December 12, 2024

UPDATE: Over the more than 30 days spent in the Southeast following Hurricane Helene, our teams worked round-the-clock to provide much needed relief to shelters, pets and pet owners in impacted areas. While deployed, we worked to reunify pets with their owners and find placement for displaced unowned animals, and operated a temporary shelter in Conover, North Carolina, among other response efforts. After a reunification and 126 animals placed through our amazing partner shelters, we transported the dozen remaining homeless animals at the temporary shelter to our Cruelty Recovery Center (CRC) in Ohio. Having eased the load for impacted shelters, we have officially demobilized our disaster response teams from North Carolina.

We are incredibly grateful to our six regional partners, including Humane Society of Charlotte, Yellow Brick Road Dog Rescue, SPCA Wake County, Greenville Humane Society, Richmond SPCA and S.A.F.E. Haven for Cats for making our work possible and lending much needed helping hands.

Overall, our hurricane relief efforts impacted more than 25,000 animals, primarily through pet food and supply distribution. We are providing $3 million in hurricane relief and response grants to organizations helping animals affected, and we distributed more than 389,900 pounds of pet food and cat litter, routed more than 660 calls through the animal assistance hotline and provided care to more than 150 animals through the emergency shelter.

Though our National Field Response team has left North Carolina, our presence remains as we operate two facilities, the Behavioral Rehabilitation Center and the ASPCA Spay/Neuter Alliance, in the Asheville area. Additionally, we continue to provide temporary boarding for pets whose families were displaced by the storm and will be coordinating free primary pet care clinics in multiple locations across North Carolina through the end of March 2025 to continue to support affected pet owners. We will also continue to provide pet food and cat litter at 11 locations around the Western North Carolina community through the winter months and offered grants to these locations to help fund expenses for the additional support these distribution centers will require.

November 22, 2024

UPDATE: As the ASPCA continues to operate a temporary emergency shelter in North Carolina to care for animals impacted by Hurricane Helene, we wanted to share a sweet reunion that brought smiles to our staff. 

Overwhelmed by an influx of stray pets from the storm, the McDowell County Animal Shelter transported 21 animals to the ASPCA shelter. One of them was given the name Archer. 

When we scanned Archer for a microchip, we discovered he had one! We traced the chip, which revealed his real name is Ace, and we contacted his owner right away. Vanah S. from Fort Mill, South Carolina, confirmed that Ace had been missing and that he had been part of her family since he was a puppy.

“Ace was thrilled to see his owner and hopped right into the car’s passenger seat, ready to go home,” said Katherine Good, ASPCA senior manager of Placement Partnerships. “These are the moments that remind us why we do what we do and fuel our passion to help more animals who need us most.” 

Ace, one of the animals at the ASPCA temporary emergency shelter in North Carolina, who was reunited with his owner.

November 1, 2024

UPDATE: We are still operating the emergency shelter in Conover, North Carolina, providing temporary housing and much-needed care for displaced homeless and stray animals and reuniting missing pets with their families. This week, we expanded our daily care support at the Western North Carolina Agricultural Center co-located shelter, assisting pets and their owners who were displaced by the storm and have been providing veterinary care.

Our relocation team has transported animals out of the emergency shelter to placement partners outside of the impact zone. These transport efforts will continue on a rolling basis as more homeless animals come into our care.

Additionally, the ASPCA Spay/Neuter Alliance (ASNA) serving Buncombe County, North Carolina, and the surrounding areas has started providing spay/neuter services again in a limited capacity. The ASPCA Behavioral Rehabilitation Center (BRC) has also started offering limited boarding for owned pets who have been displaced due to the storm. Any residents needing assistance should contact the North Carolina Animals Hotline at 888-808-0810.

To date, the ASPCA has helped over 15,000 animals through our Hurricane Helene response efforts across several southern states. This includes animals assisted via pet food and supply distribution, field operations, placement and relocation and those cared for in our emergency shelter.

October 24, 2024

UPDATE: As part of our statewide Hurricane Helene disaster response efforts, we are operating an emergency shelter in Conover, North Carolina, to provide temporary housing and much-needed care for displaced homeless and stray animals and reunite missing pets with their families.

"Over the last several weeks, the ASPCA has seen the power of collaboration and compassion as the communities of Western North Carolina come together to recover and rebuild,” said Tim Rickey, Vice President of ASPCA National Field Response. “Through these collaborative efforts, we’ve been able to offer critical hurricane relief services that reduce the burden on directly impacted animal shelters while reuniting missing pets with their families and ensuring community members have the resources they need to continue to care for their pets.”

Animals who were homeless and in shelters before the storm, stray animals who are unclaimed after a 30-day hold period, and surrendered animals will be placed within our network of shelter partners across the country to be made available for adoption.

Our pet food distribution efforts are made possible in part by generous in-kind donations from Hill’s Pet Nutrition, along with in-kind food and supplies from Open Farm and Greater Good. Subaru provided support for our emergency shelter for animals displaced by Hurricane Helene, and many other generous supporters have helped to make this relief work possible, including The Silberstein Foundation, and FedEx.

