Organization Bringing Dozens of Impacted Animals from Tennessee, Florida, and North Carolina to Massachusetts
BOSTON, Oct. 2, 2024 – The MSPCA-Angell is pulling out all the stops this week to help animals impacted by the devastation of Hurricane Helene—bringing dogs and cats to safety in Massachusetts while exporting staff to assist with operations on the ground in impacted areas.
First, a transport of 15 dogs from the Humane Educational Society and McKamey Animal Center in Chattanooga, Tennessee, traveled to the Northeast Animal Shelter in Salem on October 1. That’s in addition to a transport of 19 dogs the organization took in from the Tennessee shelters the weekend prior.
“Our partners there [in Tennessee] are dealing with a lot of flooding, and they’re expecting to see an influx in surrenders and displaced animals as a result of the hurricane,” explained MSPCA-Angell Vice President of Animal Protection, Mike Keiley. “These transports of dogs that were living in the shelters prior to the storm will allow those groups to help more local animals impacted by it.”
Many of the dogs are puppies aged four-months and younger, but some older dogs made the journey as well. Breeds include German Shepherds, Labrador Retrievers, Beagles, and Pit Bulls.
The MSPCA-Angell partnered with the ASPCA on the transports, which are just the first piece of the organization’s planned relief efforts.
On the Ground in Florida
“We’ve also got a transport of cats coming in from Pasco County Animal Services in Florida,” expounded Keiley. “They lost power, and they’re over capacity, but it’s impossible for them to safely transport their animals locally.”
The MSPCA-Angell is also sending staff to Pasco to assist with the transport.
“Given everything that they’re dealing with, we want to help in any way possible,” said Keiley. “Our staff will provide a little relief to workers who desperately need it, while the transport will open up much needed space in the shelter, and the cats couldn’t be coming to us at a better time.”
The roughly 15 cats are expected to arrive at Hanscom Field in Bedford sometime the afternoon of October 2 on a flight organized by the Bissell Pet Foundation. They will be available for adoption following their 48-hour quarantine and after receiving any medical care they may need.
“Our space was tight even before the storm, but we have a Natural Disaster Relief program, and we’re committed to being there when the worst happens,” Keiley added. “We’re having a fee-waived adoptathon for some of the cats in our care this week, in the hopes that we’re able to free up more space for animals that need somewhere to go as a result of the hurricane.”
The adoptathon—called Purranormal Cativity—began October 1 and runs through October 4 at all MSPCA Adoption Centers. Cats eligible in the event include those with specific medical or behavioral needs, as well as older cats. More information may be found at mspca.org/feewaived.
“For us to be successful, we need support from the community,” said Keiley. “If you have space in your home and your heart, we would love for you to come adopt or foster some of the animals in our care!”
“If now’s not the time, though, we can always use financial support to help make these transports happen and to care for all the new arrivals,” he added, noting that those able to donate to help the MSPCA-Angell’s Hurricane Helene relief efforts may do so at mspca.org/Helene.
More Animals Incoming!
The MSPCA-Angell is currently finalizing plans to transport as many as 80 dogs and cats this week from Brother Wolf Animal Rescue in Asheville, North Carolina, in another partnership with the ASPCA.
“Brother Wolf’s facilities were destroyed, as were all of their vehicles,” detailed Keiley. “Luckily, they were able to get their animals into foster homes, but now those animals need to move in order to find permanent homes, and we’re really grateful to be in a position to help with that.”
“Unfortunately, given the devastation they’re dealing with and all the related communications and accessibility issues, it’s a moving target, which makes finalizing details extraordinarily challenging, but we’re expecting to receive the animals sometime between Thursday [October 3] and Saturday [October 5].”
“We’ll be ready to take in as many animals as we can, whenever they’re able to get here,” he added.
The MSPCA-Angell will post updates on all pending transports, as well as how the new arrivals are settling in, across its social media platforms.
