Hudson County Animal Shelter Takes In Hurricane Harvey Dogs (PHOTOS)

HUDSON COUNTY, NJ — A Hudson County animal shelter that services both Hoboken and Jersey City is doing its part to help some of the four-legged victims of Hurricane Harvey.

Following Harvey’s devastating wrath – which claimed dozens of lives and may be the most damaging storm in U.S. history – stories about lost and homeless pets flooded the internet. Many of the pets in need were transported to out-of-state shelters, including New Jersey.

• See related article: Pets Battle, Swim Into Our Hearts From Deadly Floods
• See related article: Animals Flown Out Of State To Make Shelter Room For Displaced Pets

The Hudson County-based Liberty Humane Society (LHS) was one of the New Jersey shelters that stepped up to do their part.

Here’s what the LHS wrote about their decision to take in seven dogs in need:

“Six years ago, we evacuated our shelter in preparation for Hurricane Irene. Four years later we did it again for Hurricane Sandy. People from across the country rallied to take in LHS pets and keep them safe during the storms; now it's time we pay it forward to the shelter animals of Texas.

“LHS is a small facility with a local mission. We don’t usually transfer in animals from outside the communities we serve, but we know how difficult it is for shelters to keep going in the midst of a disaster. We’re not the biggest shelter in New Jersey, but when Harvey hit we wanted to do what we could to help. [On Sept. 5], seven dogs arrived at LHS from the City of Beaumont Animal Shelter, via Austin Pets Alive's regional disaster hub. Today, they’re all safe in local foster homes and awaiting adoption.

“It is thanks to our community that we are able to do this work. Thank you for continually opening your hearts and homes when LHS needs you. And thank you for making a little more room in your lives for those displaced by hurricane Harvey.”

Community members can make a donation towards their care here.

A Liberty Humane Society spokesperson told Patch more about the incoming animals:

“These dogs were originally in the City of Beaumont Animal Shelter prior to the storm. When Beaumont had to be evacuated these dogs ended up at Austin Pets Alive, whose facilities in Austin and Houston are serving as temporary hubs for displaced shelter animals. During times of disaster it’s best for local shelters to transfer out as much of their exiting shelter population as they can so they can take in animals rescued from the storm and try to reunite the with their owners. We want to take existing shelter animals to give these facilities enough space so newly lost pets can stay local and have a better chance of reuniting with their families. Austin Pets Alive reached out for help placing these animals through Best Friends’ National Network, of which we are a part. We don’t usually do transports, so we partnered with the Animal Rescue Foundation of the Hamptons, who sent their large vehicles down to Austin to pick up the dogs we committed to take, along with others going back to their facility and other parts of New Jersey.”

The spokesperson continued:

“Because we really don’t know what illnesses these dogs were potentially exposed to we are sending them into foster care with volunteers so as to protect our shelter population. They will be available for adoption after they’re medically cleared.”

• See related article: N.J. Lawmaker Led Effort To Cut FEMA Relief Budget (Then Harvey Hit)
• See related article: West Orange, NJ, Offers Harvey Aid To West Orange, Texas

Send local news tips, photos and press releases to eric.kiefer@patch.com

Photos: Liberty Humane Society (used with permission)

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