October 15, 2024

UPDATE: Our disaster response team continues to be on the ground working around the clock to help animals impacted by the recent hurricanes. Right now, the ASPCA is supporting the North Carolina Department of Agriculture at the Emergency Operations Center to identify and address companion animal needs throughout the impacted areas. Our disaster response team is also operating a pet supply distribution warehouse with multiple teams going into communities daily to deliver pet food and other critical supplies. 

We are also operating an emergency animal shelter in North Carolina to provide daily care for displaced pets. This effort helps to free up space in local animal shelters and assist families who are struggling in the aftermath of the severe storms. Additionally, we are working to safely transport animals from local shelters who need assistance and evacuating homeless animals out of the disaster zone.  

In Florida, we are sending critical supplies, including crates and pet food, to support local agencies with their emergency sheltering efforts, and stand ready to assist more animals in need. 

To date, we have impacted nearly 7,000 animals through sheltering, food distribution and other hurricane response efforts. We are also providing $3 million in critical disaster relief funding to organizations that are providing direct support to animals in response to the effects of Hurricane Helene. 

“We’re working closely with local shelters and state-level agencies to coordinate and identify the greatest need so that we can help stabilize impacted communities and help pet owners get back on their feet,” said Tim Rickey, Vice President of ASPCA National Field Response. “It’s a long road ahead to recovery, but we’re committed to doing what we can to help provide the resources needed to help animals and continue to assess needs throughout the region.”

The ASPCA has been on the ground in several states in the southeast since late September assisting with disaster relief and recovery efforts. Your donation today can help animals in crisis, including our evolving hurricane response, and support all of our lifesaving efforts. Thank you for supporting us to help more animals in need.

October 10, 2024

UPDATE: In response to the devastating impact of Hurricane Helene on communities throughout North Carolina we recently announced the launch of an animal assistance hotline for residents in Western North Carolina affected by the catastrophic storm. The hotline will provide impacted pet owners with critical information on where they can receive free pet food and supplies provided by the ASPCA across the region. Residents will also be able to report the need for companion animal search and rescue support.   

Our pet food distribution efforts are made possible in part by generous donations from Hill’s Pet Nutrition, along with donations from other dedicated supporters, as well as FedEx, who is providing complimentary transportation of critical resources.

Our disaster response team has been on the ground since late September and are coordinating with the North Carolina Emergency Operation Center, at the request of the North Carolina Department of Agriculture, and as a member of the National Animal Rescue and Sheltering Coalition (NARSC). In addition to providing pet food and supplies for impacted pet owners and shelters, we are assisting with animal search and rescue efforts alongside ASAR Training and Response and other national and local animal welfare organizations, as well as evacuating homeless animals out of the disaster zone to free up critical resources at local shelters.

“In times of crisis, people often turn to their pets for comfort – they play a vital role in our lives and it is important to safeguard their health and welfare as much as we possibly can,” said Susan Anderson, Director of ASPCA Disaster Response. “The safest and best place for a pet is with their family, which is why the ASPCA is doing everything we can to ensure pet owners in Western North Carolina have the resources they need to care for their pets while helping to keep animals out of shelters directly impacted by this disaster.”

Residents in Western North Carolina who need animal assistance can contact the North Carolina Animals Hotline by calling 888-808-0810 or submitting a request form at aspca.org/NCanimalhelp. The hotline is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET, seven days a week. ASPCA personnel will offer services including delivering pet food and supplies and responding to requests for animal search and rescue. Information about local animal shelters and veterinary clinics, volunteer opportunities, and how to donate to these efforts will also be provided. To report a found or missing animal, residents should contact their local animal service agency. 

In addition to supporting ongoing disaster relief efforts in North Carolina, our disaster responders have been on the ground in Florida and Georgia assisting with impact and needs assessments, animal search and rescue, pet food and supply distribution, and homeless animal evacuation and providing resources for impacted communities in Tennessee. 

October 3, 2024

UPDATE: At the request of Brother Wolf Animal Rescue (BWAR), the ASPCA and the Humane Society of Charlotte (HSC) assisted with the emergency transport of 44 homeless dogs and cats from BWAR after the shelter was devastated by severe flooding due to Hurricane Helene. During Hurricane Helene’s destructive landfall on September 26, the animals were housed in temporary foster homes in the Asheville area. After the storm, emergency foster caregivers brought the animals to the ASPCA Spay/Neuter Alliance (ASNA) for temporary sheltering before they were transported to HSC in Charlotte, North Carolina, on October 2. The 14 dogs and 30 cats – all of whom are unowned – are receiving medical and behavioral care until they are made available for adoption in the coming weeks. Additional animals from BWAR will be transported tomorrow to MSPCA-Angell in Boston, Massachusetts.

