Emergency Rescue Team Aids Partner
Shelters Hit by Hurricane Irma

After Hurricane Irma made landfall in Florida, leaving catastrophic devastation in it’s wake, our Emergency Rescue Team headed south to help some of our partner shelters in Florida who were affected by this epic storm.

Armed with our climate controlled mobile rescue unit filled with pet food, water, and other essential supplies, our team first arrived at Dogs & Cats Forever, a no-kill shelter in Fort Pierce, Florida, and quickly began unloading the supplies donated by our generous supporters in New York. Small shelters like this are often overlooked during high-profile crises. We were grateful to be able to provide this hardworking group with the support they needed. We are also grateful to our corporate partner, Henry Schein, for generously donating pallets of supplies to our Florida shelter partners.

After days without power, Operation Paw, a foster-based cat rescue group in Miami, was desperate for help with the relinquished and homeless cats and dogs taken in during the storm, as well as with the felines in their foster network. The sweltering heat had grown dangerous for all the animals — especially for those on medication that required refrigeration — so the arrival of our air-conditioned mobile units was an answered prayer. We triaged over 50 cats and kittens aboard the unit and are working with the team at Operation Paw to prepare them for transport.

Working closely with our local shelter partners, the Rescue Team coordinated transports back to our Port Washington, N.Y. Adoption Center and other local shelters. We have also been in touch with our partners in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean to assess their needs during this trying time.

Your continued support enables us to be ready to act whenever and wherever we are called upon. With millions in Florida and in surrounding areas affected by this devastating storm, and so many suffering catastrophic losses, it’s vital that we continue to do all we can to ease some of the burdens left in the wake of the storm.

Please support our no-kill mission and our rescue relief efforts with a donation today.

60 Cats & Kittens Arrive from Florida
Foster Group Affected by Storm

As our climate controlled Mobile Rescue Unit turned down Lewyt Street on Wednesday afternoon, completing the final stretch of a long journey home from Florida, the 60 cats and kittens aboard may not have known it at the time, but they were finally safe.

Thanks to our collaborative rescue effort with Operation PAW, an all-volunteer foster based animal welfare organization dedicated to improving the lives of homeless animals in South Florida, we were able to rescue all of these felines from foster families who were adversely affected by Hurricane Irma. Although these dedicated foster parents tried everything in their power to keep these ailing cats as comfortable as possible during the storm – including one who provided refuge to 15 homeless cats and kittens in her own home – power outages, flooding, and extreme heat made it nearly impossible for the people, let alone these poor animals, to get any relief. Once we got word of the hardships this organization was facing in caring for these sick and injured animals, we made it our top priority to do everything in our power to help.

“Everyone in the area was really struggling, yet the foster families were still trying to care for all of these cats,” said Animal League America Director of Rescue Services Cindy Szczudlo. “With the help of the veterinarians and medical staff at the South Miami Animal Clinic, we were able to have all of these animals examined and cleared to make the trip back to New York with our Emergency Rescue Team. When you see all of these rescue groups, shelters, and medical centers coming together for a greater good it’s really inspiring. We also can’t forget our awesome supporters from social media, who came down to our campus and donated supplies. Everyone has really stepped up during all of these storms, and a lot of good has come of it.”

As for the 60 cats and kittens transported from Florida, many of them will be up for adoption from our Port Washington, N.Y. Adoption Center once they are deemed healthy enough by our veterinarians. Some may need additional treatment and will spend time in our Foster Care Program until fully recovered. The rest of these four legged survivors will be transported to Last Hope Animal Rescue and Bideawee where they will eventually find responsible, loving homes It’s through the support of our generous donors that collaborative rescue efforts such as these are made possible.

Over the past month we’ve seen multiple record setting hurricanes cause catastrophic damage to various parts of the United States, Puerto Rico, the Caribbean islands and beyond. Lives have been lost, homes destroyed, and pets have been displaced from their loving families – all reminders of how precious life is – but through it all we have also seen people come together in support of one another. Because of our compassionate donors, Animal League America will continue to be ready to act when called upon, providing relief whenever and wherever it’s needed.

Your support of our no-kill mission makes everything we do possible. Please donate today.

More Ways to Help Our Shelter Partners

Many of our partner shelters have been dealing with the aftermath caused by these devastating storms, including rescuing and taking in animals that found themselves displaced from their loved ones. While others are doing all they can to help those affected. Below is a listing of shelters that can use your support. Many have Amazon Wishlists where you can order items and send supplies directly to the areas in need.

Florida Shelters

Dogs and Cats Forever, Inc.
4600 Selvtiz Road
Fort Pierce, FL 34981
Website
Humane Society of Broward County
2070 Griffin Road
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312
Website
Amazon Wishlist
Pensacola Humane Society
5 North Q Street
Pensacola, FL 32505
Website
Palm Beach County Animal Care & Control
7100 Belvedere Road
West Palm Beach, FL 33411
Website
Miami-Dade Animal Services
7401 NW 74th Street
Miami, FL 33166
Website

Pet Rescue by Judy
401 S Laurel Avenue
Sanford, FL 32773
Website
Amazon Wishlist

Humane Society of the Treasure Coast, Inc
4100 SW Leighton Farm Avenue
Palm City, FL 34990
Website

Caribbean Shelters

Humane Society of St. Thomas
4406 Weymouth Rhymer Highway,
St Thomas 00802, USVI
Website
Amazon Wishlist
Turqs & Caicos SPCA
Susie Turn Plaza
Leeward Highway
Providenciales
Turks & Caicos Islands
B.W.I.
Website

Texas Shelters

Houston Humane Society
14700 Almeda Road
Houston, TX 77053
Website
Amazon Wishlist

Austin Animal Center
7201 Levander Loop
Austin, TX 78702
Website
Amazon Wishlist

Citizens for Animal Protection
17555 Katy Freeway
Houston, TX 77094
Website
Amazon Wishlist
City of Richardson Animal Shelter
1330 Columbia Drive
Richardson, TX 75081
Website
Gulf Coast Humane Society
3118 Cabaniss Parkway
Corpus Christi, TX 78415
Website
Amazon Wishlist
Paws In The City
3824 Cedar Springs Road
Dallas, TX 75219
Website
Amazon Wishlist
Pets Fur People
1823 Country Road 386
Tyler, TX 75708
Website
San Antonio Humane Society
4804 Fredericksburg Road
San Antonio,TX 78229
Website
Amazon Wishlist
SPCA of Polk County
802 S. Houston (S. Highway 146)
Livingston TX 77351
Website