Hurricane Ida animal rescues arrive at Young-Williams Animal Center, 100 fosters step up

This week Young-Williams Animal Center accepted 40 animals evacuated from the aftermath of Hurricane Ida. The Humane Society of Louisiana and south central region staff of Best Friends worked together to transport the animals to East Tennessee, where they arrived Tuesday evening and underwent health evaluations. Shelter staff members are working to place the pets in local emergency foster homes.

Young-Williams asked for help and received over 100 applications from new fosters thanks to a public appeal with the help of media and community advocates. Many of these new fosters have been matched with a pet from the hurricane evacuation or a pet from the shelter to help make space.

Millions of Gulf Coast residents and businesses have been affected after Hurricane Ida made landfall in Louisiana and Mississippi on Aug. 29. Animal shelters and rescue groups have been transporting adoptable pets to other shelters because of the effects of the hurricane – including flooding, major property damage and loss of power and utilities – and to open space for the influx of lost and stray animals in the region.

“The animals, which include 20 dogs and 20 cats and kittens, made it safely to our shelter. Thanks to emergency fosters who applied to take in the rescues, all of these animals will be staying with people in our community,” says Janet Testerman, CEO of Young-Williams Animal Center. “We are so grateful to our Knoxville family for stepping up and opening their hearts in this tough situation. Every pet who can be placed with a foster family frees up space so we can care for the animals that we take in daily as the official shelter for the City of Knoxville and Knox County.”

Many of the rescued pets will be available for adoption soon at young-williams.org.

Young-Williams Animal Center provides all supplies including food to pet fosters free of charge. The shelter is accepting donated supplies for the evacuated animals. The list includes canned kitten food; fleece blankets; collapsible wire dog crates; cat litter; reusable grocery totes and gallon Ziploc bags; and cat and dog toys.

All donations can be dropped off at Young-Williams Animal Center, 3201 Division St., Knoxville, TN 37919. Monetary donations of any amount also can be made at young-williams.org/donations.