The Delaware SPCA and Kent County SPCA, working with the Delaware Department of Agriculture's DAR (Delaware Animal Rescue), set up and manned six pet-friendly evacuation shelters throughout the State over the weekend. Collectively, these shelters provided a safe refuge for over 325 pets and their humans during Hurricane Irene.

The Delaware SPCA's staff and volunteers operated the pet areas of the Middletown HS, William Penn HS, and Indian River HS evacuation shelters. The Indian River shelter in Sussex County housed the most pets at 91, including dogs, cats, birds and guinea pigs.  The other two shelters received 20 or less animals.

Co-locating human and animal shelters is one of the changes that has been made since Hurricane Katrina, where many people refused to evacuate and leave their beloved pets behind.  Human and animal lives were lost as a result. Traditional evacuation shelters of the past would not accept pets.  Delaware, through DAR, has changed this by accepting the “Community” Shelter approach.

The Delaware SPCA is proud to have taken part in keeping Delaware's pet owners and their animals safe during this emergency.