15 dogs impacted by Hurricane Michael touch down in Santa Barbara

Some very precious cargo was delivered to the Santa Barbara Humane Society Friday evening.

15 four-legged Hurricane Michael survivors may have a bit of “pet-lag” after traveling over 2,000 miles and several times zones.

“Hurricane Michael just destroyed the Panhandle and Florida and so besides the people leaving, the pets also needed a place to go,” said Kerri Burns, Executive Director, Santa Barbara Humane Society.

The Santa Barbara Humane Society is part of a national rescue effort.

“So it’s really tough in any type of disaster, as we experienced here in California with the fires, it would just create and cause a lot of overcrowding in the shelters and when animals are displaced you need to make sure that you have plenty of room available,” said Burns.

Since the shelters impacted Michael needed to make room for all the incoming displaced animals, The San Diego Humane Society and The Humane Society of the United States flew 93 canines from the Panhandle to San Diego.

“Three of our group stepped up to go down to San Diego and help bring the dogs back,” said Burns.

Now, 15 pups are sniffing Santa Barbara ground for the first time.

“We’re not only helping these 15 animals, we’re probably helping 100 more because we just opened up that space for the shelters in the Panhandle, to be able to help those that are truly displaced. So are taking in just keep giving and giving to help other animals find there home,” said Burns.

The dogs should be available for adoption next week. For more information click here.

“I’m very proud of all the organizations that have stepped up to help to help animals in times of disaster and the Santa Barbara Humane Society is so pleased that we are able to have the resources and the space to find these new little guys their forever home,” said Burns.