In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, which brought destruction to Georgia and North Carolina, our rescue team sprang into action to provide urgent care and support to the animals caught in the storm’s devastating wake.
Our rescue team is always on alert, closely monitoring developing disasters and working with local agencies to provide immediate help when animals are impacted by crises. Thanks to the generous support of PetSmart Charities, we were able to deploy resources quickly, reaching 525 animals in need.
People Protecting Pets in Crisis
After Hurricane Helene made landfall, we received a request from the Georgia Department of Agriculture to assist with animal search and rescue efforts. Mobilizing quickly, our rescue team quickly assessed the damage in southern Georgia. Over the course of the next week, the team covered 14 counties, assessed and visited 190 shelters, and delivered food and water to over 300 displaced and injured animals.
After a week in Georgia, our rescue team transferred resources to the hardest hit areas of western North Carolina, where many communities were only accessible by boats and 4×4 vehicles. The team delivered over 4,000 pounds of pet food and essential supplies to 54 communities across three counties. They also rescued and transported animals, including 13 puppies, to safe shelters, ensuring they had the support needed for recovery and eventual adoption.
United to Protect Vulnerable Animals
When disaster strikes, our rescue team leaps into action, mobilizing to bring hope and relief where it’s needed most. These are not just animal rescuers – they are devoted lifesavers, often among the first to arrive in areas devastated by hurricanes, wildfires, and other emergencies. Armed with specialized training and fueled by an unwavering commitment to protecting vulnerable animals, this remarkable team goes above and beyond to reunite families with their beloved pets, provide shelter and medical attention to the displaced, and offer comfort to those traumatized by unimaginable loss.
Thanks to PetSmart Charities, whose generous support helped make this mission possible, we were able to provide critical supplies and rescue services during a time of immense need. PetSmart Charities is committed to promoting the well-being of both people and pets during times of crisis. When disasters strike, pets are often just as affected as their human families. They, too, need shelter, medical care, nutritious food, and emotional support.
At American Humane, we know that animals depend on us just as much as we depend on them. And no matter the scale of the disaster, our commitment to protecting vulnerable animals remains unwavering. With every mission, we reaffirm our dedication to providing compassionate care and ensuring that even in the darkest times, hope and kindness prevail.
To learn more about the grant, or to support our lifesaving work, please visit americanhumane.org/program/animal-rescue.
About PetSmart Charities®
PetSmart Charities is committed to making the world a better place for pets and all who love them. Through its in-store adoption program in all PetSmart® stores across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, PetSmart Charities helps up to 600,000 pets connect with loving families each year. PetSmart Charities also provides grant funding to support organizations that advocate and care for the well-being of all pets and their families. Our grants and efforts connect pets with loving homes through adoption, improve access to affordable veterinary care and support families in times of crisis with access to food, shelter and emergency relief. Each year, millions of generous supporters help pets in need by donating to PetSmart Charities directly at PetSmartCharities.org, while shopping at PetSmart.com, and by using the PIN pads at checkout registers inside PetSmart® stores. In turn, PetSmart Charities efficiently uses more than 90 cents of every dollar donated to fulfill its role as the leading funder of animal welfare in North America, granting more than $500 million since its inception in 1994. Independent from PetSmart LLC, PetSmart Charities is a 501(c)(3) organization that has received the Four-Star Rating from Charity Navigator for the past 18 years in a row – placing it among the top one percent of rated charities. To learn more visit www.petsmartcharities.org.