How to Help Animals in Hurricane Dorian

If you have pets and are affected by the hurricane yourself or want to help animals in need from anywhere else, here is information on how to help animals in Hurricane Dorian. Here are lists of pet friendly shelters for evacuees listed by county as well as animal shelters you can help with donations or volunteering. As the hurricane moves north, this page will be updated to include Georgia, South Carolina and any other affected states.

If You Live in the Affected Area and Have Pets

If you live in the affected area, you know how important it is to find shelters that will let you stay with your pets. To the best of my knowledge this is a complete list of pet friendly shelters in the affected counties on the east coast of Florida as of late Sunday, Sept. 1, 2019. Pet friendly shelters in other affected states such as Georgia and the Carolinas will be added as the storm progresses. Some inland counties have been included here but I have not included every potential county in inland Florida.

Update: Some North Carolina and South Carolina Shelters have been added and Georgia will be added later.

Most shelters require pre-registration or calling ahead. Most require you to bring food for your pet, snacks for yourself as well as proof of rabies vaccine, and basic supplies such as water for yourself and your pet, leash, crate and water and food bowls.

Some locations such as the Blind Spot Animal Sanctuary in Rougemont North Carolina (see below) are private and offering room for large animals and livestock or other means of of helping out.

Airbnb Open Homes Program

Airbnb’s Open Homes program offers free housing for people displaced by Hurricane Dorian. Sign up on the Airbnb page for people displaced by Hurricane Dorian.

If You Want To Help From Any Location

Every time a hurricane hits there are pets and other animals stranded, lost or separated from their owners. Some people can’t take pets with them and turn them over to animal shelters and rescue organizations. Some pets and animals just get left behind or run off and get lost or stranded while scared from the storm. Whatever the cause, there are always animals in need in these events.

These shelters can always use volunteers, monetary contributions and people to foster pets until they can be reunited with their owners or adopted by someone else. Please consider these ways to help animals in the Hurricane Dorian area and across the country. Many shelters and rescue groups have wish lists where you can purchase needed items online from places like Amazon.

Pet Friendly Shelters and Rescue Organizations in Coastal North Carolina

Piedmont Animal Rescue in Mooresville North Carolina is opening an additional shelter on Tuesday, Sept. 3rd for 2 weeks, just to house pets displaced by Dorian. It is located at 110 Robinson Road, Mooresville NC beside Big Daddy’s on Highway 150. The phone number for Piedmont Animal Rescue is (704) 360-4262

Livestock and Horses

Blind Spot Animal Sanctuary in Rougemont North Carolina is offering their property if you want to camp in an RV or trailor and stay with your horses, livestock or other animals. They are located at 307 Bacon Rd, Rougemont NC, 27572. Their phone number is (919) 601-6990. Please consider donating to them or purchasing an item for them from their Amazon wish list.

If you are evacuating from North Carolina, here is a long list of pet friendly motels and hotels along the way. Pet Friendly Motels and Hotels along evacuation route from North Carolina.

Carteret County

• Newport – Newport Middle School located at 500 E Chatham Street (pet friendly) 

This shelter will open Wednesday, Sept. 4 at noon. Call the Carteret County Area Transportation System (CCATS) for transportation to the shelter at 252-732-0825.

Onslow County

• Jacksonville – Jacksonville Commons Middle School located at 315 Commons Drive (pet friendly)

Pender County

• Burgaw- Burgaw Middle School located at 500 Wright Street (pet friendly)

How You Can Help

The Outer Banks SPCA is asking for emergency fosters to take dogs and cats by Wednesday morning to get them out of harm’s way on the Outer Banks. The shelter floods when it rains and they are predicted to get 15 inches of rain from Dorian.

Pet Friendly Shelters and Rescue Organizations in Coastal South Carolina

Charleston County

• North Charleston – Charleston County Coastal Pre-Release Center located at 3765 Leeds Avenue (Pet friendly) (843) 740-1630

Dorchester County

• Summerville – Dubose Middle School located at 1005 Dubose School Road (Pet friendly)

How You Can Help

The Greensville Humane Society is one of the largest no kill shelters in the Southeast. They are taking in pets from the coast ahead of Dorian. They have over 200 animals available for adoption now. Please consider volunteering, fostering or donating online.

