WASHINGTON — Even before Hurricane Irma made landfall in the United States, the D.C. area already welcomed some animals from a South Carolina shelter.
Little Olive arrives in DC area from South Carolina & out Irma's path. She'll be up for adoption at https://t.co/9KI7pOozOy @WTOP pic.twitter.com/gvyI5yqbp7
— Kathy Stewart (@KStewartWTOP) September 9, 2017
Catherine Edwards with PetConnet Rescue arrives with transport van carrying 24 animals from South Carolina including beautiful "Snowbell." pic.twitter.com/yDlFWCM06K
— Kathy Stewart (@KStewartWTOP) September 9, 2017
Getting homeless pets out of the way of Hurricane Irma. 24 animals from Florence South Carolina Humane Society arrive in DC area. @WTOP pic.twitter.com/FekJjZPu4w
— Kathy Stewart (@KStewartWTOP) September 9, 2017
Pups & cats arrived from South Carolina shelter & out of Irma's path. Clearing shelters in south make room for displaced animals from Irma. pic.twitter.com/gjYmfVi3SV
— Kathy Stewart (@KStewartWTOP) September 9, 2017
Shelter animals arrive from South Carolina to our area. They need forever homes. https://t.co/QdrGxJVpxr @WTOP pic.twitter.com/9AnK4X0XLU
— Kathy Stewart (@KStewartWTOP) September 9, 2017
A local animal rescue group has transported cats and dogs from South Carolina to the D.C. area in an effort to free up space at the animals shelters down south. Once the hurricane hits, the shelter space will be needed for the animals that are displaced by the storm.
Catherine Edwards is executive director of PetConnect Rescue, an animal rescue organization based in Potomac, Maryland.
“We have six cats and 18 dogs. Ages range from 12 weeks to 8 years.”
On Saturday afternoon in Vienna, Virginia, outside of the PetSmart off Route 7, the transport van arrived with the animals that were quickly paired with their foster families.
Snowbell is a white dog with blue eyes, believed to be an Australian Shepherd mix. She is headed to her temporary home in Middleburg, Virginia.
These animals came from the Florence Area Humane Society in South Carolina.
“We put together this transport in a flash to help clear the cages out of the South Carolina shelter before the storm hits,” Edwards said. She said the shelters in the south need to make room for the animals that will be affected by Hurricane Irma.
Edwards said the animals that arrived in our area will be available for adoption in the near future and will be posted at the PetConnect Rescue website. These animals are not someone’s pets and have been cleared for adoption.
After being in a shelter, Edwards said the animals need a little time to decompress, giving the foster parents time to assess the animal’s behavior and to learn a little more about the dog, including what type of human family and forever home they might need.
Those who are fostering the dogs will also assess their energy level and find out how they are with other dogs, cats and kids.
PetConnect Rescue has been working with their shelter partner, Florence Area Humane Society, for several years.
“We just knew that they were in the line of the storm to get slammed and really hit. They were hit last year by Hurricane Matthew. So we’re here to support them and move the animals up to this area to safety and forever homes. And of course, we might be back in a couple weeks to scoop some more up as the needs arise.”
