Local animal shelter helps Helene-hit North Carolina pets

COOPERSTOWN, NY (WUTR/WFXV/WPNY) — “This past Tuesday [October 22] we started a dog adoption special, which waived adoption fees,” Susquehanna SPCA executive director Stacie Haynes said in a statement. “We were fortunate that this helped open space in the shelter because it was the next day that we were contacted by BISSELL.”

That call by the Bissell Pet Foundation asked if they had any space to bring in some more animals from North Carolina, recently ravaged by Hurricane Helene. On Friday, October 25, employees met nine dogs and three cats in Binghamton, who came from all over North Carolina to find their forever homes — in New York.

The animals brought to Cooperstown from North Carolina were brought to the area by Pilots to the Rescue, an organization that specializes in transporting pets to safety. The relocation of these pets — who were available in shelters before the storm or surrendered in the aftermath — allows the shelters in North Carolina to free up space for other animals and help those that were affected rebuild.

“We are all deeply saddened by the impact Hurricane Helene had on the south and are so grateful to be in the position to help shelters that are overwhelmed with pets in need,” Haynes said in a statement.

The animals brought in from North Carolina are currently available for adoption. For more information on adopting these — or any other animals at the shelter — you are encouraged to visit their website or contact the shelter at 607-547-8111. If you wish to adopt any of the pets from North Carolina, the shelter says you are encouraged to visit in person.

The shelter also said that all cat adoptions are two-for-one until Thursday, October 31.

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