Emergency Airlift Transports Shelter Animals to Safety Amid Hurricane Chaos in Myrtle Beach

Emergency Airlift of Shelter Animals in Myrtle Beach

Myrtle Beach, S.C. — This past Saturday, our beloved Myrtle Beach was buzzing with activity, but not your typical beach day excitement. In a heartwarming display of community support, a nonprofit organization from Florence teamed up with Southwest Airlines to pull off an amazing emergency airlift of shelter animals out of our coastal town.

Lucky Dog Animal Rescue, a group that always puts their furry friends first, swung into action to help animals in crisis. As Mirah Horowitz, the founder and CEO, shared, their mission focuses on moving shelter animals to safer havens, especially during these hurricane-heavy months. Horowitz noted the importance of their efforts, saying, “If people are cut off from everything and they can’t feed themselves, they can’t feed their pets either.”

Focus on the Forgotten Furry Friends

With the recent chaos brought about by hurricanes Helene and Milton, Lucky Dog is helping to lighten the load faced by shelters in our area. By relocating these animals, shelters can concentrate on assisting pets that are left stranded. “Those shelters need to be distributing food and helping pet owners, not worrying about animals that have been in their care for months already,” said Horowitz.

The dedicated team at Lucky Dog flew a bunch of animals to new shelters in Wisconsin and Northern Virginia, providing them with a brighter future. “What we’re doing is taking those animals that were already in their care and getting them out,” Horowitz explained. This move allows shelters to focus more on strays and those lost pets desperately needing to be reunited with their families.

What Comes Next?

As hurricane season is still causing trouble, Horowitz mentioned that the after-effects of storms like Helene and Milton mean a lot of stray animals are heading to shelters. “We’re going to have a big problem of a lot of strays that need to move, so this is a long process. This is not something that we can fix or completely alleviate in the short term,” she noted. Reuniting families with pets after a disaster can take anywhere from two to four weeks of diligent work!

Safety Tips for Pet Owners

In the spirit of prevention and safety, Mirah Horowitz shared some essential tips for pet owners to keep those furry family members safe during storms. First up: microchipping your pets! It’s the best way to ensure you’re reunited if a storm sweeps through. Also, don’t forget to get an identification tag on their collar so they can be easily identified if they wander off!

“Please bring your pets inside during the storm,” Horowitz advised. Many people might think their outdoor pets can weather the storm just fine, but bringing them indoors is the best way to keep them safe. And if you’re evacuating, don’t leave your pets behind—they’re family, too!

Join the Cause!

If this story has tugged at your heartstrings as hard as it has ours, consider lending a hand to Lucky Dog Animal Rescue. Whether through donations, volunteering, or spreading the word, every little bit helps their mission to give shelter animals a second chance.

As we wrap up another busy and fulfilling week here in Myrtle Beach, let’s take a moment to appreciate those working tirelessly to care for our voiceless companions. Your support makes a big difference, and together, we can ensure that our furry friends find their way to safe and loving homes!