PAWS Chicago to welcome pets displaced by hurricanes in Southeast

CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — As Hurricane Helene clean up continues, and parts of the south brace for another major storm, PAWS Chicago volunteers are hitting the road to lend a helping hand.

“We have a lot of open rooms now, in preparation for these guys coming in,” said Allison Wunder, who’s with PAWS Chicago.

Wunder spoke to the media inside PAWS Chicago’s Medical Center and Lurie Clinic, where she was helping volunteers prepare for a trip to the Appalachian Highlands Humane Society in Tennessee.

“We’re going to deliver some donated supplies and then pick up some dogs that were in the shelter before the storm hit, and that’s basically going to allow the shelter to have room to take in pets that were displaced from the storm [and] incoming owner surrenders,” she said.

Donations include pet food, collars, paper towels, trash bags and much more.

Wunder said PAWS is also keeping an eye on Hurricane Milton.

“We’re hoping this is the first of several transports to go back down into affected areas,” she said.

She added that, time and time again, Chicago comes through for those in need.

“We are animal lovers,” Wunder said. “We are surrounded by a very loving animal community here in Chicago.”

Those interested in helping can do so by fostering or adopting the new arrivals — or any other animals currently in need of a Chicago-area home.

Photos of the dogs that the PAWS Chicago team will be picking in Tennessee can be seen below:

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