Dozens of dogs and cats displaced by Hurricane Irma were being taken to an emergency shelter in South Carolina Wednesday in a move to free up space for new rescues at Miami-area shelters, animal services officials said.
The animals, including 100 dogs, were being relocated to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ 40,000-square-foot shelter in Duncan, North Carolina, where they will eventually go up for adoption, Miami-Dade Animal Services spokeswoman Lilian Bohorquez said.
"The goal is by taking the 100 dogs, then we are able to have more room in the shelters to take in any animals that we find abandoned here in Miami," Bohorquez said.
The shelter in North Carolina already houses hundreds of displaced animals,
A Miami-Dade Animal Services team, including veterinary staff and animal welfare officers, were assisting Lee County animal rescue groups that have been dealing with flooding and storm damage in their attempts to care for animals.
