Following the storms, 130 animals were saved, according to Manatee County Animal Services.
In an effort to handle over a hundred additional animals and clean up after the storm, staff members and volunteers have been working extra hours.
Animal Services division manager Jennifer Hume stated, “Which is a huge number because we were already full, so we have over 300 animals in our care, which is made up of dogs, cats, and rabbits.”
According to Hume, Debby is pressuring employees to alter their procedures for housing stray animals.
“For cats, it’s normally three days, for dogs, it’s five, right now we are extending some of those holds to 14 days for the heavily affected areas due to flooding,” she stated.
Tito, a Chihuahua, is just one of many animals that are now without a home after the hurricane claimed both his eye and his house.
“He’s just one of our 105 dogs that we have available, so head to our Palmetto location and we can find a good match for you,”Hume stated.
Community members expressed their sadness at the large number of animals without a place to go and their admiration for the volunteers who have made it their mission to assist these creatures in need.
“I know that they’re sad and they’re lonely and need companionship until their mom and daddy come and get them,” Andrea Costner stated. “Heartbroken, the poor babies are scared to death, they have to be, and then the parents of the animals are worried to death too, where are their babies.”
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Debby should serve as a cautionary tale for pet owners, according to Hume, even while Animal Services is working to find missing pets their owners or find new homes for them.
“Always make sure that if you’re letting your dog out for a potty break or taking them on walks, to make sure they’re fully secured on leashes, checking gates and fences, that way they can’t jump over,” she stated.
Visit Manatee County Animal Services’ Bishop location, located at 5718 21st Avenue West in Bradenton, if your pet is missing, or check out their social media pages.
