The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Pets make way to Rescue Village after fallout from hurricane
A truck bearing animals from hurricane-ravaged Florida made its way to the Geauga Humane Society’s Rescue Village shelter in Russell Township Friday.
The animals — 66 cats and a puppy — arrived around 7 p.m. Sept. 22 after being pulled from damaged shelters in the south.
Some will remain at Rescue Village while others will be transported to other shelters around Northeast Ohio.
“Through (Rescue Village’s) partnership with The Atlanta Humane Society, 21 of the (66) cats as well as the (one) dog will stay at Rescue Village until they are adopted,” a media statement from the Geauga Humane Society reads. “The Cleveland APL, The Humane Society of Summit County, Portage APL, and Parma Animal Shelter will be taking the other 46 cats from this same transport and will make them ready for adoption at their respective locations.”
In an effort to find homes for all the cats it just took in, Rescue Village will be waiving all adoption fees on both adult cats and kittens now through Sunday, Sept. 24, the organization reports.
“There are a great many homeless cats in the flooded areas of Florida,” said Hope Brustein, executive director of the Russell Township nokill shelter. “Rescue Village
is glad to reach out to help. “The cats coming to our shelter will be well cared for and rehomed. This is a deep part of our mission.”
Rescue Village volunteer Kathy Panizza, who was there Friday to help receive the 67 animals, said all the animals will go to loving homes and that’s what it’s all about.
“This is the perfect thing,” she said. “Getting to see these animals being helped, and
then getting to see them go home with families — especially kids — is just so exciting. It’s the best part of all of this.”
She said the animals’ arrival Friday just goes to show how important the animal shelter system is throughout the country and that it’s a special thing to be able to help other shelters when they’re in need.
Leah Backo, marketing and public relations coordinator for Rescue Village, explained how the facility works with others around the country to assist in times of need like this one.
“We are what’s known as a distribution shelter in this situation,” she said. “So we’re like a hub for transport to other shelters that have too many animals.”
She said none of the cats or the dog taken in Sept. 22 were anyone’s pets, They were housed at shelters which, after the recent hurricanes in Florida, were rendered unsafe or overwhelmed by pets separated from their families during the foul weather and its fallout.
According to its media release, Rescue Village had 29 cats and kittens in its care before the additional 21 cats and one dog arrived Friday.
“All animals from this transport will receive thorough medical examinations and will be posted on our website with a note that they are from Florida once they are made available for adoption,” the facility’s statement reads.