Hurricane Helene’s Unsung Heroes: Foster Caregivers

When Hurricane Helene tore through Western North Carolina last September, communities were left without power, water and other resources.

The ASPCA Behavioral Rehabilitation Center (BRC), located just outside Asheville, was among the many animal organizations affected. Following the storm, 27 dogs from the BRC were safely evacuated to our shelter in Ohio, but a handful remained in foster care. With phone lines down, we had difficulty contacting the caregivers.

Once phone service was restored, our staff began reaching out to BRC volunteers, including those who were fostering dogs, to check on them and ask if they needed support.

One foster, Ann G., was fostering Catalina, a large mixed breed, and was unreachable.

Kelly Kidd, volunteer and foster manager for the BRC, and her partner Gabe, mapped a route to Ann’s home, dodging downed power lines, shattered trees and other hazards blocking access to the house. When they arrived, neighbors assured them Ann and Catalina were safe and staying with friends. Kelly and Gabe lugged bags of dog food, cases of water and other supplies up the hill and left them on Ann’s porch. The following day, Ann called Kelly to thank her for the supplies and confirmed that she, her husband Chris, Catalina, and their dog, Murphy, were safe at a neighbor’s house.

Top: Tara with Gracie and Max; Ann and Catalina.

Olivia H., who had been fostering a terrier mix named Blanket, was forced to evacuate. She drove Blanket and her other pets – three dogs, a cat and a bunny – to her parents’ home in Ohio. The typical 8-hour drive took more than 12 hours due to road damage in Tennessee that required multiple detours.

“Blanket was nervous at first but handled the car ride well,” Olivia says.

Upon their return, Blanket was adopted from the BRC.

Tara C. was fostering Gracie, a Shar-Pei mix, when Helene hit. She lost power and water service, but her house was undamaged. Though she didn’t have to evacuate, Tara took Gracie and Max, her rescued hound mix, to a friend’s house and later to Knoxville to visit family. After returning in November, Gracie was transported to an ASPCA partner shelter in Charlotte, North Carolina where she was adopted.

At left, Gracie, Tara’s foster, and with Tara’s dog Max, at right.

Tena F. began fostering when she moved to Asheville in 2022 — first Shaggy, a terrier mix, then Hammond, a blind Beagle. Others followed, including Lincoln, a Chihuahua mix and a cuddler. When Tena took in Dustin, a Yorkie mix, at the end of August, she thought she would be fostering him for three weeks.

Then Helene made landfall. Tena kept Dustin until mid-November when one of her neighbors adopted him.

Left, Tena and Lincoln, one of her 16 former foster dogs; right: Dustin, whom Tena fostered during Hurricane Helene.

Their Why

When asked why they foster, our BRC volunteers zero in on the opportunity and rewards.

After her Labradoodle, Coco, died, Tena saw a flyer in a local business about ‘test driving’ a dog from the BRC.

“I missed dog energy, and fostering seemed like a perfect fit,” says Tena, who has fostered 16 dogs. She also walks dogs and sits in on behavior evaluations — anything she can do, she says, to support the BRC staff and their work.

“Fostering is a challenge, but I’m very patient with the process,” says Tena. “I see the improvements, even when they’re very minute, and that’s rewarding.”

Blanket with Olivia, left, and Radagast, right, Olivia’s cat.

Olivia, who has fostered 19 dogs since August 2020, says fostering “is an opportunity to learn more about an animal so they have a better chance at being successful in their future home.” She adds that the BRC does a great job educating foster caregivers and volunteers.

Tena says the BRC is the best team, personally or professionally, she’s ever worked with. But when it comes to letting go of her foster dogs, she remains steadfast.

“I stick to my commitment, which is to foster,” she says.

But Ann, who went through so much with Catalina, adopted her.

“We couldn’t imagine sending her back,” she says. “Catalina was our rock through this entire ordeal.”

Foster caregivers are truly unsung heroes, and we are so grateful for these five remarkable volunteers. You, too, can make a difference for animals in need by fostering for your local animal welfare organization or the ASPCA