Pet Friendly Shelters and Rescue Organizations in Potentially Affected Florida Counties, North to South

Nassau Country

Shelters

Shelters open 8 AM Monday

• Hilliard – Hilliard Middle Senior High located at 1 Flashes Ave (Special medical needs only, Pet-friendly))
• Callahan – Callahan Middle located at 450121 Old Dixie Hwy. (General population, Pet-friendly) 

Duval County

Shelters

Shelters will open 10 AM Monday

• Jacksonville – Atlantic Coast High School (Special Needs/Pet Friendly)
• Jacksonville – Chimney Lakes Elementary School (General Population/Pet Friendly)
• Jacksonville – Landmark Middle School (General Population/Pet Friendly)
• Jacksonville – Mandarin Middle School (General Population/Pet Friendly)

How You Can Help

Jacksonville Humane Societyis evacuating pets away from flood prone areas. As with most shelters, you can volunteer, foster pets, donate supplies or donate online.

Jacksonville Humane Society is also asking for ‘Storm Troopers’ to Foster Pets through at least Sept. 6th.

Clay County

• Keystone Heights – Keystone Heights High School located at 900 Orchid Ave. (pet friendly)

How You Can Help

Clay County Animal Services Shelter and Adoption Center has many options available for you to help. If you are close you can volunteer, foster and more. If you are across the country you can still donate through this list of options including Amazon and other wish lists here.

F.U.R. (Florida Urgent Rescue) is evacuating pets from the flood prone Clay County Animal Services shelter to safer locations in Georgia and Virginia. This is the 6th hurricane in which F.U.R. Urgent Transport has relocated animals. F.U.R. spends almost 6 times as much on vet expenses than it takes in in adoption fees. You can donate here or purchase items on their online wish lists.

Safe Animal Shelter has volunteer, foster and donations needed.

St. John’s County

Shelters will open 8 AM Monday

• Elkton – Southwoods Elementary School located at 4750 State Road 206 West (pet friendly, stay with your pet)
• St. Augustine – Timberlin Creek Elementary School located at 555 Pine Tree Lane (pet friendly, stay with your pet)

How You Can Help Animals

St. John’s County Animal Control Pet Center is waiving pet adoption fees until Sept. 6th 2019.

You can help the St. John’s Pet Center in the following ways:

Donate food, donate scratchers for shelter cats, beds for shelter dogs, buy a licence plate for your car that supports pets, volunteer and more. Check out these options for helping from near and far here.

Putnam County

Shelters will open 2 PM Monday

• Hawthorne – Ochwilla Elementary School located at 299 State Rd 21 (Pet Friendly) 

Flagler County

• Bunnell – Bunnell Elementary, located at 305 N. Palmetto St, Bunnell, FL 32110 (pet-friendly, general)

Volusia County

Shelters

There are many pet friendly shelters in Volusia County. They will open at 10 AM Monday.

• Port Orange – Atlantic High School (special needs, pet friendly). Located at 1250 Reed Canal Road
• Port Orange – Creekside Middle School (special needs, pet friendly). Located at 6801 Airport Road
• DeLand – Freedom Elementary School (special needs, pet friendly). Located at 1395 S. Blue Lake Ave.
• Deltona – Galaxy Middle School (special needs, pet friendly). Located at 2400 Eustace Ave.
• Daytona Beach – Palm Terrace Elementary School (special needs, pet friendly). Located at 1825 Dunn Ave.
• Deltona – Pride Elementary School (special needs, pet friendly). Located at 1100 Learning Lane
• Daytona Beach – Hinson Middle School (pet friendly, but housed separately from people). Located at 1860 N. Clyde Morris Blvd.
• Deltona – Pine Ridge High School (pet friendly, but housed separately from people). Located at 925 Howland Blvd.
• Orange City – River Springs Middle School (pet friendly, but housed separately from people). Located at 900 W. Ohio Ave.
• DeLand – Volusia County Fairgrounds (pet friendly, housed with people together). Located at 3150 W. State Road 44

How Can You Help

Halifax Humane Society

SPCA Volusia County could use your help by donating many needed items for evacuating pets if you live nearby or sponsoring a pet if you live far away.

