Liberty Humane Society Rescues Animals from North Carolina During Hurricane Dorian
At the end of August, Hurricane Dorian hit the Southeastern U.S., spurring states of emergency and mandatory evacuations for residents. While residents could safely remove themselves from danger, their animal counterparts needed a little extra help from shelters far away from the path of destruction willing to lend space, time, and resources to save animals waiting to be adopted in area shelters. Jersey City’s own Liberty Humane Society (LHS) – a non-profit shelter offering care, treatment, and rehoming for thousands of animals every year in Jersey City, Bayonne, and Hoboken – answered the call for those animals in need.
Race Against the Clock
In advance of Dorian, LHS partnered with the Best Friends Animal Society to coordinate the safe transfer of animals from shelters in areas expected to be hit hard by the storm. A team of one staff member and one volunteer traveled to Georgetown, Delaware where they met and continued the transportation of 15 displaced animals – 13 cats and two dogs – back to their Jersey City location. The animals all came from shelters along coastal North Carolina and were transferred to better ensure the animals’ and the shelter’s employees’ safety and comfort as their communities rode out the effects of the storm.
“By helping those shelters evacuate, we are able to prevent them and the staff who care for them from being injured in the storm,” said Kim Saunders,
LHS Director of Operations. “We also then leave the shelter empty and best able to support their community and pet victims of the disaster in the storm’s aftermath.”
While two dogs and two kittens are getting used to their new surroundings inside LHS, 11 of the adult cats are currently recovering and decompressing from the move in caring foster homes to allow them time to adjust and avoid overcrowding inside the shelter for local animals. All of the rescued animals are currently available for adoption.
Neighbors Helping Neighbors
This isn’t the first time LHS has jumped into action to rescue animals in need during a crisis. Local volunteers also helped transfer animals after Hurricane Harvey hit Texas in August 2017, among other opportunities to lend a warm hand and dry shelter to devastated areas facing a natural disaster.
“When we have the capacity to help, we are willing to reach beyond our immediate community to offer that assistance,” said Ms. Saunders. “We trust that if we were facing disaster, that same support would be extended to us and our animals.”
How You Can Help
Those who wish to help LHS offset costs of transfer and medical for the pets rescued during Dorian can visit https://libertyhumane.nationbuilder.com/dorian_animals to make a donation directly towards their care and wellbeing. Anyone interested in adopting one of the Dorian-rescued animals or any of the cats and dogs waiting for a home in LHS can visit http://www.libertyhumane.org/adoption for more information on how to get started as well as browse available animals ready for adoption.
LHS will also be holding its annual Bark in the Park fundraiser, the largest pet festival in Hudson County, on September 28 at Church Square Park in Hoboken from noon to 4 p.m. This pet-friendly day of celebrating local pet lovers, owners, and the adoptable dogs and cats of LHS helps to spread awareness of pet adoption and raise money for LHS to cover the emergency costs throughout the year associated with the animals that come into their care. Family-friendly attractions, like a bouncy house and face painting, and local vendors and food stands will be in attendance. Pet owners are encouraged to dress up their pets for the annual costume contest for a chance to win a prize. To make a donation to Bark in the Park, please visit https://secure.givelively.org/donate/liberty-humane-society-inc/bark-in-the-park-2019.
Liberty Humane Society is located at 235 Jersey City Blvd. http://www.libertyhumane.org/
To see some of the furry friends who were brought up from North Carolina check out the links posted below.
