ASPCA Establishing Emergency Shelter for Hundreds of Animals Impacted by Hurricane Maria in St. Croix

NEW YORK—At the request of the Virgin Islands Department of Agriculture, the ASPCA^® (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals^®) is establishing an emergency shelter to provide much-needed housing and care for hundreds of animals in St. Croix displaced by Hurricane Maria.  

Since late September, the ASPCA has been on the ground assessing the needs of animals impacted by the storm and has deployed small and large animal search-and-rescue and sheltering teams while providing critical supplies for owned pets and shelter animals. The ASPCA is also coordinating and overseeing veterinary response efforts for displaced animals on the island.

“Hurricane Maria threatened the lives of thousands of animals across the U.S. Virgin Islands, and it’s going to take dedication and a lot of hard work to help St. Croix get back on its feet,” said Tim Rickey, vice president of ASPCA Field Investigations & Response. “As we work to establish an emergency shelter, the ASPCA is also shipping essential supplies to the island and is committed to doing everything we can to support the community and provide life-saving care for animals in need.”

In the past month alone, the ASPCA Field Investigations and Response team has assisted more than 18,000 animals in communities impacted by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria. The ASPCA deploys its disaster response team nationwide to assist in relocation, search-and-rescue, sheltering, and reunification efforts during disaster situations including wildfires, tornadoes, and floods.

For the latest updates on the ASPCA's response, please visit www.aspca.org/maria-response.