As Hurricanes Helene and Milton barreled into the Southeast, people and pets were directly in their path, but so were wild animals, including those being cared for by sanctuaries. Thanks to your clicks, trivia participation, shopping for a cause, and direct donations, we’ve been able to lend a hand to many of these sanctuaries both before and after the storms blew through. Here are the stories of just a few of them.

Chase Animal Rescue and Sanctuary

Chase Animal Rescue and Sanctuary, located just inland from the Gulf Coast in Webster, Florida, provides a variety of conservation services, with a particular focus on primates in danger of extinction, surrendered exotic pets, and butterflies.

Following the impacts of the back-to-back hurricane strikes in Florida, the organization is trying to ensure that there’s adequate housing for all of their residents, which include a variety of primates. There’s also a need to replant their damaged butterfly gardens to continue breeding monarch and swallowtail butterflies.

With a grant they received from our partner Greater Good Charities, the sanctuary will be able to accomplish these goals, along with continuing their work to fight the extinction of ruffed lemurs, which are critically endangered. They’ll also use the grant to support their education outreach about butterflies and other endangered animals.

North Florida Wildlife Center 

The North Florida Wildlife Center, located just outside Tallahassee in Lamont, also cares for ruffed lemurs, along with other species including sloths, anteaters, bats, hedgehogs, and a variety of birds. In the aftermath of tornadoes and the hurricanes in the region, a Greater Good Charities grant is helping them feed and care for their residents that can’t be released. The animals are also being provided enrichment.

The organization also focuses on education initiatives, breeding programs, and ecosystem recovery throughout the world. The funding is helping them accomplish some of these longer-term goals, as well.

Pet Project for Pets

Pet Project for Pets, based in the Fort Lauderdale area in Florida, got their start helping HIV/AIDS patients with pets before expanding to include terminally ill, elderly, and disabled residents. These days, they have multiple warehouses to distribute to a variety of groups throughout Florida.

As Hurricanes Helene and Milton barreled toward the state, Pet Project for Pets helped two of their partners get sanctuary animals to safer spots. With support from Greater Good Charities, they assisted Flamingo Gardens in Davie, Florida, as they worked to take in birds from Gulf Coast-based Peace River Wildlife Center. The birds had initially been in crates as the storm approached, but when the facility was flooded, they needed to be relocated. Flamingo Gardens welcomed them, thanks to transport help handled by Pet Project for Pets and supported by Greater Good Charities. In all, more than 30 birds were transported, including pelicans, egrets, herons, gulls, a tern, and owls.

The protection of and relief for these animals have been possible thanks, in part, to you! If you’d like to continue helping wildlife sanctuaries impacted by Helene and Milton in their recovery, click below!