Hurricane Florence Dogs Already Making Their Way To NJ

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — As Hurricane Florence nears, local animal shelters are already making room to take in pets from shelters down south.

On Wednesday, Somerset Regional Animal Shelter Director Brian Bradshaw already brought six dogs to the Bridgewater shelter as of 2 p.m. from St. Hubert's Welfare Center in Madison.

The dogs came from a combination of locations including Greenville, South Carolina and also locally from St. Hubert’s who is also making room to accommodate pets in need.

“We are preparing to help shelters down there,” said Bradshaw, Director of SRAS. “They are emptying out shelters and bringing them up north.”

Florence, currently a category 4 hurricane, is expected to reach the Mid-Atlantic by Thursday night. It could be approaching a category 5 storm when it does, the National Weather Service warned.

Nora Parker with St. Hubert's said another transport is coming in tonight from Greenville with about another 12 dogs expected.

Parker described the situation as "fluid." Meaning the numbers can continuously change as the situation progresses.

Right now, St. Hubert's is working with the shelters in Greenville, SC to take some of their pets that are already up for adoption and bring them to New Jersey. This will make room down south for evacuee pets to stay local.

"The best way to handle this is to move the animals, not the victims of the storms," Parker said. "These are not people's pets, these are pets already looking for new homes."

Another transport of pets is expected on Thursday followed by more post-storm, Park said.

During Hurricane Irma, St. Hubert's took in 1,200 pets.

With the expected increase in transports of pets coming to New Jersey, Bradshaw is working overtime with his volunteers to try and get as many pets at the shelter adopted or fostered to make room for more hurricane animals in need.

The SRAS is also making room anyway they can by clearing space for crates to housed.

“As long as we have the space we will take whatever we can,” Bradshaw said. “It is taxing on our staff and volunteers but it is more taxing on the other volunteers down south.”

With the added work and costs associated with housing the additional pets, including food and supplies and costs to to spay and neuter, shelters are need of monetary and supply donations.

“We need more help being a small shelter with a small staff and rely on volunteers from the public,” Bradshaw said.

Locals can help out by donating at srasnj.org/donate or buying supplies from the SRAS’ Amazon wish list by clicking here. Additionally, volunteers and fosters are always needed. Interested volunteers can visit the Friends of Somerset Regional Animal Shelter’s website at fosras.com.

The Somerset Regional Animal Shelter is located at 100 Commons Way in Bridgewater. For more information call 908-725-0308.

To donate to St. Hubert's visit sthuberts.org/hurricane2018.

Image 1 via Somerset Regional Animal Shelter: Brian Bradshaw with Natches, 1-year-old Shepherd mix that came from Greenville, South Carolina

Image 2, 3, 4 via St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center

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