PodcastAbout

Animal Victims of Hurricane Helene & Their Heroes

Hurricane Helene displaced hundreds, if not thousands of pets. Read this heroic rescue and reunion story, and keep reading so you, too, can be a hero. When tragedy like this…

Rescue pets wait in cages aboard a plane for transport. Hurricane Helene
Marianne Todd/Getty Images

Hurricane Helene displaced hundreds, if not thousands of pets. Read this heroic rescue and reunion story, and keep reading so you, too, can be a hero.

When tragedy like this strikes, it can be difficult to bounce back, especially when there are so many people who need help and only so much help available. Hurricane Helene sent millions of residents in a tailspin with devastating destruction across Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and beyond. Residents lost their homes, their vehicles, all of their possessions, and some lost their pets.

You may also like: Dolly's Million Dollar Donation

They say it takes a village to raise a child. More than that, it takes a nation to come back after a natural disaster. While my prayers go out to those affected by the hurricane, my heart is warmed every time I see a story about folks going out of their way to help each other.

The water levels in Helene's path were catastrophic. To put things in perspective, watch this firefighter climb a tree 20 feet in the air to rescue someone's pet dog.

Dog save by firefighters in North Carolina following Hurricane Helene

The story first appeared on ABC News and was picked up by the Good News Network. After her rescue, the pup was seen cuddling with first responders and eventually returned to her family who were overjoyed, saying they watched their house float away like Noah's ark, and referred to their reunion with their dog as a light at the end of a tunnel.

You Can Adopt a Rescue

If you watched that video and your heart is telling you to help out, you can. You can adopt a rescue pet! There are hundreds organizations that are doing all they can to provide relief efforts to the hurricane-torn states - but they are no good without your help. It's time to step up and support your local organizations that are stepping up to save lives. And, who knows, your new furry friend might just save yours.

There are a variety of local and national organizations doing all they can to find homes for displaced pets in the wake of Hurricane Helene. They need your attention and they could use your donation. Maybe you will find your next best furry friend at one of these shelters:

National Pet Adoption Organizations

New England Pet Adoption Organizations

Philadelphia Area Pet Adoption Organizations

Andie Summers has been the morning show host on XTU for the past 25 years. She is a two-time CMA Major Market Personality of the Year winner and two-time Gracie Award recipient from the Alliance for Women in Media. As a content creator for XTU, Andie enjoys sharing parenting and travel tips, and loves helping you shop online with Must Haves.