At the request of the Florida State Animal Response Coalition (SARC), the ASPCA has been on the ground in Bay County, Florida, supporting local agencies with emergency sheltering of animals displaced by Hurricane Michael.
We are also assisting with search-and-rescue efforts in the field, providing medical attention for impacted animals, and coordinating reunification efforts for lost pets. To date, the ASPCA has assisted Florida SARC and local agencies in providing care for nearly 600 animals displaced by the storm.
“When disasters as destructive as Hurricane Michael occur, it’s essential that animal welfare agencies collaborate to care for displaced animals,” said Ehren Melius, Medial Operations Director of ASPCA Field Investigations and Response. “The ASPCA is focused on assisting local groups as they rescue and reunite lost pets with their families during a time when residents have already lost so much.”
While dozens of animals have already been reunited with their families, many animals remain at the shelter waiting to find their owners. The ASPCA and Bay County Animal Control are urging residents who lost their pets during the hurricane to reclaim them at the shelter:
Bay County Animal Control
6401 Bayline Drive
Panama City, FL
(850) 767-3333
The ASPCA Field Investigations and Response Team deploys nationwide to assist in relocation, search-and-rescue, sheltering and placement of animals during disaster situations, including wildfires, tornadoes and floods. We also work closely with local agencies across the country to help enhance their animal response capabilities through grants and training opportunities. Just last month, the ASPCA was on the ground in Robeson County, North Carolina, where we assisted in rescuing and caring for more than 600 animals displaced by Hurricane Florence.
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