As Western North Carolina marks the two-month anniversary of Hurricane Helene, the region’s animal shelters continue to face an overwhelming need for assistance. While significant strides have been made—such as relocating 700 shelter pets through the BISSELL Pet Foundation’s Animal Incident Management AIM—the number of animals needing care is still growing.
Kim Alboum, AIM’s shelter outreach and policy development director, highlighted the ongoing challenges. After the hurricane, state guidelines extended the holding period for stray pets to 14-30 days to allow owners time to locate their animals.
On October 20, the required holding time was reduced to seven days, but shelters remain overcrowded due to a lack of adoptions and increasing intakes of neglected pets.
Shelters like the Forsyth Humane Society and SPCA of Wake County have stepped up to manage intake and transportation, but the strain on local facilities remains immense.
Many communities affected by the hurricane are not yet ready to adopt, forcing shelters to rely on foster programs and out-of-state transfers.
Alboum praised the collaboration between shelters and their dedication, recounting a poignant moment when North Carolina shelter teams came together to welcome relocated pets. Recognizing the toll on shelter workers, the BISSELL Pet Foundation also hosted an online trauma workshop to support their mental health.
Adopting or fostering pets remains the most effective way to help. Those unable to adopt can donate to local shelters or organizations like the BISSELL Pet Foundation to provide much-needed resources.
“This is a great time to bring a pet home for the holidays,” Alboum emphasized, urging people to consider fostering or adopting from shelters in Western North Carolina or their local area.
For more information on how to support, visit your local shelter or the BISSELL Pet Foundation website.