Stray Pets Double After Hurricane Ian: Manatee County Animal Welfare

BRADENTON, FL — In the wake of Hurricane Ian, Manatee County Animal Welfare is working to help find and place lost and missing pets.

Following Ian’s passage through the county Sept. 29, there have been 29 adoptions and 13 pets returned to their owners, the agency said in a news release.

On Oct. 1, animal welfare staff were able to clean up and reopen the Bishop Animal Shelter, which had closed because of the storm. Since Monday, field operations have been ongoing, bringing in an average of 20 lost or stray pets a day — almost double the typical volume.

Hold periods for storm-strays have been extended, with even longer extensions for any pets found in the Myakka City area.

Manatee County Animal Welfare has been working with partners across the country to transfer adoptable pets to accommodate the extra animals coming to the shelter. As of Wednesday, 83 pets had been transferred, with an additional 70 pets leaving. By next Tuesday, that number should be closer to 200.

“We are working hard to create more space to help these displaced animals through this period,” said Manatee County Animal Welfare Chief Sarah Brown.

Anyone whose pet may be missing after the storm should call the Bishop Animal Shelter at (941) 742-5933 or Manatee County 3-1-1.

For more information on Manatee County Government, visit mymanatee.org or call (941) 748-4501. For information about Manatee County's Hurricane Ian recovery efforts, go to mymanatee.org/manateerecovers. And follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @manateegov.