Orange County

Shelters opened at 8 AM Sunday

• Apopka – Apopka High School (pet friendly). Located at 555 Martin St., Apopka
• Orlando – East River High School (pet friendly). Located at 654 Columbia School Road, Orlando
• Orlando – Lake Nona High School (pet friendly). Located at 12500 Narcoosee Road, Orlando
• Orlando – Oak Ridge High School (pet friendly). Located at 6000 Winegard Road, Orlando
• There are also special needs shelters whose locations are not published. Call 311 in Orange County or register here for special needs shelters.

How You Can Help

Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando can use donations as well as wish list items such as dog food, cat food, cleaning products and more available online. See site for list.

The Pet alliance of Greater Orlando offered free micro chipping of pets ahead of Hurricane Dorian as well!

Lake County

Shelters will open 12 PM Monday

• Mt. Dora – Round Lake Elementary School (pet friendly). Located at 31333 Round Lake Road
• Paisley – Spring Creek Elementary School (pet friendly). Located at 44440 Spring Creek Road
• Leesburg – Leesburg Elementary School (special needs, pet friendly). Located at 2229 South St.
• Clermont – Lost Lake Elementary School (special needs, pet friendly). Located at 1901 Johns Lake Road
• Umatilla – Umatilla Elementary School (special needs, pet friendly). Located at 401 Lake St.

Seminole County

There will be shelters opening Monday including a pet friendly shelter. Shelter locations have not been announced yet. They will be announced on the county’s page here. Seminole County Storm Information.

Osceola County

Shelters

Shelters will open 12 PM Monday

• St. Cloud – Harmony High School (pet friendly). Located at 3601 Arthur J. Gallagher Blvd.
• Kissammee – Osceola Heritage Park (first responders and their pets). Located at 1875 Silver Spur Lane

Brevard County

Shelters

Shelters will open at 5 PM Sunday.

• Palm Bay – Ted Whitlock Community Center located at 1951 Malabar Road NW
• Melbourne – Wickham Park Community Center located at 2815 Leisure Way 
• Port St. John – Port St. John Community Center located at 6650 Corto Road
• Viera – Viera Regional Community Center located at 2300 Judge Fran Jamieson Way 
• There are three special needs shelters whose locations are not published. Call 211 in Brevard County or register here for special needs shelters. 

Indian River County

Shelters

Indian River County Pet Evacuation Shelter 

Those with pets should find shelter with friends or family if possible. If they don’t have that option they may be able to the pet friendly shelter at Liberty Magnet School in Vero Beach at 6850 81st St. Click on link above for information on this shelter. There are links for the registration form and general information. Proof of Rabies vaccination required. Must also bring cage, litter pan, food and water.

How You Can Help

The Humane Society of Vero Beach and Indian River County will not be accepting pets from the general public. They will be accepting large numbers of pets from first responders on top of the hundreds of pets already at the shelter. They are accepting donations and need foster families for pets during the storm.

Okeechobee County

• Okeechobee – South Elementary School located at 2468 SW 7th Ave (pet friendly)

Martin County

• Stuart – Willoughby Learning Center, located at 5150 SE Willoughby Blvd. (pet friendly)

The Humane Society of Treasure Coast located at 4100 SW Leighton Farm Ave in Palm City is the official domestic pet shelter for people evacuating the area.

Pre-registration is required. The form can be accessed here.

Call 772-223-8822.

If your pet is lost in the storm, you can use the Lost and Found Pets of Martin County FL Facebook page.

If you are keeping your dog with you at home. Stuart Animal Hospital recommends filling a kiddie pool with sod for indoor bathroom breaks. Palm City Sod will be giving out free sod for this purpose.

