Wings of Rescue and ASPCA Evacuate More than 100 Shelter Animals in the Path of Hurricane Delta to Safety

NEW ORLEANS— Wings of Rescue and the ASPCA^® (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals^®) are collaborating to transport nearly 130 homeless dogs at risk of being impacted by Hurricane Delta to animal shelters outside of the storm’s path. The unowned animals are being evacuated at the request of multiple shelters in Mobile, Ala. and throughout Louisiana and will be relocated to shelters in Massachusetts, Michigan and Wisconsin where they will be made available for adoption.

Hurricane Delta, a Category 2 storm, slammed into the Yucatan Peninsula this morning and is expected to make landfall in the Gulf Coast on Friday. By relocating animals from areas threatened by emergency situations such as this, not only are those homeless animals brought to safety, but much-needed space and resources are made available for displaced pets in impacted communities.

“Wings of Rescue would like to thank the Louisiana and Alabama shelter workers – many of whom had their own personal lives impacted by an already devastating hurricane season and are now preparing for a second storm – for banding together to care for and save these highly deserving animals. We’re thankful these shelters are able to team up with Wings of Rescue and the ASPCA to fly homeless animals to safety,” said Ric Browde, Wings of Rescue President & CEO.

The ASPCA is grateful to be in a position where we can sponsor this lifesaving flight and assist at-risk shelter animals in need,” said Karen Walsh, senior director of ASPCA Animal Relocation. “We commend the animal shelters in the path of Hurricane Delta for prioritizing the safety of the dogs in their care, and we thank Wings of Rescue and all the shelters accepting these animals for working quickly to ensure they have the greatest chance of finding loving homes.”

The following animal shelters are generously accepting dogs from this transport:

Berkshire Humane Society - Pittsfield, Mass.

Humane Animal Welfare Society – Waukesha, Wis.

Michigan Humane – Detroit, Mich.

This transport is part of a continued collaboration between the ASPCA and Wings of Rescue to move more than 400 homeless animals impacted by this year’s active hurricane season to shelters across the country. All of the animals transported out of at-risk communities were unowned or surrendered by their owners and will be made available for adoption.

As Hurricane Delta threatens the Gulf Coast, the ASPCA is sharing lifesaving expert tips on keeping animals safe during disasters and urging residents in the pathway of the hurricane to include pets in their evacuation plans. To learn how to incorporate pets into preparedness plans, visit aspca.org/disasterprep.

About Wings of Rescue

Wings of Rescue is a donation-based charity flying large-scale transports of at-risk shelter pets from overcrowded shelters and disaster areas to shelters where there is empty kennel space and where no local shelter pets are displaced by the flights. Founded in 2012, Wings of Rescue utilizes volunteer pilots flying rescue missions in their own planes as well as chartered cargo planes to “Let the Fur Fly”. Since its inception, more than 40,000 pets have flown to safety. To donate, please: Wings of Rescue and  Facebook.