As many as 100 dogs and cats who were in shelters in the path of Hurricanes Helen and Milton are now looking forward to finding safe permanent homes in the Washington, D.C., area.
The Arlington Animal Welfare League adopted 10 cats from Hurricane Helen. (Courtesy of Arlington Animal Welfare Federation) Arlington Animal Welfare Federation adopted 10 cats from Hurricane Helen. (Courtesy: Arlington Animal Welfare Federation)
As many as 100 dogs and cats who were in shelters in the path of Hurricanes Helen and Milton are now looking forward to finding safe permanent homes in the Washington, D.C., area.
Mark Goodhart, director of operations for Homeward Trails Animal Rescue, said the organization, based in Fairfax Station, Va., works with shelters in southeastern states to help animals in need of homes. He said that he had moved people there.
The animals being relocated are not animals that may have been caught in the storm, but animals that were already being cared for in shelters in hurricane-hit areas.
“My understanding is that all of these guys are going through mandatory … ‘wild trapping,’” he said.
Goodhart said these holds are intended to ensure that animals brought into the shelter are not lost pets.
Goodhart said moving the animals to the area will ease the burden on shelters that may be facing issues related to storm cleanup and the needs of pets and their owners on a community basis. said.
“It gives them enough breathing room to get rid of the animals that are already in their body,” he says.
Goodhart said no agency in the D.C. area is accommodating large numbers of people, as many shelters are already at capacity. Instead, “Arlington Animal Welfare League received a portion, Middleburg Humane received a large amount of money, and Prince William (County) received a portion,” Goodhart said, adding that District Dogs received a portion. He also said that he is providing support as well.
The Arlington Animal Welfare League adopted 10 cats from Hurricane Helen “thanks to the support of Homeward Trails and the Bissell Pet Foundation,” AWLA communications specialist Chelsea Jones said in an email to WTOP. mentioned in.
“We are on standby to take in pets from Hurricane Milton,” Jones added, explaining that AWLA is in touch with national rescue organizations on this issue.
Goodhart said Homeward Trails also partners with District Dogs, a dog day care company that was recently ordered to pay $100,000 in a legal settlement with the District of Columbia. It was the result of a flooding incident at District Dogs’ Rhode Island Avenue store last year. Dozens of dogs were rescued, while 10 died due to flooding inside the facility.
Asked about the partnership with District Dogs, Goodhart told WTOP: They are working very well with us. ”
He said the need for permanent pet housing is not limited to one region or one catastrophe, and that people considering owning a pet or adding to their furry family. I strongly encourage people to take that step.
“We hold adoption events frequently throughout the DMV,” he says, and every Saturday and Sunday at the Manny Roe Homeward Trails Adoption Center in Fairfax Station from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. He added that there will be a permanent adoption event until then.
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