FAIRFAX STATION, Va. (DC News Now) — The impacts of Hurricanes Milton and Helene are being felt in the D.C. area, as animal shelters in Northern Virginia are working to get rescues from Florida, North Carolina and Southwest Virginia to families — and quickly.
The effort has turned into an all-hands-on-deck operation, with Homeward Trails Animal Rescue in Fairfax Station partnering with several different shelters to help manage the rapid growth in rescues up for adoption or fostering.
“Making room for them has been critical,” said Kelsey Moncrief, the Homeward Trails Animal Rescue Cat Program Director.
Moncrief said shortly after the shelter took in over 100 animals from Hurricane Helene, it brought in roughly 20 cats who she said would have been in Milton’s path. Many of those animals came from shelters that are currently flooded or powerless.
“Shelters have been full going into this and stretched to their max, and now with natural disasters and flooding, it’s been even more important to have people come out and help the animals and get them out of those situations,” Moncrief said.
District Dogs is one of the organizations helping out, providing care for some dogs to help allow Homeward Trails to continue bringing in animals. After being evaluated at Homeward Trails, the dogs went to District Dogs as part of a new partnership.
“They were calling in help from everywhere to free up space in their shelter,” said Tina Leone, the District Dogs CEO. “It means the world to me to be able to do this.”