'These animals have no place to go': WI animal shelters take over 100 animals displaced by Helene
WAUKESHA, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Hurricane Helene has destroyed communities and left over 150 people dead as of Wednesday. But hundreds of animals are now also displaced in the southeast.
On Wednesday, Wisconsin animal shelters stepped in to lighten their load.
One-hundred and thirty animals from South Carolina have flown into Waukesha to make room for the hundreds of displaced animals in the Carolinas and Florida.
"There are stories of shelter workers wading through chest-high water to get animals out of kennels safely," Angela Speed, vice president of marketing and communications at the Wisconsin Humane Society, explained.
The survivors of Helene flew over a thousand miles to find their new forever homes here in Wisconsin.
"There are shelters in that region that have been flooded, and still don't have electricity or water. Some of the shelters have been completely destroyed and the need is through the roof right now," said Speed.
The animals flown into the Waukesha County Airport are pets that were already in the animal shelter before the hurricane hit.
"There are no owners looking for these animals. What the shelters are trying to do is try to clear out those animals and make room for this huge influx of cats, dogs, and other animals who have no place to go," said Speed.
However, Speed says Wisconsin shelters are already full.
"To be honest, the timing is challenging for us and the other shelters taking animals today. This summer we've seen a huge influx of surrendered animals and stray animals -- at the Wisconsin Humane Society, our kennels are full too, but we know in these situations the public rallies to help when there's a natural disaster. Wisconsin Humane Society and all shelters in the state of Wisconsin need your help. If you've been someone that's on the fence about adopting, this is your sign," said Speed.
If you want to help, consider donating, fostering, or adopting one of these amazing pets!
Speed says the animals could be available for adoption by as soon as this weekend.
Here is a list of all the participating shelters taking in the animals:
- Humane Animal Welfare Society of Waukesha County (HAWS)
- Humane Society of Jefferson County
- Elmbrook Humane Society
- Washington County Humane Society
- Wisconsin Humane Society
- Dane County Humane Society
- Eau Claire Humane Association
- Green County Humane Society