ASPCA on the Ground in St. Croix Helping Animals Impacted by Hurricane Maria

NEW YORK—At the request of the Virgin Islands Department of Agriculture, the ASPCA^® (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals^®) continues its ongoing disaster response work in St. Croix by conducting field rescues and managing an emergency shelter to provide critical care for more than 100 animals displaced by Hurricane Maria.

The life-threatening Category 5 storm that plummeted the U.S. Virgin Islands in September put thousands of people and animals at risk and severely damaged St. Croix’s largest animal shelter. More than 20 ASPCA responders have been working around the clock on the ravaged island to rescue companion animals including cats, dogs and horses in the field, and veterinary experts are providing much-needed medical support for displaced and homeless animals. The ASPCA is also distributing critical pet supplies to pet owners on the island and will be relocating homeless animals to the States and placing them with rescue groups and animal shelters where they can be made available for adoption.

“Many of the animals in St. Croix that were in the path of Hurricane Maria require veterinary attention and daily care to prepare them for the next chapter of their lives,” said Tim Rickey, vice president of ASPCA Field Investigations & Response. “The ASPCA’s disaster response team is working tirelessly to support pet owners in need while rescuing and providing essential care for displaced homeless animals until they can be transported off the island and placed into loving homes.”

The ASPCA has worked closely with the Petco Foundation who donated much-needed pet supplies for animals impacted by the storm and Wings of Rescue who provided transportation of critical resources to St. Croix. To date, more than 6,000 animals impacted by Hurricane Maria have been assisted by the ASPCA through the distribution of 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, and floods. Most recently, the ASPCA assisted more than 14,000 animals in communities impacted by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, and is providing critical supplies and assisting local agencies in Northern California to care for animals affected by the catastrophic wildfires.

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