Atlanta

Atlanta Humane Society rescues 51 animals from Gulf Coast ahead of Ida

ATLANTA — The Atlanta Humane Society’s Disaster Response Team picked up 31 dogs and 20 cats from areas along the Gulf Coast and sent them their way to Atlanta on Saturday.

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The team traveled to Gulfport, Mississippi and New Orleans ahead of Hurricane Ida on Friday to pick up the dogs and cats. They visited the Humane Society of South Mississippi and Louisiana SPCA. Both are expected to be on the receiving end of Ida’s strong winds and rains.

The Humane Society said each of the 51 animals were already in shelters prior to the storm and were not strays or animals lost during the evacuations.

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The Humane Society said the team arrived back in Atlanta around 7 p.m. Saturday with the dogs and cats. 12 of the dogs are heading out to the Hilton Head Humane Society in South Carolina, the remaining 39 animals will be at the Atlanta Humane Society where they hope to get adopted by a loving home.

“Our Disaster Response Team worked diligently with our shelter partners throughout the Southeast to ensure that as many animals as possible were moved out of harm’s way ahead of Hurricane Ida’s landfall,” said Amanda Harris with the Atlanta Humane Society. “All 39 animals remaining in Atlanta will be medically evaluated on Sunday and Monday. Once they are all healthy and have received the care they need, they will be available for adoption. Our thoughts are with the residents of the gulf coast area during this time.”

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