RedRover Responders stand at the ready to provide emergency sheltering assistance for animals displaced by Hurricane Florence. Here is a list of currently available animal emergency shelters and resources.
Know of a resource or shelter to add to this list? Email us at info@redrover.org!
Please note that these resources have been gathered from public sources. If you are planning to shelter at one of these sites with your animals, please verify that it is open and accepting animals, as conditions may have changed.
Animal friendly lodging resources:
- PetFriendlyTravel.com – Animal Evacuation and Animal Friendly Emergency Shelters
- Bringfido.com
- Dogfriendly.com
- Pet-friendly-hotels.net
- Petswelcome.com
- Tripswithpets.com
Please note: Animal caregivers should bring the appropriate supplies such as a crate, litter box, food, medications, collar, leash, medical records, water/food bowls, a photo of you and your animal for identification, and bedding.
Emergency shelters that allow animal aren’t the only option. Some veterinarians may board the animals or they can stay with you at an animal-friendly hotel.
When it comes to hotels, you may have heard the rumor that by law, they must accommodate your animals. That is false. The FEMA website reports, “there are reports that all emergency shelters and hotels are required to accommodate pets for people who have evacuated. This is FALSE. The Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards (PETS) Act (Pub. L. 109-308 (2006)) requires all state, local, tribal, and territorial governments that receive FEMA assistance to make plans to accommodate household pets and service animals during emergencies.”
Veterinary care:
- RedRover Relief: Financial assistance grants for emergency veterinary care. Applications accepted online.
VIRGINIA
Resources for animal caregivers
*Please note that these resources have been gathered from public sources. If you are planning to shelter at one of these sites with your animals, please verify that it is open and accepting animals as conditions may have changed.
Animal-friendly shelters:
- Norfolk:
- Bayview Rec Center, 8613 Willow Terrace, Norfolk, VA 23503. Domestic animals only will be allowed, such as dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, rodents, or turtles. All animals must be able to travel in commercial carriers, and be housed in temporary facilities.
- Berkley Community Center, 121 W Liberty St, Norfolk, VA 23523. Domestic animals only will be allowed, such as dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, rodents, or turtles. All animals must be able to travel in commercial carriers, and be housed in temporary facilities.
- Newport News:
- Warwick High School, 51 Copeland Ln, Newport News, VA 23601. Dogs and cats only. Caregivers should bring the appropriate supplies such as a crate, litter box, food, medications, collar, leash, medical records, water/food bowls, a photo of you and your pet for identification, and bedding. Owners must remain at the shelter with their pets (no drop-offs). Animals must be in cages.
- Portsmouth:
- Churchland Middle School, 4051 River Shore Rd, Portsmouth, VA 23703. Cats and dogs are welcome, but there is an animals per household limit.
- Virginia Beach:
- Virginia Beach residents who are relocating to a shelter can take their dog or cat for boarding to Landstown Elementary School, 2212 Recreation Drive, beginning Thursday, September 13 at 8 a.m. Animal Care and Adoption Center employees will staff the shelter. Must bring ID with proof of address to utilize shelter. Owners will be required to sign liability waiver upon entry. Cats must arrive in a carrier/enclosure and dogs must be securely on a leash. Dog crates and appropriate cat housing will be available on-site, or bring your own. Bring medications, food, bedding/toys.
Aggressive animals and those with known medical issues above the capabilities of the emergency shelter will not be accepted. Animals with known contagious diseases will also not be accepted. Caregivers must return to retrieve their animals within 12 hours of the closing of the shelters for humans. Call 385-7460 to discuss further details and ensure space availability. Space is limited (200 animals) and will be first come, first served.
- Virginia Beach residents who are relocating to a shelter can take their dog or cat for boarding to Landstown Elementary School, 2212 Recreation Drive, beginning Thursday, September 13 at 8 a.m. Animal Care and Adoption Center employees will staff the shelter. Must bring ID with proof of address to utilize shelter. Owners will be required to sign liability waiver upon entry. Cats must arrive in a carrier/enclosure and dogs must be securely on a leash. Dog crates and appropriate cat housing will be available on-site, or bring your own. Bring medications, food, bedding/toys.
NORTH CAROLINA
Resources for animal caregivers
*Please note that these resources have been gathered from public sources. If you are planning to shelter at one of these sites with your animals, please verify that it is open and accepting animals as conditions may have changed.
Animal-friendly shelters:
- Bladen County: West Bladen High (Medical Needs and animal friendly); 1600 NC 410 Hwy., Bladenboro, NC 28320
- Brunswick County:
- West Brunswick High School is now full.
- North Brunswick High School, 114 Scorpion Drive, Leland.
- South Brunswick High School, 100 Cougar Road, Boiling Spring Lakes.
