While our community was lucky not to have been severely impacted by Hurricane Dorian, the Bahamas were not so fortunate to escape the catastrophic aftermath of the storm. Now that the shelter has confirmed the security of our community’s own pets, HSTC is committed to providing relief services to the Bahamas.
HSTC remains part of a multi-agency collaboration – including the Florida Association of Animal Welfare Organizations (FAAWO), University of Florida School of Veterinarian Medicine, and the Humane Society International – to provide animal welfare relief services in the Bahamas. It is the shelter’s goal to remain responsible and professional in the way they approach relief efforts; respecting both international laws and the wishes of the Bahamian Government. You can rest assured that HSTC will be part of the most reliable, dependable, reputable and ethical network of animal rescue efforts in the Bahamas.
There are specific isolation protocols recommended by veterinary professionals trained for disaster management and state/local authorities for animals rescued from the Bahamas and brought to the United States. Many of the island animals could have distemper, leptospirosis or other illnesses that are highly contagious to humans as well as animals. It will be extremely important that any organization accepting animals from the Bahamas have protocols in place to properly isolate and even quarantine animals before adopting or fostering these animals into homes in South Florida. If you are interested in fostering or adopting a Bahamas animal, please ask the organization you are getting the animal from what protocols they followed regarding isolation, quarantining, and evaluating the health of the animal you plan to bring into your home.
Please know that HSTC will continue to respect relevant guidelines and protocols to ensure the safe and humane transfer of all animals coming to the United States from the Bahamas, including providing animal quarantine for our rescues and following the advice of the professional veterinary community who are trained in disaster relief efforts.
In partnership with the appropriate Bahamian agencies, the shelter’s network has coordinated a flight of 50 dogs and 70 cats to fly from the Bahamas to Fort Lauderdale for the week of September 15. Assuming the storm activity clears as predicted, we anticipate this flight to arrive on Monday, September 16. The Humane Society of the Treasure Coast has committed to accepting 12 dogs and 12 cats from this flight. More flights of pets are expected to continue in the days that follow for shelters in our network to rescue.
