Wednesday

Will dogs, cats and other animals fare as badly in Sandy’s wake as they did during Hurricane Katrina, which left an estimated 250,000 pets stranded and struggling to survive?

Animal rescuers say it’s still too early to tell — although they’re hopeful that animals in states most affected by Sandy’s wrath will stand a better chance than they did during Katrina’s onslaught in 2005. Their hopefulness is based on the prevalence of pet-friendly shelters in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia.

“Up until actual storm conditions started, we had heard of literally hundreds of animal-friendly shelters opening,” said Niki Dawson, director of disaster services for the Humane Society of the United States. “Pets were either being welcomed at human shelters, or other resources were being provided if human shelters didn’t welcome pets.”

That’s not to say that Sandy has been kind to animals. Formal figures have not been tabulated yet, but social media feeds indicate that hundreds of animals are stranded, confused and frightened, and their caregivers are worried sick about them.

The storm is affecting more than common household pets. Officials said an entire petting zoo and an animal shelter in New Jersey were deluged. Such severe flooding occurred at the Wildlife Conservation Society’s New York Aquarium in Coney Island that the entire 14-acre facility was under water.

We have been monitoring his condition carefully since his arrival and continued this around-the-clock care throughout the duration of the storm,” aquarium officials said.

Mehdi Taamallah / AFP - Getty Images
A resident and his dog are evacuated on Tuesday from a neighborhood in Little Ferry, N.J., one day after the superstorm Sandy slammed the East Coast.
The Wildlife Conservation Society said its four zoos in Sandy’s path — the Bronx Zoo, Central Park Zoo, Prospect Park Zoo and Queens Zoo — did not experience serious damage.

Dawson of the Humane Society anticipated that requests for help from bereft animal owners could transform from a trickle to “a river” in the days ahead.

“That’s because we’ll almost certainly see more inland flooding a couple of days after the storm’s landfall,” she said.

Diane Robinson, a rescue team member with the American Humane Association, said many animal owners prepared early for Sandy’s arrival, but “some didn’t know where to go, which caused last-minute stress and panic.”

Adam Hunger / Reuters
A fireman carries a resident's dog to safety from flood waters in Little Ferry, N.J. on Tuesday.
Robinson is working with the crew of the American Humane Association’s 82-foot Red Star Rescue Rig, which is stationed in Pennsylvania to help animals in need.

“Two women arrived at our location in tears and panic after being told to evacuate quickly,” Robinson said. “They had a cat and a dog and didn’t know what they were going to do with the animals or themselves. They cried and profusely thanked us when we said we would shelter them. We were able to calm them down and reassure them the animals would be fine and they could come visit when it was safe and take them home when they were able.


Kathy Kmonicek / AP
Sarah Korman and Michael Cunba, who evacuated their home in Long Beach, N.Y., were able to bring their dogs Jade, left, and Ava to a pet shelter run by the Nassau County Office of Emergency Management and Pet Safe Coalition in Uniondale, N.Y., on Sunday. Pet owners could leave their pets at the shelter and then seek shelter for themselves before Sandy's arrival.
“Today they picked up their kitten and dog. They cried as they hugged them and loaded them up for home. It was a short stay but when faced with the potential loss of your home, knowing your family is being cared for and safe is more important than anything.”

How to help

To donate money and supplies to animals affected by superstorm Sandy, contact:

The Humane Society of the United States, (301) 258-8276 American Humane Association, (800) 227-4645
 Source

Kathy Kmonicek / AP
Sarah Korman and Michael Cunba, who evacuated their home in Long Beach, N.Y., were able to bring their dogs Jade, left, and Ava to a pet shelter run by the Nassau County Office of Emergency Management and Pet Safe Coalition in Uniondale, N.Y., on Sunday. Pet owners could leave their pets at the shelter and then seek shelter for themselves before Sandy's arrival.

Craig Ruttle / AP
With the aid of New Jersey state police, a man walks with his dog to a National Guard vehicle after leaving his flooded home at the Metropolitan Trailer Park in Moonachie, N.J., on Tuesday.

Courtesy American Humane Association
The American Humane Association's Red Star Rescue team got its start in 1916 to save horses on battlefields during World War I. Today, the 82-foot Red Star Rescue Rig is saving animals affected by Sandy in Pennsylvania.

 Ray Cilli and his dog Woubie are rescued from flood waters brought on by Sandy in Little Ferry, N.J., on Tuesday.

Responses to "Rush is on to rescue animals stranded in Sandy's wake"

  1. Cela donne beaucoup de chaleur dans le coeur

    Merci

  2. Anonymous says:

    Oh my god. This makes me cry... :-(((( My prayers go out for all of you from here in Europe!!! You are not alone. With our prayers we are with you. Stay strong.

  3. Anonymous says:


    brings tears to my eyes...

  4. Anonymous says:

    I cant believe that people whould actually LEAVE their pets...That would be like leaving my child......Hello?????????

  5. Lisa says:

    Thank you to all those who are helping with the ones who sometimes get left behind.

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