ASPCA Urges North Carolina Pet Owners to Claim Lost Animals Rescued in Recent Floods

St. Pauls, N.C.—After spending nearly a week rescuing North Carolina animals stranded by Hurricane Matthew, the ASPCA^® (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals^®), at the request of the county of Robeson, has established an emergency shelter to house the nearly 250 displaced pets – mostly dogs and cats -- at the Robeson County Animal Control in St. Pauls. To date, the ASPCA has assisted more than 1,200 animals in Georgia and the Carolinas through pre-evacuation measures, field rescue, transport and emergency sheltering.

“Our responders have been working tirelessly to reunite lost pets with their families, and so far we’ve had approximately 30 pets claimed by their owners,” said Tim Rickey, vice president of the ASPCA Field Investigations and Response team. “We’re asking pet owners who lost their pets during the storm to come to the Robeson County Animal Control to search for their pets, or call to report their lost pets.”

The ASPCA disaster response team is working collaboratively with the Holly Springs Volunteer Fire Department in Holly Springs, N.C., and Stanley Fire Department in Stanley, N.C., to respond to numerous requests from pet owners in the community. Individuals looking to report missing or stranded pets should contact the Robeson County Animal Control at (910) 865-2200.

“While we’re hoping to wrap up water rescue efforts soon, our work is far from over,” added Rickey. “We will continue to work with local authorities and respond to requests and dispatch water rescue teams in the field to retrieve pets left behind or search for lost pets.”

The ASPCA Field Investigations and Response team was called on last week by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture to assist animals affected by Hurricane Matthew. The team responds frequently to natural disasters including the recent Louisiana flooding and the Northern California wildfire. In addition, they are called on by state and municipal governments and other animal welfare partners to lend expertise during large-scale animal rescue operations.