Humane society helps out with Helene
Unsurprisingly, Hurricane Helene caused serious damage to the United States. The hurricane hit Florida on Sept. 26, 2024.
NPR estimates that Hurricane Helene has wrecked tens of thousands of homes in the Tampa Bay region alone. Not only that, according to ABC News, Helene has killed around 230 people in the U.S alone.
Even through all of this darkness facing us in our country, there are still glimpses of hope and kindness in communities all over the United States. One of these glimpses is occurring in a local community very close to this campus.
According to WCAX, The Rutland County Humane Society took in eight cats and two dogs from shelters in the Southeast region where the hurricane hit. According to WCAX some of the states that these animals came from include Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana before the storm hit.
They were flown to Vermont to create space for shelters to take on more animals. WCAX provides insight from the Rutland County Humane Society president Mei Brown.
“We’re happy to do our part and help out. I mean, there’s an environmental crisis, other crises that are always taking place around the country, so we’re all part of a network to help one another when there is a time of need,” Brown said in the news segment. “We’re prepared for that. We always check to see how many animals we have already in the shelter before we take on more, but we were glad to take on this 10.”
In addition, NBC news added more information to the Rutland County Humane Society’s noble act.
“The Humane Society says they partnered with BISSELL Pet Foundation to help make space for shelters that are taking in displaced animals from Hurricane Helene.”
In addition, NBC News was able to talk to Rutland County Humane Society Animal Health Technician Stephanie Babcock. Babcock explains to NBC News “We’re not necessarily pulling the animals that are in danger, but they are making room for the animals that need to come into the shelter that have been displaced.”
In addition, Babcock also added to NBC News, “Once they get here, I just give them a quick physical exam, make sure they’re all healthy. I boosted any vaccines that may need to be boosted that hasn’t been done recently. I boost their flea and tick prevention as well as their dewormer. I run a fecal exam on everyone, make sure they’re clear of internal parasites, and then I get them all labeled with their name tags and ready to go up for adoption.”
Babcock also gave more information on the Rutland County Humane Society’s decision to NBC News.
“If we can help in some way, we have people up here in Vermont who are looking to adopt these animals and need homes, and the situation is going to be dire in the shelters where they are. So, it is a win-win for all of us, including the animals.”