Humane Society of North Central Florida: Disaster Response and Recovery Grant Report
How did this grant help your organization and the pets in your care?
In 2024, our region endured two back-to-back hurricanes, Helene and Milton, both of which had a devastating impact on local animal shelters and pet owners. Within two weeks, we took in 139 animals from rural shelters, including Dixie, Levy, and Chiefland, as well as displaced pets from the community.
The Dixie Animal Shelter suffered severe damage from Hurricane Helene’s high winds, requiring a full roof reconstruction. Fortunately, we were able to transfer all animals to our shelter before the storm, preventing potential injuries and severe trauma.
With the support of this grant, we were able to:
Provide Essential Supplies: The grant allowed us to purchase emergency food, litter, crates, blankets, and medical supplies for the influx of animals.
Expand Medical Care: Many of the animals brought into our care required veterinary attention, including spay/neuter surgeries, vaccinations, and treatment for various medical conditions.
Support Additional Staffing: The sudden increase in intake required extra staff hours to ensure all animals received proper care and attention.
Facilitate Foster Placement: Thanks to the grant’s support, we mobilized a strong foster network, preventing overcrowding in our facility and allowing the animals to recover in a home environment.
Assist Rural Shelters and Pet Owners: Beyond our shelter, the grant enabled us to distribute food and essential supplies to pet owners and rural shelters in the surrounding areas.
Final Outcome and Community Impact
Aid to Over 400 Pets: The grant directly benefited more than 400 animals — some in our care and others belonging to pet owners we supported with food and supplies.
Preventing Animal Abandonment: By providing resources to pet owners and shelters, we helped reduce the likelihood of animals being surrendered or abandoned.
This grant was instrumental in our disaster response efforts, allowing us to act swiftly and effectively in a time of crisis. By supporting both immediate relief and long-term recovery, it helped save lives and reinforced our commitment to ensuring no pet is left behind.
How many pets did this grant help?
400
Please provide a story of one or more specific pets this grant helped.
Just hours before Hurricane Helene made landfall, we received an urgent call from a small rescue partner in the storm’s direct path. They had discovered a mother dog abandoned at a boat ramp, left to fend for herself as the hurricane approached. Seeking shelter, she found a small spot under a tree, where she gave birth to her puppies — exposed to the elements and in immediate danger.
Thanks to the incredible support of our community and the emergency resources provided by this grant, we were able to act quickly. With space available in our foster barn — designed to provide quiet, secure areas for mother dogs and animals in need of a calm environment — we rescued Brook and her four puppies: Tide, Wave, Bayou, and Marsh.
Safely away from the storm, Brook nursed and cared for her puppies in a warm, nurturing setting. As the weeks passed, all four puppies found loving homes, adopted in November and December. Meanwhile, Brook needed a bit more time to adjust after her puppies left. She made it clear that she wanted to be the only dog in a home where she could run, play, and enjoy life on her own terms.
In early January, Brook’s perfect match arrived — a kind woman with a farm, offering her the freedom and love she had been waiting for. Today, Brook spends her days running through open fields, surrounded by her favorite person and a variety of farm animals. Her adopter says, “Brook is doing great. She loves her forever home, she is filling out, and she loves golf carts rides on her large farm.”
Without this grant, Brook and her puppies may not have survived the storm. Instead, they are now thriving, a testament to the lifesaving impact of disaster relief funding.
