50+ Dogs, Cats Taken In By Peninsula Shelter From Hurricane-Ravaged Florida

BURLINGAME, CA — More than 50 dogs and cats have been flown across the country and into the Peninsula, as animal advocates work tirelessly to get the animals settled into a new environment. Many of them will now require "extensive medical treatment," officials with the Peninsula Humane Society (PHS) say.

After Hurricane Irma made its way through Florida, the Miami-Dade County area was in need of some relief for all of the furry friends.

"All of these dogs and cats had been in shelters prior to the storm hitting Florida," said PHS President Ken White. "By taking these animals this enables those shelters to free up precious space for more incoming animals displaced during the hurricane crisis in Florida."

According to the PHS, the airlift rescue was a combined effort between the Golden State Warriors, Miami HEAT and FedEx. A FedEx cargo plane left Miami on Friday and landed at Oakland's airport — and everyone on board received a warm welcoming. Some pets were even carried off the plane by Golden State Warriors players. From there, they headed to the shelter at Coyote Point in San Mateo County.

"These dogs and cats will be given the opportunity to settle in and are being provided medical treatment as needed," according to White. "We are fortunate to have top-notch veterinarians and behavior staff and of course our dedicated volunteers that we can provide outstanding care for these new additions without comprising any care for animals in our community."

The animals will be available for adoption as soon as they've adjusted, officials say. In the meantime, PHS is seeking donations to help these animals. For more information please visit www.phs-spca.org.

Photos courtesy of the Peninsula Humane Society