ASPCA Urges Pet Owners in Robeson County, N.C. to Claim Animals Rescued Following Hurricane Florence

St. Pauls, N.C.—After spending weeks rescuing and providing care for North Carolina animals stranded by Hurricane Florence, the ASPCA^® (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals^®) and Robeson County Animal Control are urging residents who lost their pets during the hurricane to reclaim them at the Robeson County Animal Shelter. More than 100 animals have already been reunited with their families, but many displaced animals remain at the shelter waiting to be reunited with their owners. The Robeson County Animal Shelter will seek placement options for animals who are not claimed by Friday, Oct. 12.

“Thankfully, the search-and-rescue needs for animals displaced by flood waters in Robeson County have winded down, but the ASPCA and the Robeson County Animal Shelter are still working tirelessly to care for displaced animals and reunite lost pets with their families,” said Tim Rickey, vice president of ASPCA Field Investigations and Response. “We’re asking pet owners who lost their pets during the storm to either call or come to the Robeson County Animal Shelter to look for their pets.”

The Robeson County Animal Shelter is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pet owners who are looking for their lost pets should visit the shelter (255 Landfill Road in St. Pauls) with a photo ID or call 910-865-2200.

The ASPCA’s disaster response efforts in North Carolina have been made possible thanks to the Lewyt Rescue Fund, which was generously established by the Alex & Elisabeth Lewyt Charitable Trust to support the ASPCA’s anti-cruelty and disaster response efforts. To date, the ASPCA assisted approximately 600 animals in the Carolinas through search-and-rescue efforts, wellness checks, emergency sheltering, relocation of homeless animals, and pet supply distribution.

The ASPCA Field Investigations and Response team deploys nationwide to assist in relocation, search-and-rescue, sheltering and placement of animals during disaster situations including wildfires, tornadoes and floods. In addition, they work closely with local agencies across the country to help enhance their animal response capabilities through grants and training opportunities. Last year alone, the ASPCA responded to six disasters including Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, and the wildfires in California, assisting more than 37,000 animals through pre-evacuation, field rescue, and post-disaster relief efforts.