the impending disaster of Hurricane Milton looming on the horizon, we know Coloradans are eager to offer support for the affected people and animals.
As these communities begin to recover from the devastating impacts of these natural disasters, our support (though remote) is as important as ever.
If you are a veterinary professional looking to provide on-the-ground veterinary help, please know that the only state requesting out-of-state veterinary assistance at this time is North Carolina. If you are a veterinary professional that has some disaster response or first responder training and interested in helping, you can find more information here.
The Front Range vMRC has not yet received any request to support our colleagues in these areas. If you are interested in joining our team conversations on potential ways to support, please reach out: hello@frontrangevmrc.org.
If you are looking for ways to help animals impacted by these hurricanes today, consider donating to one of these organizations – all of which are working to provide immediate relief to animals affected by these disasters.
In Florida:
SPCA Tampa Bay: This organization is offering a variety of support services for both pets and their owners, including providing medical attention for pets and wildlife, pet food distribution, and temporary pet-friendly housing assistance.
Big Dog Ranch Rescue: This rescue is organizing an emergency food and supply drive (both human and animal food and supplies!) for families and pets affected by the storms, and are delivering these supplies to hard-hit areas. They are the largest no-kill dog rescue in the US.
HOPE for Brevard: This Florida rescue is helping save cats all over the South affected by the hurricanes. They collected food donations from the local community for cats in Asheville, and are currently prepping for Hurricane Milton and taking in over 130 cats displaced by the hurricanes. They also have a Trap-Neuter-Release program for community cats to help reduce the homeless/feral cat population, which will be a very important program in the post-hurricane recovery process. See updates on their current situation on their Facebook page here.
Save Our Cats and Kittens Shelter (SOCKS) and St. Francis Animal Rescue: While not directly impacted by the hurricanes, SOCKS volunteers have worked hard (and driven 500 miles) to help evacuate cats after receiving a distress call from Saint Francis Animal Rescue, which is directly in the path of Hurricane Milton. Both rescues focus on providing sheltering to cats, and both will need help as they continue to save animals and work to get through the storm.
The Wildlife Center of Southwest Florida: This organization specializes in wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, and release for sick, injured, and orphaned wildlife. They are actively working throughout Hurricane Milton and are continuing to take in sick and injured wildlife. They have updates about their situation with Hurricane Milton on their Facebook page here.
Seaside Seabird Sanctuary: This sanctuary is a refuge for injured wild birds, and they specialize in rescuing, rehabilitating, and releasing injured birds. They rely on donations to fund their recovery work during hurricane seasons. See updates on their current situation on their Facebook page here.
Humane Society of the United States: This well-known organization regularly helps with disaster response, and their Animal Rescue Team have already been dispatched to FL and TN to help assist animals in need following Hurricane Helene, and have been evacuating pets, reuniting pets with their families, helping devastated animal shelters, and providing food, resources, and veterinary care. They continue their hard work in the face of Hurricane Milton, and are urgently helping shelter animals. See their updates here.
Pasco County Animal Services and Best Friends Animal Society: PCAS is the main agency for animal control, sheltering, and animal welfare in Pasco County, Florida. Along with their animal shelter, they participating in disaster response efforts during emergencies like hurricanes. They have been helped by the Best Friends Animal Society to protect and relocate displaced animals in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene - BFAS helps with animal emergency response across the US. Donations can be made to PCAS here or BFAS here.
The Animal Rescue Coalition (ARC): This clinic is dedicated to helping animals in need through low cost spay/neuter and vaccine clinic programs in Sarasota. Their continued operation after Hurricane Milton will ensure the community continues to have access to low-cost vaccines and spay/neuter surgeries, especially after the financial impacts the hurricanes have on the affected families. See updates on their current situation on their Facebook page here.
