When Tropical Storm Debby caused widespread flooding across the Southeastern U.S. in August, the Humane Society of Valdosta/Lowndes County sustained downed fencing and a leaking roof, making their dog kennels uninhabitable.

Humane society staff contacted our National Field Response (NFR) team, prompting our Centralized Placement team to find placement options for the impacted dogs.

The Kentucky Humane Society agreed to take 14 dogs, including Mama Burns who had chemical burns on her body and had been relinquished to the shelter with three nursing puppies before the storm’s landfall. After her wounds had been treated and her puppies weaned, she and her pups joined the other dogs aboard a transport vehicle driven by Shannon Kegyes, an ASPCA Relocation manager and driver, and Danielle King, another driver. The dogs arrived safely at the Kentucky Humane Society two days later.

“Mama Burns deserves the world,” says Katherine Good, the ASPCA’s senior manager of Animal Placement Partnerships. “And we appreciate how the Kentucky Humane Society stepped up to support this special placement and make a lifesaving impact on these dogs and the Valdosta community.”

Collaborating During Disasters

The emergency evacuation of Valdosta’s homeless dogs was part of our wider disaster relief support in Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina in response to Tropical Storm Debby. As a member of the National Animal Rescue & Sheltering Coalition, NFR deployed to the Southeast alongside other partners including American Humane, ASAR Training and Response, Code 3 Associates and the International Fund for Animal Welfare.

“Our Coalition works collaboratively and cooperatively to assist communities and their animals in preparation for and response to incidents that place animals in crisis,” says Susan Anderson, the ASPCA’s director of disaster response. “By working together, we can save more lives and have a much greater impact than any one organization working alone.”

“Responding to large-scale emergencies like Tropical Storm Debby requires close collaboration across animal welfare organizations, both inside and outside the disaster zone to ensure shelters and pet owners are supported,” says Katherine. “Evacuating shelter animals from communities directly impacted by disasters allows us to move those animals to safety while freeing up critical resources locally for other animals in need.”

Feeling Gratitude and Joy

Kentucky Humane Society staff provided medical and behavioral assessments for the dogs before making them available for adoption. All were treated for upper respiratory infections as a precaution, and two tested positive for ringworm and were treated.

Mama Burns was the first to be adopted, and only one dog remains available for adoption.

“It’s an incredible feeling when we can offer help and find loving homes for animals like Mama Burns,” says Kristin Seaman, senior shelter operations manager at KHS. “She endured a lot before she came to us from an out-of-state shelter ravaged by a tropical storm. Every time we successfully match pets like her with new families, we’re filled with immense gratitude and joy.”

A Dog Who “Runs the House”

After their previous dog, Lyla, a 9-year-old Doberman, died, Virginia H. and her family decided to adopt another dog.

“We pretty much have always had a dog and wanted to be sure to adopt because there are just so many dogs out there who need homes,” says Virginia, known as Ginnie. “Our 18-year-old son, Benjamin, wanted a younger dog. Benjamin had seen Mama Burns’ picture on the Kentucky Humane Society’s website, so we visited them. When we couldn’t find her on the adoption floor, we asked about her.”

Staff informed Ginnie and Benjamin that Mama Burns was still being treated for an upper respiratory infection, but they were able to meet her. Even though she was still coughing, the family, including Ginnie’s husband Jeff and younger son Jacob, adopted Mama Burns that day and completed her antibiotics regimen at home.

Mama Burns, now called Bo, is a “ball of fire,” Ginnie says. “At first, she was calm and would sleep on my lap watching TV, but now she loves to play.

“We’ve never had a dog that loves toys like she does; she carries them around with her all day,” Ginnie adds. “She gets the zoomies and runs through the house as fast as she can, slides across the kitchen floor and crashes into her water bowl. Then she runs through to the other side of the house.”

Ginnie says her family’s experience at the Kentucky Humane Society was wonderful, and she recommends others adopt if they’re looking for a pet.

“We love having a dog who runs the house,” she says. “You just have to get out of the way when you see her coming!”