Update: 15 More Dogs Found Hiding Behind Freeport Pet Shelter

Update: Following days of bad news, the Humane Society of Grand Bahama shared two pieces of good news. The shelter received a much-awaited supply of donations Friday and shelter staff found 15 more shelter dogs who had survived the storm and were hiding in back of the Freeport shelter.

"Unbelievable," commented Executive Director Tip Burrows. "We might just need a bigger transport plane."

AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa

Sissel Mosvold embraces a volunteer who helped rescue her mother from her home, flooded by the waters of Hurricane Dorian, in the outskirts of Freeport, Bahamas

Courtesy Sol Relief

The Humane Society of Grand Bahama received a special delivery of supplies.

FREEPORT, GRAND BAHAMA — Working around the clock while hurricane-force winds and 15-foot tidal surge raged around them, staff at the Humane Society of Grand Bahama were able to rescue 74 dogs and 77 cats from a pet shelter on Coral Road that began flooding Sunday when Hurricane Dorian made its first landfall in the islands.

At one point, six workers were neck-deep in flood waters, trying to save dogs trapped in cages inside the shelter. They feared all the shelter cats would perish because access to the cattery was blocked by hurricane debris.

While they struggled to save the estimated 300 shelter animals, five staff members lost their own homes to the hurricane.

"Yesterday was incredibly emotional for (society Executive Director Tip Burrows) and the shelter staff," the Humane Society of Grand Bahama posted on its Facebook page Thursday morning. "They are managing the best they can in light of all the tragedy and destruction."

Out of desperation, the Humane Society posted a plea on its Facebook page Tuesday: "Immediate need for boats or high tractors to rescue animals still alive in the shelter. Please call or message Tip but only with assistance to get these animals out. Please pray."

Two hours later the Humane Society followed up with this message: "Lots of cats alive. Waiting on additional help to arrive before opening dog kennels to rescue those. If anyone is in the area or can make it to the shelter, additional hands/vehicles would be helpful. Please keep the animals and rescuers in your prayers."

At 8:26 on Tuesday, the Humane Society updated its Facebook page: "At least 75 dogs have survived. Rescue efforts will continue tomorrow when it is light out. Thank you for the many brave souls who came out to help."

Not all the animals at the shelter were rescues. The Humane Society of Grand Bahama was a designated hurricane shelter for the pets of residents who were under mandatory evacuation orders.

Keith Cooper was one of those residents. He took his two dogs, Tona and Kelly, and cat, Boogie, to the shelter and feared the worst when he learned that the shelter had been flooded.

As the eye of the hurricane drifted over the Bahamas, Cooper posted this message on his Facebook page:

"Urgent update! We are now in the eye of the storm. The Grand Bahama Humane Society is flooded. All of my pets and others are in grave danger. Society Director Tip Burrows is telling me they are doing the best they can. This has me so distraught right now. Please pray for our pets and the people of the Grand Bahama Island."

It took Cooper two days to make it back to Freeport to check on his pets.

"Thank God they are alive!," he posted.

Keith Cooper finds his pets alive and well.

Now that they've saved as many shelter animals as they could, the Humane Society staff is concentrating on rescuing pets trapped in homes around Freeport.

"Tip and her hardworking staff managed to save a dog from an upstairs bathroom where it was perched on a door and debris for two days," posted the Humane Society on Facebook. "The owner has been contacted and cried with gratitude to hear the news."

Pet owners throughout the Bahamas have been posting "lost pet" fliers on Facebook pages in the hope that they will be reunited with their pets.

The Humane Society is making arrangements to airlift the animals to Florida, to free up shelter space for the multitude of lost pets they expect to recover once the flood waters recede.

"We are close to takeoff," reported the shelter. "Once clearances are confirmed, we will share details here. All the animals will fly out at the same time."

Jacque Petrone, executive director of the nonprofit HALO No-Kill Rescue Shelter in Sebastian, Florida, is coordinating the air rescue for the Humane Society of Grand Bahama.

“It’s a miracle that Tip and her staff survived,” said Petrone. “When the water was rising, they were able to hold onto a tractor in neck-high water, so they weren’t swept away in a 15-foot tidal surge.”

The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture has lifted restrictions on bringing rescued animals from the Bahamas. And Petrone said Fort Pierce builder Robert Lucas has helped secure planes to fly in supplies and fly out animals.

"The Humane Society of Grand Bahamas has a donor willing to match donations, no limit given," she added.

Petrone and the Humane Society have established a GoFundMe page.

"This is our only sanctioned GoFundMe Page," the Humane Society emphasized.

To date, the page has raised nearly $62,000 for supplies to replace those lost in the flood as well as air transportation.

Each flight is expected to cost about $2,000. Petrone isn't sure how many flights will be needed to evacuate all the animals.

See related story:

Palm Harbor Pet Rescue Seeks Help For Flooded Bahamas Shelter