ASPCA Launches Animal Assistance Hotline, Provides Free Pet Food and Supplies for Western North Carolina Residents Impacted by Hurricane Helene

BUNCOMBE COUNTY, N.C. – In response to the devastating impact of Hurricane Helene on communities throughout North Carolina, the ASPCA^® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) is announcing the launch of an animal assistance hotline (888-808-0810 or aspca.org/NCanimalhelp) for residents in Western North Carolina affected by the catastrophic storm. The hotline will provide impacted pet owners with critical information on where they can receive free pet food and supplies provided by the ASPCA across the region. Residents will also be able to report the need for companion animal search and rescue support.

The ASPCA’s disaster response team is on the ground coordinating with the North Carolina Emergency Operation Center at the request of the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and as a member of the National Animal Rescue and Sheltering Coalition (NARSC). In addition to providing pet food and supplies for impacted pet owners and shelters, the ASPCA is assisting with animal search and rescue efforts alongside ASAR Training and Response and other national and local animal welfare organizations, as well as evacuating homeless animals out of the disaster zone to free up critical resources at local shelters.

“In times of crisis, people often turn to their pets for comfort – they play a vital role in our lives and it is important to safeguard their health and welfare as much as we possibly can,” said Susan Anderson, director of ASPCA Disaster Response. “The safest and best place for a pet is with their family, which is why the ASPCA is doing everything we can to ensure pet owners in Western North Carolina have the resources they need to care for their pets while helping to keep animals out of shelters directly impacted by this disaster.”

Residents in Western North Carolina who need animal assistance can contact the North Carolina Animals Hotline by calling 888-808-0810 or submitting a request form at aspca.org/NCanimalhelp. The hotline is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET, seven days a week. ASPCA personnel will offer services including delivering pet food and supplies and responding to requests for animal search and rescue. Information about local animal shelters and veterinary clinics, volunteer opportunities, and how to donate to these efforts will also be provided. To report a found or missing animal, residents should contact their local animal service agency.

The ASPCA’s pet food distribution efforts are made possible in part by generous donations from Hill’s Pet Nutrition, along with donations from other dedicated supporters, as well as FedEx, who is providing complimentary transportation of critical resources.

In addition to supporting disaster relief efforts in North Carolina, ASPCA disaster responders have been on the ground in Florida and Georgia assisting with impact and needs assessments, animal search and rescue, pet food and supply distribution, and homeless animal evacuation and providing resources for impacted communities in Tennessee. For more information about the ASPCA’s response to Hurricane Helene, please visit www.aspca.org/helene.