Chicago Welcomes Animals Rescued From Hurricane Michael

CHICAGO — After a 21-hour drive from Florida, 35 animals rescued from Hurricane Michael have arrived safely in Chicago. Two vans filled with dogs, cats, puppies and kittens arrived at the PAWS Chicago Medical Center in the Little Village neighborhood Wednesday.

PAWS Chicago 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 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 focused on pets who had already been in local shelters before the hurricane hit, the group said.

Each rescued animal is being given complete medical care, vaccinations, microchips and spay/neuter surgeries as needed, PAWS Chicago said.

Once medically cleared, each pet will be available for adoption through PAWS Chicago.

Now that the rescue mission is over, the organization's need for resources has increased as additional foster homes and supplies are required to care for the animals. 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.

Images courtesy of PAWS Chicago