Weather

PAWS seeks animal foster homes due to flood-zone location in Fort Walton Beach

PAWS animal shelter in Fort Walton Beach has placed 12 animals in foster homes but still needs help for over 300 remaining pets as Hurricane Helene makes landfall east.

Jared Williams

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As Hurricane Helene approaches Florida, the Panhandle Animal Welfare Society is urgently seeking foster homes for hundreds of animals to keep them safe during the storm.

PAWS, located at 752 Lovejoy Road NW in Fort Walton Beach, put out a call for emergency foster homes on Monday, Sept. 23, citing the shelter’s location in a flood zone.

By Tuesday, 12 animals had been placed in temporary homes, but more than 300 still remain at the shelter.

“We need to act FAST to get as many of our animals out of the shelter and into temporary foster homes ASAP,” PAWS stated in their initial appeal. The shelter emphasized that even short-term fostering for a few days could make a significant difference in keeping the animals safe during the hurricane.

PAWS is providing all necessary supplies for foster families, including food and guidance. The shelter is closed to the public Thursday, except for fosters, emergencies, animal control issues, and return to owner. But encourages potential fosters to stop by to sign up and be matched with an animal.

“These sweet pets deserve to be safe, warm, and dry during the storm, and you can make that happen,” the shelter’s message read.

In a follow-up post on Tuesday, PAWS expressed gratitude for the community’s response while reiterating the ongoing need. “We are beyond grateful for the incredible support we received today,” the shelter stated, adding, “But our work isn’t done yet.”

Interested individuals can fill out a foster application on the PAWS website or visit the shelter in person to find a suitable foster match.

Hurricane Helene is expected to make landfall east of Okaloosa County on Thursday, Sept. 26, with the local area potentially experiencing tropical force winds and rain.

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