Foster a hurricane pet or donate to rescues in need ❤️
Hurricane Milton made landfall in Florida on Wednesday as an exceptionally strong storm, forcing millions to evacuate the area to safer locations.
Bracing for one of the worst Florida gales of the century, area animal advocates and pet owners looked for support as they prepared to deal with the hurricane’s aftermath. Now, in the wake of the storm, these organizations need your help.
If you’re still planning to evacuate and you have an animal, Orange County Animal Services advises to “bring your pets along, find a shelter, or identify a place you can stay with your pets.” The rescue urges pet owners to make an emergency kit for their pets with essentials like “food, water, medication and identification.” The rescue also insists on bringing all pets inside before the storm begins.
“If evacuating, check if your destination is pet-friendly,” Humane Society of Marion County administrative coordinator Kirstin Tanner told The Dodo. “Many emergency shelters now accept pets, but it’s essential to verify ahead of time.”
Humane Society of Naples
Whether you’re in Florida or beyond, there are so many things you can do to lend a hand.
Here are a few ways to help:
Foster a displaced animal
As animal shelters evacuate thousands of animals from Florida, they need assistance finding places for them to live. Fostering a displaced animal is pivotal in ensuring these pets don’t fall by the wayside.
Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League is shepherding many shelter animals to safety. Here is more information on how to help them. The Humane Society of Naples is looking for dog foster parents, especially those willing to foster dogs over 50 pounds. The Humane Society of Barron County also urges interested fosters to fill out an application.
There are many more shelters seeking foster assistance, including Miami-Dade Animal Services, Nala’s New Life Rescue and The Jacksonville Humane Society.
If you’re in Florida or nearby, reach out to a rescue and find out what you can do.
Look out for local wildlife
Gusting winds and flying debris are sure to impact Florida wildlife. Many small animals will be in trouble — especially babies blown from their nests.
Suncoast Animal League advises anyone who finds a baby squirrel, rabbit or bird to bring them inside and avoid giving them any food or water. Instead, rescuers should do their best to keep the animal dry and warm.
“Place them in a container with a soft towel underneath to act like a nest. Keep them in a quiet, dark area — this will keep their stress level to a minimum,” Suncoast Animal League wrote in a Facebook post. “Normally, we ask that you give the parents a chance to relocate their baby, but in the case of a storm of this magnitude, it’s best to step in immediately.”
Once they’re safe, reach out to your local wildlife rescue group for advice on how to proceed.
Donate to shelters in need
Florida shelters need extra funds so they can recover and get animals to safety. Donating money is the easiest way to show your support.
The Humane Society of Tampa Bay, SPCA Tampa Bay, Humane Society of Naples, Humane Society of Marion County, Humane Society of Sarasota County, Orange County Animal Services, Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando , Second Chance Animal Rescue and Sanctuary, Rags to Riches Animal Rescue and Lake County Florida Animal Shelter are just a handful of the organizations requiring aid.
“Financial contributions are the quickest way to make an impact,” Tanner said. “These funds allow us to buy necessary supplies, medical care and food for the animals before and after the storm.”
Tanner also suggests in-kind donations of items like food, crates and bedding through a shelter’s Amazon wish list or via coordinated drop-off.
“Our top priority is the animals — their care, safety and well-being come first,” Sarah Baeckler, chief executive officer at Humane Society of Naples, told The Dodo. “This requires significant time and resources, so any support is greatly appreciated. As needs can change rapidly, monetary donations allow us to respond quickly and use funds where they’re most needed.”
Volunteer at a shelter
In the aftermath of the storm, local shelters are going to need a lot of help. Whether that includes cleaning up and rebuilding from storm damage, doing intake for animals displaced during the storm, or reuniting families with their lost pets, they’re going to need the support of their community to get it all done.
“Once the storm passes, area shelters might be looking for help to clear debris,” Jaime Limoges, director of marketing and engagement at Humane Society of Sarasota County, told The Dodo. “Be sure to follow them on social media and check out their websites.”
Keep checking back on the social media pages of shelters and rescues in the path of the hurricane to find out when they’ll be looking for volunteers and in what ways you can help. They may even need volunteers who can operate remotely, so no matter where you live, don’t hesitate to do your part to lend a hand.
Keep an eye out for lost pets
Storms can be scary, especially for pets who aren’t sure what’s going on. It’s not uncommon for furry family members to get spooked and run away, with their families unable to look for them until after the rain stops. If you’re in the area, it’s important to keep this in mind, and keep your eyes peeled for any lost pets who need your help.
“It’s not uncommon for pets to be displaced in the chaos,” Orange County Animal Services wrote in a Facebook post. “If your pet is lost, please check local shelters, post on social media, and be proactive in trying to find your pet. If you find a lost pet, please plan to keep them through the storm until the shelter reopens, and make efforts to find the owners by posting on social media.”
It’s important to keep your own pets from getting lost, too, and that starts with doing your best to keep their anxiety levels as low as possible.
“Prior to the storm, do your best to exhaust their energy [with] outdoor play time or a long walk,” Limoges said. “Enrichment activities are also a great way to help your pet be less anxious. If you don’t have any enrichment tools, you can easily make one! Put treats or a pet-friendly snack in an empty paper towel or toilet paper roll and let your dog go to town to tear it apart to get to the treat inside. You can also fill it or [a] hearty toy like a KONG with peanut butter and freeze it.”
Adopt a pet
In times of crisis, the best thing anyone can do is to help decrease the number of animals a shelter has to care for by adopting. If you’re in the position to welcome a new family member into your home and you live in the path of the hurricane, consider reaching out to a local shelter. Especially once the hurricane has passed and shelters are scrambling to get operations back to normal, lightening their load will be more important than ever.
“Adopting after a storm is also a great way to help ‘Empty the Shelters’ so we can help other animals across the impact[ed] area,” Limoges said.
If you’re not in Florida or in a position to adopt a pet in the path of the hurricane, you can still help increase adoption rates by spreading the word.
“Sharing our social media posts or donation campaigns helps raise awareness, which can lead to more support and adoptions,” Tanner said.
