SAVED FROM THE STORM

39 hurricane refugees arrive in Chesco to find new homes

The Brandywine SPCA on Friday welcomed 39 dogs transported from Houstonarea shelters area affected by Hurricane Harvey. Two of the dogs, Maxwell and Bella, survived the hurricane tied to trees with the words “RIP” painted on the trees.

Ten members of Brandywine also spent the week in Texas assisting the local SPCA.

In addition to Maxwell and Bella, the 37 other dogs were previously in shelter or foster care at the SPCA of Brazoria County, Lake Jackson, Texas and the Best Friends Pet Reunion Pavillion of Houston.

“Bringing these dogs from Texas helps clear space for family pets recovered during the hurricane to be held longer in their local shelters in hopes of being reunited,” said Brandywine spokeswoman Linda Torelli, who was among those in Texas for the week. ”We have a high degree of confidence that none of these animals are dogs that families have been looking for because of the hurricane.”

Torelli said the Brandywine staff worked at the NRG area in Houston which functioned as a clearing house for ani--

mals being recovered from the Hurricane and in finding owners.

The animals were welcomed as part of the BVSPCA Second-Chance Program which brings atrisk animals from shelters both locally and nationally.

Troll said Brandywine is also on standby to possibly receive dogs from Jacksonville, Fla., as a result of Hurricane Irma.

The Brazoria County SPCA is on the Gulf of Mexico, south of Houston. Some homes in the area are still flooded, said Torelli. “Half the roads and bridges we were on were still flooded,” she said.

While in Texas, the Brandywine staff set up intake and medical process the dog as well as consulted and helped the Texas shelters with supplies. The Brandywine team brought supplies donated from the Delaware Valley to help the effected shelters including items like; Crates, paper supplies and disinfectable toys.

The 39 dogs will be medically assessed at Brandywine, altered as needed, and made available for adoption. Some will be available as early as Saturday.

In addition to the 39 animals brought to Brandywine Friday, over 70 other animals have been brought from Texas and Louisiana as part of hurricane recovery efforts,

The Brandywine Valley SPCA West Chester Campus is located at 1212 Phoenixville Pike.

PETE BANNAN — DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Brandywine SPCA volunteer Kathy Hein of West Chester carries two pups brought with their mother from a Houston-area shelter Friday afternoon. The pups were 39 dogs which will be available for adoption.

PETE BANNAN — DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Maxwell arrives at Brandywine SPCA Maxwell and another dog, Bella, were found tied to a tree during the hurricane with a sign above them stating “RIP.”

PETE BANNAN — DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Brandywine SPCA volunteers unload a dog brought to West Chester from a Houston-area shelter Friday afternoon. The 39 dogs will be available for adoption, some as early as Saturday.