Over the weekend, the ASPCA teamed up once again with Cloud Nine Rescue Flights to transport homeless animals displaced by Hurricane Maria to five animal shelters in the Southeast where they will be made available for adoption. More than 70 cats and dogs were transported and placed with shelters including the SPCA of Brevard, Louisiana SPCA, Grand Strand Humane Society, Humane Society of Charlotte and the SPCA of Wake County.

The cats and dogs were transported out of St. Croix from an emergency shelter established by the ASPCA in September, where nearly 600 animals displaced by Hurricane Maria have received care to date. Cloud Nine Rescue Flights operated the three transport flights, arriving at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport. From there, the animals continued their journeys to the Southeast-based shelters in Florida, Louisiana, South Carolina and North Carolina, where the destination shelters will work to find the animals safe and loving homes. ASPCA team member Leigh Anne snapped a photo of a rainbow that appeared just in time for the animals’ send off!

“While the ASPCA is providing daily care and critical support for hundreds of animals impacted by Hurricane Maria in St. Croix, we are continuously working to relocate homeless cats and dogs to the States where they can escape the devastation left behind by the storm and find safe and loving homes,” said Jessica Rushin, Partnerships Senior Manager for ASPCA Field Investigations & Response. “The ASPCA has helped transport nearly 300 homeless animals from its emergency shelter so far, and we are grateful to work with Cloud Nine Rescue Flights and our dedicated response partners to make this life-saving effort possible so these animals can move on to the next chapter in their lives.”