FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (WSVN) - The Humane Society of Broward County responded to a plea for help from Citrus County Animal Services as Hurricane Idalia approaches Florida.
The Humane Society staff embarked on their journey Tuesday, leaving the shelter at 6 a.m., bound for Citrus County Animal Services in Inverness, Florida. Their mission: to retrieve around 20 animals awaiting adoption at the shelter.
“It’s an older facility, we don’t know what the storm could possibly do to their building,” said Dr. Alyssa Dayton, Medical Director of the Broward Humane Society. “I have a history with Citrus County. When I was a student, practicing shelter medicine, they actually took me in for two weeks and I did a whole externship there where their team kind of helped teach me how to do what I do now.”
Citrus County Animal Services expressed concerns about their aging facility’s ability to endure the upcoming hurricane’s powerful winds. The partnership with the Humane Society allows their staff to prioritize the safety of their families while also providing post-storm assistance to animals in need.
“By assisting Citrus County Animal Services with these animals, it will allow the staff to focus on keeping their families safe and help animals after the storm,” said Mary Steffen, Senior VP of Operations. “These were animals that have been on their adoption floor – some for several weeks.”
After a nearly 5-hour journey, the team returned to South Florida with the rescued animals Tuesday afternoon.
“Hopefully, in the next few days, a lot of these dogs, and the cats, are going to find homes, and if the need arises, we can go and help others,” said Cherie Watcher, vice president of marketing for the Broward Humane Society.
Dr. Dayton said most of the dogs were checked out by their previous shelter and are ready to be adopted.
If you would like to donate to the shelter, click here.
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