Berkshire nurse needs help for horses ravaged by Helene

CHESHIRE, MASS ( NEWS10 ) — In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, not just people but animals — particularly horses — are suffering. Animal advocate Kathy ‘Skippy’ Hynes of Got Spot Etc rescue wants to help.

Retired Berkshire nurse rescues dog hit by car in GA

The retired nurse takes care of her horse at barn in Cheshire. The devastation Helene has wrecked upon horses breaks Hynes’ heart.

“I know I’ve seen how the suffering of these animals is and I’ve talked to the people that are caring for them and it’s ugly,” Hynes said tearfully.

So that heartbreak turned to action.

“I’m connected with an awful lot of pilots. And I’ve been asked to coordinate a dog rescue flight for dogs coming out of the Carolinas coming north. And my pilot is leaving Pittsfield Saturday morning and on an empty plane. So I figured let’s get 500 lb of stuff and get it down to a county that’s in desperate need” said Hynes.

What kind of donations is Skippy soliciting?

Hynes: “Horse feed, hay pellets fly spray bug spray buckets…” — and this list goes on.

On the receiving end of those donations will be the Community Pet Center in Rutherford County North Carolina. The storm affected their video Wi-Fi signal they spoke to NEWS10 via phone.

“We used to be able to give or provide food for our families every 4 weeks or every month but we had to extend that to every 6 weeks because we just didn’t have the volume of food,” said Lynn Feltraco, Executive Director of the Community Pet Center Rutherford County North Carolina.

“I live next to the county airport and listening to flights taking off, and planes and helicopters flying in and out. It makes my heart burst. All these people have come to help us,” Virginia Surdel. She volunteers at the Community Pet Center, Humane Society Rutherford County North Carolina.

The donations can be dropped off at Adams Town Hall between 8:30 am and 4 pm. Skippy’s supplies flight to North Carolina is slated for Saturday. For more information on how you can help, email: skippy10@outlook.com , or call 413-743-2259.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NEWS10 ABC.