Animals Displaced by Hurricane Maria in St. Croix Arrive at ASPCA Adoption Center in NYC
ASPCA continues to airlift homeless animals from its emergency shelter in the U.S. Virgin Islands to rescue groups in the States to be made available for adoption
New York—The ASPCA® (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) partnered with Cloud Nine Rescue Flights to transport more than 50 cats and dogs displaced by Hurricane Maria in St. Croix to rescue groups in the States. Ten of these animals – including two adult dogs and eight puppies – are making their way from Fort Lauderdale, Fla. to the ASPCA Adoption Center in New York City where they will be made available for adoption. The remaining cats and dogs were placed with animal shelters throughout Florida.
“Relocating animals from disaster-impacted communities is a life-saving aspect of the ASPCA’s disaster response efforts because it gives homeless animals rescued in the field a second chance at finding safe and loving homes,” said Jorge Ortega, senior director of the ASPCA Adoption Center. “The ASPCA Adoption Center welcomed homeless animals impacted by Hurricane Harvey in September, and we look forward to helping animals displaced by Hurricane Maria move on to the next chapter of their lives as well.”
These homeless animals were transported from the ASPCA’s emergency shelter established in St. Croix following the catastrophic storm after the largest animal shelter on the island was severely damaged and forced to temporarily shut down. Since late September, dozens of ASPCA responders have been working around the clock conducting field rescues, distributing critical pet supplies and managing the emergency shelter where nearly 350 animals have received care to date.
The ASPCA Field Investigations and Response team deploys nationwide to assist in relocation, search-and-rescue, sheltering and placement of animals during disaster situations including wildfires, tornadoes, hurricanes and floods. In addition, they work closely with local agencies across the country to help enhance their animal response capabilities through grants and training opportunities. In the past three months, the Field Investigations and Response team responded to four major disasters, assisting more than 30,000 animals through field rescue, relocation, emergency sheltering and the distribution of critical pet supplies in four states and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
WHAT: Arrival of 10 dogs displaced by Hurricane Maria from St. Croix (the remaining cats and dogs were placed with rescue groups in Florida)
WHEN: Tuesday, November 14 (Estimated arrival time is 11 a.m. please call the ASPCA media contacts above)
WHERE: ASPCA Adoption Center 424 East 92nd Street (between 1st and York Avenues) on the Upper East Side of Manhattan New York, N.Y. 10128
WHO: Jorge Ortega, senior director of ASPCA Adoption Center
MORE: Media interested in covering the arrival of the dogs and access to the ASPCA Adoption Center are encouraged to contact Alyssa Fleck at 917-575-2343.
About the ASPCA®
Founded in 1866, the ASPCA® (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) was the first animal welfare organization in North America and continues to serve as the nation’s leading voice for animals. More than two million supporters strong, the ASPCA is committed to its mission of providing effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States. As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, the ASPCA is a national leader in the areas of anti-cruelty, community outreach and animal health services. For more information, please visit www.ASPCA.org, and be sure to follow the ASPCA on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
