As Hurricane Irma Approaches, Pets Are Being Abandoned

PALM BEACH COUNTY, FL — As Hurricane Irma approaches Florida, authorities are rushing to rescue pet that have been left behind. Animal control officers from Palm Beach County Animal Care rescued 49 dogs and two cats in the last two days, WFTS in Tampa Bay reports.

“They are left in a yard, in a pen they cannot escape from or tethered to trees or poles,” Director of Animal Care Diane Sauve told the news station. Sauve and State Attorney Dave Aronberg say they will track down and prosecute pet owners that abandoned their animals outside. Sauve tells WFTS that sand traveling in high-speed winds hurts the animals.

“This is a prime example of animal cruelty,” Aronberg said. “We will find you, and we will prosecute you.” (For updates on Irma and the latest information for Palm Beach County residents, subscribe to the West Palm Beach Patch.)

Similar reports of abandoned animals came out of Texas after Hurricane Harvey. Rescuers have found animals left outside, and some pet owners found certain shelters only allow service animals. Some pets have been reunited with owners, while others are being put up for adoption in states across the country.

Palm Beach County Animal Care urges residents to shelter any animals left outside, because animal control officers are barred from rescues once the wind reaches a consistent speed of 35 mph.

SEE ALSO:

• Hurricane Irma Turns Deadly Eye To Florida; Worst Storm In 25 Years
• Hurricane Irma: Prepare Your Pets For Natural Disasters
• Hurricane Irma: Palm Beach Evacuations, Countywide Curfew

Millions of people have been evacuating as Hurricane Irma is set to hit Florida early Sunday morning. In Palm Beach County, mandatory evacuations were ordered for Zone A, which includes mobile homes and low-lying areas prone to water intrusion, and Zone B which generally includes the barrier islands, land areas north and south of the Jupiter Inlet, and other surge-vulnerable areas along the Intracoastal Waterway. Mandatory evacuations were also ordered for the Glades. A voluntary evacuation was ordered for Zone C. See the evacuation zones here. Statewide, over 6 million people are under evacuation orders.

A countywide curfew also went into effect starting 3 p.m. until further notice. More than 15,000 people are in shelters in Palm Beach County while neighboring Broward County has nearly 13,000 people.

The storm has killed at least 30 people in its destructive path through the Caribbean. Downgraded to a Category 3 after tearing through Cuba, the Hurricane is currently over the warm water of the Florida Straits and building new power. Weather experts expect Hurricane Irma to reach Category 4 strength again before the eye of the storm lands on Florida.

Main photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images News/Getty Images