Chicagoans Help Rescue Pets From Regions Hit By Hurricane Michael

CHICAGO — Chicago's largest no kill humane organization has sent two vans to rescue homeless animals in Florida communities hit by Hurricane Michael. Two PAWS Chicago vans left the city Sunday and are expected to return mid-week with homeless animals in need of emergency housing.

The organization sent medical staff and volunteers to assist the Alachua County Humane Society in Gainesville, FL, who are acting as a way station for shelter pets in the Florida Panhandle area, where they were evacuated before the storm hit.

The Chicago staff expect to transport dozens of cats and dogs from the Florida shelters back to the PAWS Chicago Medical Center at 3516 W. 26th Street in the Little Village neighborhood. The vans will return to Chicago on Wednesday, Oct. 17, PAWS said.

The pets rescued by PAWS Chicago will help alleviate overcrowding in Florida shelters, rescue groups said. In order to make room for the influx of animals from the natural disaster, the organization's efforts will focus on pets who had already been in local shelters before the hurricane hit, the group said.

Once at PAWS Chicago’s Medical Center, each pet will be given complete medical care, vaccinations, microchips and spay/neuter surgeries as needed, the organization said. Once medically cleared, each pet will be available for adoption at PAWS Chicago.

Following this rescue mission, the organization's need for resources will increase as additional foster homes and supplies will be required to care for the animals, many of whom may be sick, injured or traumatized by recent experiences. PAWS Chicago welcomes donations and asks for people in Chicago to open their homes to foster pets and to volunteer at PAWS Chicago’s Medical Center and Adoption Centers.

Top image credit: Joe Raedle / Staff / Getty Images News. Dogs being rescued from a damaged business after hurricane Michael passed through the area on October 10, 2018 in Panama City, Florida.