"Brother Wolf Animal Rescue is a long-time partner of the ASPCA, so providing our assistance with this urgent transport of 44 dogs and cats was a natural extension of that partnership, especially following the devastating impacts of Hurricane Helene,” said Jessica Rushin, Senior Director of Animal Placement for ASPCA Shelter Services. “This emergency transport ensures these animals continue to receive the care they need in a safe environment while freeing up resources for Brother Wolf Animal Rescue to begin to rebuild their flood-impacted facilities. We are also grateful to our longstanding partner Humane Society of Charlotte, who provided a vehicle to facilitate this transport and graciously opened their doors to these animals so they can have the best chance at finding loving homes.”

"As the former CEO of Asheville Humane and a resident for over 10 years, it’s deeply personal to see this community come together in a time of crisis. We’re proud to collaborate with the ASPCA and Brother Wolf Animal Rescue to ensure these animals receive the care they need after the devastation of Hurricane Helene. At the Humane Society of Charlotte, we’re committed to providing a safe haven for these cats and dogs, giving them the best chance to find their new homes,” said Shelly Moore, CAWA, Chief Executive Officer, Humane Society of Charlotte.

This transport of over four dozen dogs and cats is part of our wider disaster relief support in response to Hurricane Helene in North Carolina and beyond. Western North Carolina is home to the ASPCA Spay/Neuter Alliance and the ASPCA Behavior Rehabilitation Center (BRC), which houses dogs undergoing rehabilitation for extremely fearful behavior so that they can be candidates for adoption. While the area remains an active disaster zone with ongoing resource shortages, including a lack of running water, we urgently evacuated more than 30 dogs who were in treatment at the BRC to our Cruelty Recovery Center (CRC) in Columbus, Ohio, where they will continue to receive much-needed behavioral care.

Our disaster response team is coordinating with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services to establish a statewide pet supply distribution plan to support communities impacted by the disaster. We also remain in close communication with local animal welfare partners in Western North Carolina to determine how we can best support additional needs.

To learn about ways to help the Humane Society of Charlotte, including the shelter’s urgent need for adoptions and wet/dry dog and cat food donations, please visit their website.

October 1, 2024

UPDATE: As our disaster response team continues to engage with impacted shelters across several Southern states to assist with disaster relief efforts, we are also working to ensure the safety of our staff and animals impacted by the category 4 storm. Today, we are evacuating more than 30 homeless dogs from our Behavioral Rehabilitation Center in Weaverville, North Carolina, to our Cruelty Recovery Center in Ohio. Additionally, our disaster response team is coordinating with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture to establish a statewide pet supply distribution plan to support communities impacted by the disaster. Our teams also remain in close communication with local animal welfare partners and stand ready to assist more animals in need.

ASPCA Relocation & Placement team evacuating homeless dogs from North Carolina to Ohio.

September 30, 2024

At the request of Citrus County Animal Services and Franklin County Humane Society (FCHS), we’ve been assisting on the ground in the Southeast following the devastation of Hurricane Helene in several Southern states including Florida, Georgia and North Carolina.

In Florida, our team has been conducting water and land search-and-rescue assessments and supporting the impacted communities with pet food and other critical supplies for animals and pet owners affected by the storm. Our disaster response team is engaging with impacted shelters across the state, as well as state-level agencies, to coordinate additional animal sheltering and disaster response needs. Escambia County Department of Animal Welfare has also been assisting the ASPCA with emergency relief efforts in Citrus County.

“In the aftermath of storms such as Hurricane Helene, the ASPCA’s priority is to provide local agencies with the critical support and resources they need to safely care for animals affected by disasters,” said Clint Ganus, Manager of Disaster Response, ASPCA. “The full impact of this devastating hurricane is still being realized and we are immensely grateful to the many disaster response partners who are working together to bring displaced animals to safety and help impacted families care for their pets during this challenging time.”

In addition to these efforts, we also assisted with the emergency transport of 37 shelter cats from FCHS in Eastpoint, Florida, after the shelter experienced flooding. The cats – all of whom were unowned and at FCHS prior to the hurricane’s catastrophic landfall – arrived in Sarasota, Florida, on Sunday, September 29. Shelter staff from Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League (West Palm Beach) and Cat Depot (Sarasota) were on-site to receive the cats, and are now providing around-the-clock medical and behavioral care until the felines are made available for adoption in the coming weeks.

“During severe storms like Hurricane Helene, it’s crucial for animal welfare organizations to work together across disaster-impacted communities to continue meeting the needs of animals in shelters,” said Jasmine Holsinger, Senior Manager of animal placement for ASPCA Shelter Services. “This collaboration not only ensures the safety of these cats but also frees up vital resources at Franklin County Humane Society to help other local animals in need as a result of Hurricane Helene’s catastrophic impacts. We're immensely grateful to our shelter partners for their unwavering dedication during what has proven to be an incredibly challenging time across the state of Florida, as their collaboration helps these cats have the best chance at finding loving homes.”

This transport of over three dozen shelter cats is part of our wider disaster relief in the Southeast. While our response continues, we are also urgently relocating dogs from the ASPCA Behavioral Rehabilitation Center in the Asheville, North Carolina area to our Cruelty Recovery Center in Ohio.

We will continue to assess the needs in these affected communities and remain ready to assist in further disaster relief efforts.

Your donation today can help animals in crisis and support all of our lifesaving efforts.