How You Can Help

Humane Society of the Treasure Coast is doing something most animals shelters don’t do. They are accepting pets from people evacuating the hurricane. They could be inundated with pets and need help. Please volunteer, foster or donate!

The Farm Dog Rescue a local nonprofit that rescues and fosters dogs for adoption.

St. Lucie County

• Fort Pierce – Fort Pierce Westwood Academy, located at 1801 Panther Lane (pet friendly)

Humane Society of St. Lucie County is boarded up ahead of the hurricane but the shelter will be staffed and taking care of animals through the storm. Help out with donations or items on their Amazon Wish List here.

Palm Beach County

• Lake Worth – West Boynton Recreational Center located at 6000 Northtree Blvd. One person can accompany pet at this shelter except for single parent families. Proof of residency is required. Shelter is for people in mandatory evacuation zones, mobile homes or sub-standard housing. Other in the family will stay at Park Vista High School located at 7900 Jog Road, also in Lake Worth.

How You Can Help

Animal Rescue Force of South Florida founded in 1974 and incorporated in 2005, is located in West Palm Beach. Foster or donate to help out this long running rescue group.

Broward County

• There will be one pet friendly shelter in Broward County if necessary. It will be run by Broward County and will be announced here if a shelter will be needed. No pre-registration will be required!

How You Can Help

Humane Society of Broward County is an independent non-profit rescue organization. Please donate online, or volunteer if you are close by.

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Hotels and Lodging That Accept Pets

BringFido.com has a Hurricane Dorian page with listing of pet friendly shelters and information by country, listed alphabetically.

Petswelcome.com shows you all hotels and lodging option in your area that accept pets. This is a great, very useful site for quick results.

PetFriendlyTravel.com has listings of pet friendly shelter options by state.

List of Hotel Chains that accept pets nationwide

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National Agencies and Groups That Rescue Animals

Red Rover Responders is a group of 4,000 volunteers working to rescue and care for animals in need. You can help, become or donate here.

Humane Society Animal Rescue Team works with government organizations to rescue animals from dangerous situations and natural disasters.

Hurricane Pets Rescue Inc. a non profit that works to rescue and relocate all species of animals and reunite them with their humans during natural disasters. It was formed after Hurricane Katrina and does not receive any government funding.

Employees and volunteers often stay behind in storms and do not evacuate so they can take care of animals in need. They spend their own time and resources to help the helpless. Others work tirelessly to go out to flooded areas and rescue animals and shuttle them to safer parts of the country. Please help in any way you can.

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Animal Rescue in the Bahamas

As you may know, the Bahamas are being slammed by Hurricane Dorian and have been for several days now. There is only one pet rescue organization on Grand Bahama and that is the Humane Society of Grand Bahama. Sadly, the facility is flooded and there are 6 people there that are trapped inside and neck deep in water as of Monday afternoon. The condition of the animals is unknown. Coast Guard and emergency responders are aware of the situation but the current status is unknown. Hours ago there was 5 ft of water inside and the last update said they moved as many dogs and puppies as they could but could not reach the cats…

There is not much we can do to help the poor pets and people of the Bahamas right now but as soon as the storm passes there will be a GREAT need for help. You should be able to donate to the Humane Society of Grand Bahama on their website but the donation link does not work right now. Here is their Facebook Page.

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Please Check Back For Updates on Other Affected States

Please check back for updates as the storm progresses for pet friendly shelters and ways to help pets in Georgia, the Carolinas and any other affected states.

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Other Assistance for Scared or Traveling Pets

If you are traveling with pets or have a scared pet, please check out my posts on Jackson Galaxy Safe Space For Cats Drops which can be applied to the fur. I use this for anxiety in one of my rescued cats and it makes him perfectly happy and “normal”. Note: There is a Safe Space For Dogs drop as well. For short term travel, you can calm a cat with this natural sedative with tryptophan.

For many other pet health and behavior issues, please look around this website and you will find supplements to prevent tooth and gum disease in cats and dogs, an easy way to put cats on a diet and much more.

Thank you for reading!

Jessica

https://thrivingcat.com

Please leave any thoughts or questions in a comment below! I would love to hear from you.