EMMET COUNTY, Mich., (WPBN/WGTU) — Southern states are still feeling the impact of Hurricanes Helene and Milton as rescue and recovery efforts continue.
On Tuesday morning, staff from the Little Traverse Bay Humane Society returned from Tennessee with 31 cats and dogs.
Staff said most of the animals could find their forever homes as early as Wednesday.
As federal and state authorities clean up all sorts of damage, private nonprofit groups are easing the burden of dealing with animals.
“We were able to send a team member who’s certified in swift water response to do some animal search and rescue in North Carolina with the ASPCA,” said Elise Ramsey.
“We also had a team of three work in partnership with the Bissell Pet Foundation’s Animal Incident Management team, and that was a deployment to Tennessee,” Ramsey said.
“Over the last week, we prepared 120 dogs and cats for two flights going out of Tennessee to different shelters on the east coast, as well as Michigan and Wisconsin,” Ramsey said. “This morning, we welcomed 31 via a ground transport to northern Michigan.”
Ramsey said all of these animals were already in shelters and are being transferred to make room for displaced pets, with those they hope could soon be reunited with their owners.
“I think it can always be a risk that when people are evacuating if there’s not an opportunity for them to take their pet with them, people will choose staying with their pet over seeking safety,” Ramsey said.
“Our hope is that by being involved in some of these programs, we can alleviate that concern and reassure people that we can get these adoptables out so that you and your pets do have somewhere safe to go,” Ramsey said.
Ramsey said they have 13 dogs and 18 cats and kittens.
Again, most are ready to be adopted.
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