At the beginning of this month, The Bahamas were ravaged by one of the most devastating, dangerous storms in living memory. Hurricane Dorian pounded the northwestern Bahamas for 40 continuous hours. With winds reaching 185 mph, it is the second-strongest Atlantic hurricane ever recorded, and one of the few Category 5 storms to ever make landfall.

A meteorologist with The Washington Post described this onslaught as potentially “the longest siege of violent, destructive weather ever observed.” The deadly impact of the storm created an immediate need for aid to help both people and animals in danger.

As with every storm that has the potential to harm animals, American Humane monitored the approach of Hurricane Dorian and prepared to respond in the United States. We immediately got to work – evacuating scores of shelter animals in the storm’s path. American Humane volunteers transported vulnerable pets more than 700 miles, from an at-risk shelter in South Carolina to safe havens in New York and New Jersey.

After the storm pulled away, and responders were able to move in and assess the damage in The Bahamas, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) extended an invitation to American Humane to assist in the Islands’ recovery effort.

Our experienced animal rescuers deployed and contributed to the lifesaving effort of healing a wounded country. With boots on the ground, our team conducted animal search and rescue missions, helped reunite pets with their owners and responded to urgent animal needs. Below, find pictures of our responders working in The Bahamas.