PAWS Chicago travels to Florida animal shelters, bringing back more than 50 pets

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Nearly a week after Hurricane Ian made landfall in Florida, more than 100 deaths are now blamed on the storm.

Rescuers are going door-to-door in Fort Myers, searching for survivors who may be trapped. Meanwhile, there is an effort under way to clear animal shelters to prepare for the possibility of an influx of abandoned pets. 

As CBS 2's Jermont Terry reported, volunteers at PAWS Chicago were just back from the destruction Tuesday. After more than 12 hours on the highway, dogs and cats were finally able to stretch their legs in Chicago, their new home.

More than 50 animals came to Chicago from Florida and they were welcomed by the PAWS Chicago volunteers and medical staff.

A variety of feline food lined the counter as the PAWS shelter in Little Village prepared for its special guests.

"We have 53 homeless pets coming from the Gulf Coast region," said PAWS Chicago chief executive officer Susanna Wickham.

The cages are set.

"And as you can see, these spaces offer rooms for them to move through, so that their litter and their food are in different areas," Wickham said.

Back outside, the crew gears up for a warm Chicago welcome.

After more than 12 hours on the highway, traveling from Florida to Chicago, the dogs' and cats' paws hit dry and safe land.

"And they're going to arrive here, and they're going to be scared," Wickham said.

Yet the PAWS Chicago crew is equipped to handle any fears from the puppies and kittens - all shipped from shelters in the hurricane-ravaged coasts. Chicago shelters are making room for the expected influx of strays in that region.

"There was a woman who brought a cat, who said: 'My neighbor lost her home. She doesn't want this cat anymore. She can't care for it,'" Wickham said. "It's already started to happen, and what we know is as the dust begins to settle, that there's going to be a greater need."

The kittens are not only cute, they're guaranteed to live - because PAWS Chicago is a no-kill facility, and they're hoping step up to adopt or bring in foster parents.

"We see happy adoption stories every single day, and we're hoping for 53 more," Wickham said.

Right now, the animals are getting hugs and needed care – and the shelter is ready to make Chicago home to any other animals lost from Ian's path.

"What we saw here was shelters that were desperate to get the animals out, because the next wave is about to begin -- and we're getting ready for that, too," Wickham said. "So next week, we're going to go back and bring back more pets." 

A few of the animals will need medical care, and PAWS Chicago will treat them. They hope to have the animals ready for adoption or place them in foster homes.

If you're interested in adopting one of the pets from PAWS Chicago, follow this link for an application.

In:
• Chicago
• Animal Rescue