As Hurricane Debby approached, animal rescuers were once again racing to get animals to safety. Our FUR team transported 12 dogs in outdoor kennels in a rural shelter ahead of the storm, and continued to provide disaster relief assistance to shelters impacted by the storm afterwards. In all, our FUR Urgent Transport team transported 53 dogs and cats impacted by Hurricane Debby to safety.
When we got the okay to start moving dogs out of the path of #HurricaneDebby, we knew it would be a race against the clock. We jokingly started referring to ourselves as storm racers instead of storm chasers.
The amount of planning that goes into any transport is immense but a last moment transport, racing a storm meant we'd need a lot of help. Thankfully, Morgan got to Union County Animal Control bright and early to start gathering paperwork for the pups as we began the search for a place to put them. We are incredibly grateful to Misty Exley for reaching out, on her day off, and offering to coordinate places for the dogs at Pet Paradise.
Once we secured spots for them, 5 of the dogs were transported directly to the Pet Paradise Jacksonville Airport location, but 7 of the dogs needed to make a stop by NewDay Veterinary Care at Pet Paradise University for vaccines before being transported to the airport location. Kelly MacDade and Erin & Andrew Kupcha came out in the rain to vaccinate and microchip dogs. A huge thank you to the vets, tech and other staff at Pet Paradise and NewDay Veterinary Care for staying late to make sure these pups were healthy and vaccinated.
When we say that it takes a village, we really mean it. Our transport teams dropped everything to meet at Union and start taking dogs to various locations. Thank you to Eva Gridley, Walt, Shelli & Ryan Shay, Shannon Milendar and Susan Merrill, who raced to the shelter ahead of the storm when most people were hunkering down. Kevin Dykes made a detour on the way back from his long distance transport to bring the cargo van back to Union, and then brought dogs to Pet Paradise. Of the 12 dogs, we took 2 into FUR, Coastal Canine Rescue took in 2, and 2 were adopted or reclaimed. The other 6 went back to the shelter after the storm.
After Debby passed through, the FUR Urgent Transport team continued working with shelters throughout FL and GA to help animals in rural shelters impacted by the storm. Walt Shay, Meri West and Mike Merrill did multiple transports from Taylor County Animal Control in Perry, FL to Paws Humane in Columbus, GA, and to Marion County Humane Society, Peggy Adams Animal Rescue Leageue and Broward Humane Society, with coordination and assistance from Kate McFall at Humane Society of the United States.
𝗙𝗨𝗥 𝗠𝗢𝗡𝗧𝗛𝗟𝗬 𝗚𝗜𝗩𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗠
Sick and injured animals need help fast. Every donation helps, but Monthly donors give us flexibility to respond immediately when there is an emergency. When there is a hoarding case or a hurricane, a dog with a gunshot wound or a cruelty case, we have to act quickly. We don't have time to do a fundraiser, and wait for those funds to get to us. Your monthly donation can help us save lives again and again.
To learn more, please visit: https://www.floridaurgentrescue.org/donatemonthly.
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— Mail: Florida Urgent Rescue
7643 Gate Parkway #104-27
Jacksonville, FL 32256
Florida Urgent Rescue is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and FUR earned a Four-Star Rating on Charity Navigator with a score of 100%, the highest possible rating. FUR also received a Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency by Guidestar, and is a Top Rated Nonprofit on Great Nonprofits. Learn more about FUR at: www.floridaurgentrescue.org