- Chowan County: Chowan Middle School, 2845 Virginia Road, Tyner, NC 27980.
- Craven County: Benn Quinn Elementary School, 4275 Martin Luther King Blvd. New Bern, NC 28562.
- Cumberland County:
- Pine Forest High School, 525 Andrews Rd, Fayetteville.
- South View High School, 4184 Elk Rd, Hope Mills.
- Currituck County: Kirkwood Adams Community center, 1100 Hamilton Street, Roanoke Rapids, NC 27870. Dogs and cats only. Animals will be kept in a separate area, with crates provided. Individuals will have to care for their own animals and must bring food, blankets, and any other animal needs.
- Durham County & APS: Hillside High School, 3727 Fayetteville Rd, Durham.
- Hanover County: Southeast Raleigh Magnet High School, 2600 Rock Quarry Rd, Raleigh, NC 27610, is an animal co-location facility and will accept cats and dogs (no exotic animals). Caregivers should bring their dog or cat in a crate, along with animal food.
- Harnett County: Triton High School, 215 Maynard Lake Road, Erwin, NC 28339.
- Hoke County: Don Steed Elementary, 800 Phillipi Church Rd., Raeford, NC 28376. Cats and Dogs only. Caregivers will be allowed to access their animals to feed, clean, water and exercise.You must feed, water, and care for your own animals while sheltered (food will be provided). Please provide leashes, any medications, and any other items your animal requires.
- Johnston County: West Johnston High School, 3935 Raleigh Rd., Benson, NC 27504.
- Lenoir County: Lenoir County Community College, 231 Hwy 58.
- Nash County: Nash Central High School Pet friendly; 4279 Nash Central High Rd.,Rocky Mount, NC 27804.
- Orange County: Smith Middle School, 9201 Seawell School Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27516.
- Pender County: Burgaw Middle School;500 S Wright St., Burgaw, NC 28425.
- Wake County:
- Knightdale High School, 100 Bryan Chalk Lane, Knightdale, NC 27545. All residents must show a valid ID with a Dare County address for entry. While in the shelter, caregivers are responsible for the feeding, care, clean-up, and behavior of their own animals. All animal-friendly shelters require vaccination records for each animal.
- Southeast Raleigh Magnet High School, 2600 Rock Quarry Road.
SOUTH CAROLINA
Resources for animal caregivers
*Please note that these resources have been gathered from public sources. If you are planning to shelter at one of these sites with your animals, please verify that it is open and accepting animals as conditions may have changed.
Animal friendly shelters:
- Blenheim Elementary/Middle School, 143 Highland Street, Blenheim, SC 29516.
- Cane Bay High School, 1624 State Road, Summerville, SC.
- Dubose Middle School, 1005 Dubose School Road, Summerville, SC 29483. Citizens must stay with their animals during their time at the shelter. Caregivers are NOT allowed to drop-off their animals at the shelters. At Dubose Middle School, the shelter will only accept crated, small, domesticated animals. At least one family member must remain on premise. Residents who would like to utilize the animal shelter will be responsible for bringing all animal supplies including, but not limited to a leash, vaccination records, food, water and food bowls, a sheet or blanket to cover kennel, litter and litter box, medication (if needed), training pads for kennel.
- Lake Marion High School, 3656 Tee Vee Road, Santee, SC 29142. Call ahead so accomodations can be made: (803) 854-9213.
Social media
Note: Always use caution when posting personal information or using information posted on social networking sites. RedRover cannot vouch for the accuracy or intention of any of the links below.
Facebook:
Twitter:
- Popular hashtags: #HurricaneFlorence, #Florence, #FlorenceNC, #FlorenceSC
- FEMA (@FEMA)
How to help/Donations needed
- From Time.com: The best way to help animals during a disaster relief situation is a financial donation. “We don’t know where the most flooding will occur yet and we don’t know what comes after Florence,” Elmore explains to MONEY. “So we don’t know what we need yet. We got blindsided by Irma, then blindsided by Maria last year.” To find reputable animal organizations to donate to you can use websites that evaluate non-profits like GuideStar or Charity Navigator.
- From MNN.com: If you want to assist animals displaced by the storm, there are plenty of things you can do. Rescue groups and shelters suggest monetary donations, first and foremost. That way they can buy what they need and don’t have to worry about storage, especially if shelters are damaged by the storm. Many shelters and rescue groups also have online wish lists. If your local shelter is making room for hurricane-displaced animals, you may want to consider adopting or fostering so they can make space in their kennels for more animals in need.
Featured image: A man and his dogs being evacuated from flooding in Cypress Creek, Texas, 2017. Image credit U.S. Army National Guard / Capt. Martha Nigrelle, CC BY-SA 3.0.
