On September 14, 2018, Hurricane Florence made landfall on U.S. soil when it struck the shores of Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina. Citizens and inhabitants fled with only days to evacuate after a state of emergency was declared by North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper on September 7.
Since the dissipation of Florence, new stories have surfaced in regards to the number of pets found abandoned by their owners. One video depicts a PETA volunteer approaching a home nearly submerged by floodwaters with a dog frantically pacing on the porch. Another shows six dogs having to stand on their hind legs in order to avoid drowning in an outdoor cage in Leland, North Carolina.
Daily Mail Video of PETA Volunteer Rescuing Dog
YouTube Video of Six Dogs Being Rescued
Unfortunately, this is not the first time we have seen helpless animals get left behind in preparation for hurricanes. According to CNN, it has been calculated that nearly 90,000 New Orleans, Louisiana area pets were never accounted for and that 600,000 dogs and cats were either displaced or died in the midst of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. In August of 2017, photos and videos surfaced of dogs chained to poles and homes in preparation for Hurricane Harvey.
Although this is a serious problem, there are other routes that pet owners can take to ensure the life of their beloved friend— foster homes. “Saving Grace,” an animal shelter in the more inland town of Wakefield, North Carolina, is taking in numerous pets who have been found and transported away from the floodwater.
The shelter offers a ‘weekend host’ program where pet lovers who cannot commit long-term can instead foster a pet for only a few days at a time. In wake of Hurricane Florence, they were shocked to see a great line of people outside their doors who wanted to help out the furry friends in need.