Want to help Hurricane-affected pets? Adopt or foster from your local shelter ASAP!

With the devastation wrought in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee due to Hurricane Helene and more damage anticipated from Hurricane Milton, Best Friends Animal Society is urging Americans to foster or adopt from local shelters and rescue groups to make room for incoming dogs and cats from impacted areas.  

“This is an all-hands-on deck situation for animal shelters that have been or are going to be decimated or greatly diminished by these devastating back-to-back hurricanes,” said Julie Castle, CEO, Best Friends Animal Society. “By adopting or fostering from your local shelter or rescue group, you’ll make room for dogs and cats displaced by the storms, in hopes that they can eventually be reunited with their families.”

Best Friends Animal Society, a leading national animal welfare organization working to end the killing of dogs and cats in America’s shelters, has deployed staff to the affected areas to help shelter staff on the ground with animal care, transports, supply distribution, and clean-up operations. The organization has also sent grants to several severely impacted shelters. 

Now Best Friends is calling upon the public to provide direct assistance.  

"The tragic reality is that many shelters are already having to make tough choices due to overcrowding, so the hurricanes are only going to exacerbate the situation,” Castle said. “That’s why community lifesaving is so important. If you can adopt a dog or cat, this is the time. If you can’t commit to adoption but can foster a pet, please do it now. Run, don’t walk, to your nearest shelter.”

Fostering terms can range anywhere from a few nights to several months, depending on the needs of the pet and the availability of the foster home.  

Typically, foster caregivers are given all the necessary food, supplies, and medical care while dogs and cats are in their care. They just need a safe place to call home.  

“Whatever space and time you can provide, these pets will be so grateful to be with you,” noted Castle.

To find a shelter or rescue near you, visit bestfriends.org/adopt-and-foster.  

Best Friends continues to raise funds to help with hurricane efforts through a dedicated digital fundraiser.