With Hurricane Ida Approaching the Northern Gulf Coast, Shelters are in Urgent Need of Fosters
KANAB, UT – Hurricane Ida is projected to be a Category 4 storm when it makes landfall tomorrow, potentially impacting the Northern Gulf Coast from New Orleans to Miami. Animal shelters in the area and around the country are already overloaded, creating a serious lack of space for animals projected to come in to shelters during Hurricane Ida.
“We need to make even more room for pets that are being transported out of shelters in the way of the storm,” said Julie Castle, chief executive officer of Best Friends Animal Society. “This is an ‘all hands on deck’ plea to the public that if you could possibly foster a dog, cat, or kittens, to please do so in order to help alleviate what could be a real crisis at shelters in the area.”
Click here to find shelters or rescues in the area (and across the country).
Data from Best Friends shows there was already a decrease in pet adoptions in shelters across the country coupled with a seasonal increase in animal intake compared to 2020. Adoptions are down 3.7% overall this year, and for the month of June, intake was up 5.9% as compared to 2020. This is also the height of kitten season when most cats have their litters and traditionally end up in shelters. This, combined with pandemic-related challenges, and adding Hurricane Ida to the mix is leading to shelters becoming even more overwhelmed.
“Shelters, and the animals in them need our help in a big way, especially as we prepare for and deal with the impact from this hurricane,” Castle said. “We urge anyone who can help to please do so in order to save the lives of these animals and alleviate the stress for shelter workers that are already under so much pressure.”
If you find yourself in the path of the hurricane, Best Friends offers resources on how to prepare, what to do, and how you can help.
About Best Friends Animal Society
Best Friends Animal Society is a leading animal welfare organization working to end the killing of dogs and cats in America’s shelters by 2025. Founded in 1984, Best Friends is a pioneer in the no-kill movement and has helped reduce the number of animals killed in shelters from an estimated 17 million per year to about 347,000. Best Friends runs lifesaving programs all across the country, as well as the nation’s largest no-kill animal sanctuary. Working collaboratively with a network of more than 3,300 animal welfare and shelter partners, and community members nationwide, Best Friends is working to Save Them All®. For more information, visit bestfriends.org.