FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. – A metro Atlanta animal shelter is sending volunteers and supplies to Florida to help rescue pets displaced by Hurricane Milton. Furkids at No Kill Shelter are responding to an urgent need as shelters in central Florida face flooding and power outages in the storm’s aftermath.
Furkids volunteers load crates of pet food, medicine and animals into vans to transport animals. “There’s probably three or five cats in these boxes, so there’s food and water, and in the back there’s a litter box and bedding for the cats to ride on.” Fur Kids volunteer David Garrett said.
Garrett described the dire situation in Florida: “One of the shelters we were going to, near Tampa, was flooded. Not only was the power out, it was flooded. Food and garbage got wet, too.”
Furkids founder and CEO Samantha Shelton said the shelters acted quickly after hearing about the hurricane’s severe impact on local shelters. “We’re out of power, we’re running out of food, so our team said, let’s do it, let’s go help,” she said. “We have four amazing volunteers who will be driving through the night to arrive tomorrow morning.”
Furkids plans to rescue at least 50 dogs and cats, but that number could increase if they find puppies or kittens. “We currently have about 1,000 dogs and cats in our care,” Shelton said, acknowledging the challenges the shelter faces operating at full capacity.
Despite local limitations, Shelton emphasized the importance of helping those in need. “With 300 adoptions taking place this month, we hope to pave the way for more to benefit from this natural disaster,” she said.
The group may continue to travel to Florida in the future, depending on how the situation develops. Garrett also highlighted the shelter’s continued efforts to help animals affected by Hurricane Milton, adding, “Animals are in a desperate situation as a result of the storm.”
If you would like to support their efforts or give them a forever home, please visit furkids.org.
