Vermont communities can help hurricane-affected pets

By Kerry McKeel, Best Friends Animal Society

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 urges 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, 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 pet’s needs and the foster home’s availability.

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.

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.  

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 and make the country no-kill in 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 415,000 last year. Best Friends runs lifesaving programs across the country, as well as the nation’s largest no-kill animal sanctuary. Working collaboratively with a network of more than 5,000 animal welfare and shelter partners, and community members nationwide, Best Friends is working to Save Them All®. For more information, visit bestfriends.org.