INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Puerto Rican families who were forced to leave their pets behind as they fled from Hurricane Maria were reunited with their furry friends Sunday afternoon, according to humane society officials.
“These families have endured incredible heartbreak and trauma. HSVB is honored to help them reconnect with their beloved dogs and provide them with pet supplies if that gives them one less thing to worry about,” said agency Director of Operations Maria Ramirez.
“These gestures of compassion fulfill our mission to keep pets and people together.”
These families came to Florida without their dogs because of travel restrictions and lack of availability on flights. Some of these restrictions included a fee of a couple hundred dollars per animal and travelers having the proper vaccination paperwork for their pets, said agency Director of Education Janet Winikoff.
About 30 dogs of all breeds, ages, shapes and sizes were flown from Puerto Rico to the Vero Beach Regional Airport, where they were greeted by staff and volunteers from the local humane society.
The dogs were taken to the shelter at the Humane Society of Vero Beach & Indian River County. Families went to the shelter on Sunday and greeted their pups with hugs and kisses, officials said.
“People just kept coming in nonstop to get their animals,” Winikoff said. “The families we saw yesterday were (still) traumatized, but when they saw their animals, they had relief and joy.”
The agency gave pet owners basic supplies such as pet food, crates, leashes and collars.
The rescue was a collaborative effort between the humane society, St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center, El Faro de los Animales, JPB Foundation, Puerto Rico Animal Unite, David Brownstein and Sunjet Aviation.
Many animals were staying with family and friends of pet owners back in Puerto Rico before they were ready for travel, Winikoff said.
Anyone interested in volunteering with the agency or making a donation should visit the agency’s website or call 772-388-3331 at extension 110. The agency is located at 6230 77th Street, west of U.S. 1 and south of 85th Street.
Photos provided by Humane Society of Vero Beach & Indian River County