Center for Great Apes: Though less directly related to storm impacts, this sanctuary provides refuge for orangutans and chimpanzees. While luckily far enough inland to avoid the worst of Hurricane Milton, they are still facing severe flooding and high winds that will impact sanctuary grounds. Donations support care and facility repairs. See updates on their current situation on their Facebook page here.
And in North Carolina:
Brother Wolf Animal Rescue: This rescue lost their buildings and vehicles due to severe flooding from Hurricane Helene, but they continue to work tirelessly to evacuate and save animals affected by the hurricane, while recovering from the devastating damage. See updates on their current situation on their Facebook page here.
Humane Society of Charlotte: This team is actively involved in taking in animals displaced by the hurricane, and are currently housing pets from Asheville Humane Society, Brother Wolf Animal Rescue, Henderson County Animal Services Center, and Sheltered Paws and Resource Center. See updates on their current situation on their Facebook page here.
ASPCA: Another well-known organization whose disaster response team is working to coordinate disaster response efforts in North Carolina. They are providing emergency assistance to local shelters, and are working with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services to establish a statewide pet supply distribution plan to support communities impacted by the disaster.
RedRover: This is a national animal welfare nonprofit that helps animals in crisis. They provide emergency sheltering for evacuees and their animals, disaster relief services, financial assistance, along with their other services. They are on the ground in North Carolina, and are ready to provide emergency assistance in Florida in the wake of Hurricane Milton. See their updates on Facebook here.
This is not an exhaustive list, and there may be many more organizations, shelters, rescues, and sanctuaries that need your help in the coming weeks!
There is an urgent need for support for local animal shelters and rescues, as they work tirelessly to provide shelter, food, and medical care to the countless animals affected by the storms.
Prepare your own family
And please do not forget about your own animals at home – ensure you are ready for any emergency!
This is the perfect time to make an emergency and disaster plan:
Locate and plan pre-arranged sites for evacuation outside of your area if you must leave - in addition to plans of sheltering with friends or family, make sure you have a list of hotels that accept pets (double check pet and species/breed restrictions), and make a list of boarding facilities that may be able to shelter animals
Ensure your pets have microchips that have up-to-date registration in case they ever get separated from you
Assemble a go bag (evacuation kit) for yourself and for your pets (see a list of supplies to include here, and don’t forget to include a pet emergency contact card!)
Download the Pet Help & Rescue app now to have a pet evacuation plan with your immediate community in the event that disaster strikes while you are away, or create a plan with a trusted friend or neighbor that can provide backup care or evacuation (don’t forget to give them a key!)
Ensure all of your pets are current on their vaccines and keep copies of those records in your go bag as proof if you need to evacuate.
Don’t forget your fish, birds, and reptiles – use surge-protectors at all times, have backup power/generators available to keep them warm and equipment powered, have power adaptors portable air pumps available, and have transportable temporary enclosures available if the need arises
Practice evacuating your pet – train them to get used to their carriers, know where they might hide if stress/scared, practice transporting them on car rides
If you have to evacuate, always take your pets – if it’s not safe for you, it is not safe for your pets. Pets abandoned during disasters can easily become injured, killed, or lost. Plan for evacuations early so nobody gets left behind!
Do you have questions about how to prepare your pet for an emergency or evacuation? Come find our team at a community event for a free evacuation counseling session with one of our medical team.
Become a Volunteer in Colorado
If you are passionate about animal disaster preparedness, consider becoming a volunteer with the Front Range Veterinary Medical Reserve Corps. We are a team of veterinary professionals and animal lovers that provide veterinary disaster preparedness and response to the Front Range of Colorado (east of the Continental Divide).
While we don’t face the threat of hurricanes, wildfires, blizzards, and other natural disasters can impact our animals and communities at a moment’s notice.
If you think you want to help in the face of a natural disaster within our own state and be prepared if our neighbor states ever request assistance - consider volunteering now!
We cannot take any spur-of-the-moment responders, only dedicated individuals, so empower your future self to make a difference in disaster response and join us now!
You can find out how on our website.
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