WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, December 12, 2018 — Seventy-two beautiful cats and kittens are safe and sound from nature’s fury after being evacuated from a shelter in the path of monster Hurricane Florence in September, thanks to the generous support of the Marta Heflin Foundation. The foundation provided a lifesaving grant to support the national American Humane Rescue team’s dramatic rescue of the animals who were in the path of the deadly storm.

The American Humane Rescue team, which has been saving animals in disasters for more than 100 years, rushed to pick up dozens and dozens of vulnerable pets at shelters in South Carolina and drove them more than 800 miles to safe havens in New York and Connecticut where they found lifesaving refuge from the storm and, just as important, the chance to find forever homes.

As the storm neared, the rescue involved efforts by a host of dedicated professionals and volunteers, including American Humane President and CEO Robin Ganzert, Ph.D.

The American Humane Rescue program has been involved in virtually every major relief effort over the past 100 years, including World War I when it rescued wounded horses on the battlefields of Europe, the Great Ohio Flood of 1937, Pearl Harbor, Hurricane Katrina, the 9/11 terror attacks, the Japanese earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster, Superstorm Sandy, the killer tornadoes in Joplin and Oklahoma, the Louisiana and West Virginia floods, and most recently, the California wildfires and Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Florence and Michael.

“From staggering mass cruelty cases to ever more frequent natural disasters, so many animals are in crisis,” said Dr. Ganzert. “We are grateful to the Marta Heflin Foundation for coming to the aid of so many animals and helping us help our best friends in their worst times.”

About American Humane

American Humane is the country’s first national humane organization, founded in 1877. For more information, please visit www.americanhumane.org.