ASPCA and Wings of Rescue Fly Homeless Animals Displaced by Hurricane Maria from St. Croix to Mainland Shelters

NEW YORK—The ASPCA^® (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals^®) and Wings of Rescue are collaborating to transport more than 80 homeless animals displaced by Hurricane Maria to animal shelters in the States where they will be made available for adoption. As the ASPCA begins to demobilize its emergency shelter, which was established more than three months ago in St. Croix, the final group of unowned cats and dogs will be transported and placed with shelters throughout the country, including Gulf Coast Humane Society in Fort Myers, Fla.; Humane Society of Broward County in Fort Lauderdale, Fla; Humane Society of North Texas in Fort Worth; Nebraska Humane Society in Omaha; and Wayside Waifs in Kansas City, Mo.

Wings of Rescue is transporting the final group of animals to Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport today, Wednesday, December 27^th. From there, animals will continue on to rescue groups throughout the country. In total, the ASPCA cared for nearly 600 animals at its emergency shelter in St. Croix.

“As the ASPCA winds down its three-month-long hurricane response operation in St. Croix, we are focusing on relocating the remaining homeless animals in our care to rescue groups in the States to improve their chances to find safe and loving homes,” said Dick Green, senior director of ASPCA Disaster Response. “The ASPCA has helped transport hundreds of animals from its emergency shelter so far, and we are grateful to work with Wings of Rescue and our dedicated response partners to make this life-saving effort possible.” 

Since late September, more than 130 ASPCA responders have been working around the clock conducting field rescues and managing an emergency shelter in St. Croix. In addition, approximately 21,000 animals impacted by Hurricane Maria have been assisted by the ASPCA through the distribution of critical pet supplies. The ASPCA deploys its Field Investigations & Response team nationwide to assist in relocation, search-and-rescue, sheltering, and reunification efforts during disaster situations including wildfires, tornadoes, hurricanes and floods. In 2017, the ASPCA assisted more than 36,000 animals in communities impacted by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria and the wildfires in Northern California – the highest number of animal victims of natural disasters assisted by the ASPCA in one year.