For Immediate Release
August 26, 2020
FREDERICKSBURG SPCA TEAMS UP WITH THE PETCO FOUNDATION TO HELP AID HOUSTON SHELTERS IN EMERGENCY EVACUATIONS IN PREPARATION OF HURRICANE LAURA
The Fredericksburg SPCA has teamed up with the Petco Foundation, Lucky Dog Animal Rescue, Richmond SPCA, Charlottesville Albemarle SPCA, Brandywine Valley SPCA (West Chester, PA); Angels of Assisi (Roanoke,VA), and Homeward Trails (Arlington, VA) as a collaborative effort to help rescue homeless animals out of Houston, TX today ahead of Hurricane Laura.
The Petco Foundation reached out to our Executive Director, Carrie Withers, late in the afternoon on Tuesday this week seeking assistance in transporting the animals from the Wings of Rescue flight scheduled to land in Richmond, VA on Wednesday afternoon. Carrie and Deputy Director Sarah Chiles put a plan together to mobilize Fred SPCA staff towards the Richmond airport to aid in transporting these homeless animals back to the Fredericksburg SPCA on Wednesday afternoon. Back at the shelter the rest of the staff began to move animals around to make room for the new animals that we are rescuing. This included reaching out to foster families to house the animals so that the Houston transport would have kennels available at the SPCA to get the intake and medical treatment they need .Once the animals arrive back in the care of the Fredericksburg SPCA they will undergo medical evaluations, be placed in foster care and work towards getting them adopted into new families.
This collaborative effort helped save the lives of 130 animals in the Houston area. Many times animals are left behind during evacuations due to natural disasters and shelters are often faced with the difficult decision of having to euthanize animals. We are thrilled to help all of our partner animal welfare organizations across the United States to help save the lives of these homeless pets. This often goes without saying team work is dream work which is a motto the Fredericksburg SPCA stands by each and every day that we are saving the lives of animals.
The Fredericksburg SPCA is incredibly grateful for the Wings of Rescue for transporting these animals out of the path of the hurricane and the Petco Foundation for providing grants to help with the cost of care for these animals.
“How can you help during this incredible journey? Many of these animals will come in and need medical care such as heartworm treatment as they are heartworm positive and spay and neuter surgeries. Even though the Petco Foundation gave the FredSPCA some grant money it is not enough to cover the cost of care for these animals. If you would like to take part in helping assist these animals who would otherwise not have had this opportunity to find their forever home, you may donate at fredspca.org/donate and list Hurricane Laura Rescue when you make your donation. If you would like to sign up as a foster parent, please sign up at our website at fredspca.org/foster. We would like to thank you, our incredible community, for your partnership in the fight to end animal suffering” – Carrie Withers.
About the Fredericksburg SPCA
The Fredericksburg Regional SPCA is a non-profit, lifesaving humane organization dedicated to the principle that every life is unique and worthy of protection. As a local leader in humane care and education, the Fredericksburg SPCA’s mission is to tackle the problem of pet overpopulation through education, adoption, rehabilitation and spay/neuter. The organization saves the lives of many homeless animals each year and cares for approximately 225 cats and dogs daily.
