At the urgent request of several animal welfare and emergency management groups across the state of Florida, we quickly mobilized our disaster response team to provide critical support for impacted animals following Hurricane Idalia. Our team has been on the ground in Jefferson, Taylor, Suwannee, Madison, Hamilton and Leon counties assisting with pet food and supply distribution, donation of emergency relief equipment including generators, fans and fuel, emergency sheltering for displaced animals and field efforts such as feeding in place and animal search and rescue as needed. Escambia County Animal Shelter is also assisting us with emergency relief efforts.

“In the aftermath of storms such as Hurricane Idalia, the ASPCA’s priority is to provide local agencies with the critical support and resources they need to safely care for animals affected by disasters,” said Clint Ganus, ASPCA Manager of Disaster Response. “We commend the local animal welfare organizations we’re working alongside for identifying the vital need for support in their communities and are proud to collaborate with them to assist displaced animals and provide lifesaving supplies for impacted families to care for their pets.”

We remain in close contact with Florida-based emergency management agencies and local animal welfare organizations and will continue to provide additional support as needed. 

Each September, we recognize National Preparedness Month as a time to remind pet owners of the importance of taking precautionary efforts to incorporate animals into all emergency preparedness plans especially those involving a potential evacuation.