More Than A Month After Hurricane Irma, Homeless Pets From Caribbean Arrive In Tennessee

LEBANON, TN — It took more than a month, but 200 animals from the storm-ravaged Caribbean island of St. Martin arrived in Lebanon this weekend, the furriest refugees from Hurricane Irma's historic devastation.

Dubbed "Operation Saints To States," it took extensive coordination and cooperation between animal rescue groups in the Caribbean and the United States, a difficult undertaking as communications systems and infrastructure were devastated on the island when Irma made landfall September 6. The 200 shelter animals were taken via charter flight first to Miami and then brought to Animal Rescue Corps' operations center in Lebanon, about 40 miles east of Nashville.

(For more updates on this story and free news alerts for your neighborhood, sign up for your local Middle Tennessee Patch morning newsletter.)

“At one time, the logistics seemed impossible,” said Jamie Mills, a sponsor for this operation, in a press release. “But ARC was the perfect partner to complete this mission and working together, we can do the impossible.”

Once in Lebanon, the animals will receive veterinary care and then will be transferred to shelters and adoption centers throughout the country.

This is ARC’s third hurricane relief effort in recent weeks, rescuing nearly 500 animals from communities hit by hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria.

Donations to ARC can be made through the organization's Facebook page or web site.

Image via FEMA