Into the Path of Hurricane Isaias
72 Animals Rescued So Far. And We're Not Done Yet.
While others were evacuating ahead of Hurricane Isaias, our team was heading into the path of the storm to rescue animals in danger.
As Hurricane Isaias approached the Florida Panhandle as a major Category 3 hurricane, Florida Urgent Rescue (FUR) raced to evacuate vulnerable dogs and cats from rural animal shelters threatened by destructive winds and flooding.
Working with shelter and rescue partners across Florida, FUR evacuated 49 dogs and cats from Chipley Animal Shelter and Madison County Animal Services, getting them to safety before the storm arrived.
And while the hurricane has passed, our rescue mission is not over.
Before the Storm: Racing to Save 49 Animals
With Hurricane Isaias approaching and the ground already saturated from weeks of rain, rural animal shelters faced serious threats from flooding, falling trees and destructive winds.
Chipley Animal Shelter serves animals from three counties, making it an important resource for surrounding rural communities. With a major hurricane approaching, evacuating animals before the storm was critical.
At Madison County Animal Services, the danger was especially familiar. Dogs were housed in outdoor kennels, leaving them vulnerable to falling trees and severe weather.
During Hurricane Idalia, FUR and our rescue partners evacuated animals from Madison County just hours before falling trees crushed the kennels where those dogs had been housed.
We knew what could happen. We weren't taking any chances.
Working together, our team coordinated the evacuation of 49 dogs and cats, moving them from the threatened shelters to receiving organizations across Florida.
Our receiving shelter and rescue partners included:
A trusted shelter partner, which welcomed 22 dogs.
DeSoto County, which took in 4 dogs.
Humane Society of Broward County, which received 8 dogs and 2 cats.
Lucky Cat Adoptions, which welcomed 13 cats.
These organizations stepped up during an emergency, making room for animals they had never met so they wouldn't have to face the storm in vulnerable shelters.
Our transport drivers, Meri West and Kevin Dykes, spent long hours on the road moving animals to safety, while shelter and rescue partners worked behind the scenes to coordinate placements and logistics.
We're especially grateful to Keegan Spera with the University of Florida Shelter Medicine Program for helping coordinate the disaster response, along with the shelter teams and rescue partners who worked together to make these evacuations possible.
Thanks to that teamwork, all 49 animals were moved to safety before the storm arrived.
After the Storm: Animals Are Still in Danger
For shelter animals, the danger doesn't end when the hurricane passes.
As families return to damaged homes, shelters face a new emergency. Lost pets are brought in as strays, and families displaced by the storm may have no choice but to surrender their animals. At the same time, adoptions slow dramatically as communities struggle to recover.
Shelters that were already full before the storm can quickly become overwhelmed. With nowhere to put incoming animals, they may face heartbreaking decisions about euthanizing dogs and cats who were already in their care.
That's why FUR's work continues after the storm.
Since Hurricane Isaias, we've transported another 6 dogs from Franklin County to our trusted shelter partner, helping create much-needed space for additional animals.
And now we're helping Santa Rosa County Animal Services in Milton, Florida, one of the communities hit especially hard by the hurricane.
A Shelter Overwhelmed by the Storm
The rescue coordinator at Santa Rosa County Animal Services reached out for help as the shelter prepared for a surge of incoming animals.
The hurricane caused extensive damage throughout the county, destroying fences, leaving residents without electricity or water, and displacing families from their homes.
The shelter was already over capacity before the storm.
With damage throughout the community, shelter staff anticipate an influx of stray dogs. They also expect additional owner surrenders as families struggle with damaged homes and displacement. Meanwhile, adoptions are expected to slow significantly as local residents focus on recovering from the disaster.
This creates a dangerous combination: more animals coming into the shelter, fewer animals leaving through adoption, and limited space to care for them.
To help relieve that pressure, FUR is transporting 7 dogs and 10 cats from Santa Rosa County Animal Services to Lucky Dog Animal Rescue in South Carolina.
These animals were already in the shelter before the hurricane. By moving them to a receiving rescue, we're opening kennel space for incoming strays and animals surrendered by families affected by the storm.
Every kennel we open creates another opportunity for a displaced or homeless animal to receive shelter and care — rather than face euthanasia simply because there's no room.
That's what disaster response looks like after the storm.
72 Animals Rescued So Far. More Work Ahead.
With 49 dogs and cats evacuated before Hurricane Isaias, 6 dogs transported from Franklin County afterward, and another 17 animals being transported from Santa Rosa County, FUR's Hurricane Isaias response has now helped 72 dogs and cats.
But the need doesn't end with these transports.
As communities recover, animal shelters will continue dealing with damaged facilities, lost pets, owner surrenders, overcrowding and limited resources.
FUR's Urgent Transport program has responded to 21 hurricanes and natural disasters, and we've learned that the work after a storm can be just as important as the evacuations beforehand.
Our goal is not simply to move animals away from danger. It's to help shelters manage emergencies, prevent unnecessary euthanasia and give vulnerable animals a chance at a better future.
Rescue Takes Teamwork
None of this would be possible without the extraordinary cooperation of animal shelters, rescue organizations, volunteers, fosters and supporters.
We want to thank the teams at Chipley Animal Shelter and Madison County Animal Services for their dedication to the animals in their care and their willingness to coordinate emergency evacuations under difficult circumstances.
We're grateful to DeSoto County, Humane Society of Broward County and Lucky Cat Adoptions for opening their doors to animals evacuated before the storm.
We're especially grateful to a trusted shelter partner that welcomed 28 dogs during our Hurricane Isaias response — 22 before the storm and another 6 afterward. Their willingness to step up when animals needed help made a tremendous difference.
We also thank Franklin County and Santa Rosa County Animal Services for working with us during the recovery, and Lucky Dog Animal Rescue in South Carolina for welcoming animals from hard-hit Milton.
Special thanks to Keegan Spera of the University of Florida Shelter Medicine Program, Susan Brodowsky, Mary Steffen, Cameron Moore, Sondra and Jennifer Burleson for their coordination and support throughout these rescue efforts.
And a special thank-you to our transport drivers, Meri West and Kevin Dykes, who spent countless hours on the road getting animals to safety.
To our volunteers and fosters who give their time, open their homes and care for animals in need: your dedication makes these rescues possible.
And to our donors and supporters, including our monthly donors: you make it possible for FUR to answer these calls for help.
Emergency rescues require vehicles, fuel, supplies, veterinary care, coordination and people willing to respond at a moment's notice. Your generosity gives us the resources to act when animals need us most.
FUR Always Ready Fundraiser — Double or Triple Your Impact!
Hurricane Isaias is another reminder of why FUR must be ready to respond whenever and wherever animals are in danger.
Our FUR Always Ready Fundraiser helps support emergency response, veterinary care, supplies and ongoing disaster relief.
Through October 31, donations are DOUBLED, and new monthly donations are TRIPLED for the first two months!
Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to help us continue this lifesaving work.
Donate at www.floridaurgentrescue.org/donate
The storm has passed, but the rescue work isn't over.
Thank you for standing with us and helping save animals in danger.
