ASPCA Deploys National Disaster Response Team to Assist Florida Animal Welfare Groups Impacted by Hurricane Helene

CITRUS COUNTY, Fla. – At the request of Citrus County Animal Services, the ASPCA^® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals^®) is on the ground in Citrus County, Fla., conducting water and land search-and-rescue assessments and supporting the impacted communities with pet food and other critical supplies for animals and pet owners affected by Hurricane Helene. The ASPCA’s disaster response team is engaging with impacted shelters across the state, as well as state level agencies, to coordinate additional animal sheltering and disaster response needs. Escambia County Department of Animal Welfare is also assisting the ASPCA with emergency relief efforts.

“In the aftermath of storms such as Hurricane Helene, the ASPCA’s priority is to provide local agencies with the critical support and resources they need to safely care for animals affected by disasters,” said Clint Ganus, Manager of Disaster Response, ASPCA. “The full impact of this devastating hurricane is still being realized and we are immensely grateful to the many disaster response partners who are working together to bring displaced animals to safety and help impacted families care for their pets during this challenging time.”

The ASPCA remains in close contact with Florida-based emergency management agencies and local animal welfare organizations and will continue to provide additional support as needed.

Since the inception of the ASPCA's disaster response team in 2010, the ASPCA has responded to more than 77 disasters and assisted over 128,000 animals in crisis. Last year alone, ASPCA disaster response personnel responded to 13 requests for help across 11 states, assisting over 6,700 animals impacted by disasters.

In addition to providing boots-on-the-ground disaster response assistance, the ASPCA works with agencies nationwide to help enhance their animal response capabilities through grants and training opportunities. Since 2021, the ASPCA has awarded nearly $2.4 million to authorized disaster response agencies providing support to companion animals and their owners in communities impacted by or at high risk of disasters. The ASPCA also works with lawmakers to increase access to co-sheltering opportunities to keep people and pets together when displaced by disasters. In recent years, the ASPCA has led efforts to enact laws in California, Colorado, and Nevada to help ensure that local governments designate pet-friendly sheltering sites to give people a safe and comfortable place to evacuate with their pets.

For more information about the ASPCA’s response to Hurricane Helene, please visit www.aspca.org.