Dogs relocated because of hurricane seek new homes in Miami Valley

Credit: Chris Stewart

Credit: Chris Stewart

Wildfires, earthquakes and hurricanes not only displace people, but also an untold numbers of pets.

As a result of Hurricane Irma in Florida, six dogs whose owners simply can’t be located are now in the care of the Society for the Improvement of Conditions for Stray Animals (SICSA) Pet Adoption Center in Kettering and awaiting new, permanent homes in the Miami Valley.

RELATED: Florida deputies rescue 10 horses, dog trapped after flooding

“Certainly it’s hard for people to evacuate with pets, and even when they do evacuate with pets, sometimes they don’t have pet-friendly housing, and they end up having to surrender their animals after the fact,” said Jessie Sullivan, SICSA’s adoptions manager.

The dogs — all Staffordshire terriers — arrived at the SICSA Pet Adoption Center in Kettering last weekend. They were among 13 other dogs relocated from the Charleston Animal Society in South Carolina in order to make room for others made homeless by the Florida storm.

MORE: After Irma’s destruction, stories of escapes, heartbreak

“Dogs and cats that they have determined reunification isn’t possible are moving up the pipeline,” said Nora Vondrell, SICSA’s executive director. “They are going up (Interstate) 75 … and national shelters are coming to help, and SICSA is one of those.”

Two of the dogs — Charleston and Cleopatra — were already available for adoption Wednesday. The other four are awaiting medical check-ups.

RELATED: Hurricane Irma: Pet owners have rights during evacuation, shelter during storms

Vondrell said like many people, staff at SICSA wanted to rush down to Florida with food, leashes and crates and start aiding pets. But they were asked to hold tight, a lesson learned during Hurricane Katrina by The Society of Animal Welfare Administrators, the group which organized the current relocation.

“While we weren’t necessarily called up to help on the ground, by getting these animals adopted, we’re making room for other animals to find their way here and find their forever homes,” Vondrell said.


How to adopt

Families interested in potentially adopting one of the hurricane dogs can meet them at SICSA.

2600 Wilmington Pike, Kettering

Monday-Saturday: noon - 7 p.m.

Sunday: noon - 4 p.m.

937-294-6505

About the Author