The Brandywine Valley SPCA has taken in 18 dogs from areas of Florida affected by Hurricane Irma.
The dogs arrived in Delaware Monday from overcrowded shelters in Florida. Brandywine Valley SPCA has taken them to their New Castle and Georgetown campuses to be adopted.
The organization also recently helped animals displaced by Hurricane Harvey in Houston. They sent personnel to Texas and helped set up a temporary shelter to reunite lost pets with their families.
BVSPCA is in the emergency placement partner network for the Humane Society of the United States, which is working with local shelters to help them make space for rescued animals.
Linda Torreli, a spokeswoman for the BVSPCA, said animals that were rescued during the hurricane and placed into Florida shelters have 30 days for their families to find them before being moved to another shelter.
“The important thing about the animals we brought in is they’re actually pre-hurricane animals already in overcrowded shelters,” Torreli said.
When they helped out in Houston, it was different because they were actually on site, Torreli said. But through the two hurricanes, the reaction to the displaced and rescued animals has been the same.
“Seeing so many animals that you can tell were family pets in a sheltering environment - they’re a little more chunkier, their coats are in good condition, they’re a little more scared maybe. That was a little overwhelming,” Torreli said.
But Torreli said the positive side is seeing a lot of animal welfare organizations and the community coming together to help the displaced pets.
About half of the animals the nonprofit took in from Florida are ready for adoption. Others still need to be spayed or neutered.
