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FUR in the News

First Coast News

Spanky could have been crushed in Helene, but Jacksonville nonprofit saved him and 92 other pets

Jeannie Blaylock

First Coast News

A Jacksonville nonprofit, Florida Urgent Rescue, rescued 93 dogs and cats from rural county shelters before Hurricane Helene hit.

September 27, 2024

MSN

A race against the clock: Rescue groups remove animals from shelters ahead of Helene

Robert Bradfield

MSN

Florida Urgent Rescue, along with other non-profits are trying to find adopters and fosters for dozens of dogs and cats ahead of Helene's impact.

September 25, 2024

WCJB20

To the rescue: 30 dogs taken from North Florida home

Robert Bradfield

WCJB20

Thirty dogs taken from a home in Jasper are getting medical care and are heading to foster homes after several non-profits stepped in to rescue them.

September 4, 2024

News4Jax

Florida animal welfare organizations rescue 25 dogs living outside on property in Hamilton County

Erik Avenier

News4Jax

Florida Urgent Rescue (FUR) said the owner was a senior citizen who went into the hospital and is not expected to come back out.

August 20, 2024

News4Jax

FUR evacuated dogs from outdoor shelter in Union County in advance of Hurricane Debby

Erik Avenier

News4Jax

12 dogs were taken to Pet Paradise at JIA

August 4, 2024

First Coast News

Animal rescue groups call out Putnam County for adopting out dogs too soon, without proper medical care

Jessica Clark

First Coast News

Florida Urgent Rescue offered to take 100 dogs to be placed in pre-approved foster homes.

March 21, 2024

Orlando Sentinel

Pictures: More than 200 dogs rescued from Putnam County home

Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda

Orlando Sentinel

Poodle and Pooch Rescue of Central Florida, Florida Urgent Rescue, and Integrated Animal Hospital, triage dogs rescued from a home in Putnam County whose elderly owner had more than 200 animals

March 16, 2024

NBC News

Florida rescue organization races to find indoor dog shelters amid cold

Andrew Badillo

NBC News

Florida Urgent Rescue is working to find warm shelter for dogs normally housed in outdoor kennels amid the ongoing cold snap.

January 17, 2024

People

Injured Dog Who Dragged Himself to Safety After Hit-and-Run Accident Is Searching for a Home

Kelli Bender

People

Buster the dog is looking for a forever family through Florida Urgent Rescue after surviving an accident in the Bahamas

October 24, 2023

AARP Magazine

To the Rescue: Saving Animals From Disaster Zones

David Hochman, AARP

AARP Magazine

For retired entrepreneur and veteran Michael Merrill, helping pets in peril around the world gives life meaning

October 9, 2023

The New Barker

The Purpose of Life is to Live a Life Full of Purpose

Anna Cooke

The New Barker

August 17, 2023

Florida Times-Union

Local pet rescuer aids earthquake-ravaged Turkey

Beth Reese Cravey

Florida Times-Union

After the massive February earthquake in Turkey, a Jacksonville-based animal rescuer responded by traveling about 6,300 miles to Antakya, a city in the hardest-hit region of the country.

April 8, 2023

First Coast News

Spartacus was shot. Here's the contraption to make you smile

by Jeannie Blaylock,

First Coast News

Florida Urgent Rescue founder Mike Merrill says animal abuse numbers have jumped since the pandemic. But there's help for Spartacus and his buddy, Byrdie.

February 3, 2023

Action News Jax

Florida Urgent Rescue asking for help fostering dogs

by Jake Stofan,

Action News Jax

​A local animal rescue needs your help as freezing temperatures threaten the lives of stray and shelter dogs.

December 24, 2022

First Coast News

Jacksonville-based nonprofit rescues shelter animals from Southwest Florida

by Zach Wilcox,

First Coast News

​Florida Urgent Rescue has made several trips to relocate the animals to shelters up North.

October 9, 2022

USA Today

He rescued cats and dogs amid war in Ukraine. Now he's saving animals from Ian's wrath.

by Cady Stanton,

USA Today

Mike Merrill has rescued animals from disasters and war zones, but as Hurricane Ian barreled down on Florida, he realized that his next mission would be saving animals in his home state.

September 30, 2022

First Coast News

Jacksonville nonprofit rescues beagles taken from large scale breeding facility in Virginia.

by Robert Bradfield,

First Coast News

Florida Urgent Rescue is looking for foster families.

August 19, 2022

First Coast News

Animal shelter looking for families to adopt and foster as they reach capacity; more than 50 dogs taken from Union County home

by Robert Bradfield,

First Coast News

Union County Animal Control is near capacity with two open kennels. Recently, non-profits took more than 50 dogs from a home.

August 5, 2022

News4Jax

Florida Urgent Rescue faces new roadblocks rescuing abandoned pets from Ukraine

by Erik Avenier,

News4Jax

Florida Urgent Rescue (FUR) has been in Ukraine, helping rescue abandoned pets or animals stuck in shelters, taking them out of the country and getting them to safety.

April 23, 2022

Florida Times-Union

Ukraine pets getting help from Florida animal rescuer

by Beth Reese Cravey,

Florida Times-Union

For 10 days a Northeast Florida animal rescuer was in Poland helping European shelters and rescue groups bring pets from war-torn Ukraine to Polish nonprofits.

March 25, 2022

News4Jax

Florida Urgent Rescue has helped 50 abandoned animals in Ukraine so far

by Erik Avenier,

News4Jax

Amid the ongoing situation in Ukraine, Florida Urgent Rescue (FUR), which is based out of Jacksonville, is partnering with other animal rescue organizations in Europe.

March 22, 2022

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