SALEM ― Almost all of the 75 animals Northeast Animal Shelter rescued from Hurricane Ida-stricken Louisiana have found new homes, and even more homeless cats and dogs are awaiting transport from the South to the Bay State.
Celia Jepsky, communications coordinator at NEAS, said Sunday that the animals settled well after their evacuation but their time at the shelter wasn’t long.
“They go pretty quickly”, said Jepsky.
All of the 39 cats have already been adopted, and only a few out of 36 dogs were remaining at the shelter.
Bronx, a 13-year-old, partially-blind poodle, was one of the dogs still available for adoption on Sunday.
“He is a sweet gentleman,” his adoption page said. “He walks very well on leash and is excited to just snuggle up to his people.”
Bronx, who has cataracts and a heart murmur, is looking for a nice retirement home.
“We had some interest,” Jepsky said. “ We are just going through some applications currently.”
According to NEAS community relations manager Jamie Garabedian, more animals are on their way to Massachusetts from Louisiana. Their transport was postponed because of the conditions on the ground; Garabedian confirmed Thursday that the rescued pets are on their way.
NEAS works with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) and various rescues throughout the U.S. They get one to two transports of homeless animals per week.
To rescue animals and make more room in local shelters in Louisiana in the wake of a Category 4 hurricane, NEAS partnered up with the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals-Angell (MSPCA-Angell) Animal Medical Center. The animals arrived at Hanscom Air Force Base on Aug. 30.
In preparation for their arrival, NESA set up a donation campaign that swiftly gathered almost $13,000.
NESA is currently open for adoptions by appointment only. Those interested in taking home a new furry friend can find animals available for adoption on the shelter’s website.
