County animal organization returns 13 pets to owners after hurricane

With a bigger volume of lost or missing pets that are coming in, the organization is looking to other shelters to take on already adoptable pets.

By Business Observer Staff
| 2:40 p.m. October 6, 2022
| 2 Free Articles Remaining!

Manatee-Sarasota

A number of lost and missing pets have been discovered as part of the destruction left behind by Hurricane Ian. Manatee County Animal Welfare has returned 13 pets to their owners since last Thursday, Sept. 29.

Additionally, the organization saw 29 adoptions during that time. MCAW staff visited Bishop Animal Shelter, a shelter Bradenton under county management and operation, on Oct. 1 to clean and reopen the shelter, which had been closed for the storm.

Since Oct. 3, an average of 20 lost or stray pets have been brought in each day. To make room for the additional incoming pets, MCAW has been transferring adoptable pets to its partners in the U.S. On Wednesday, 83 pets had been transferred with another 70 pets expected to leave Thursday. By Tuesday, Oct. 11, the organization is expecting that number to be closer to 200.

“We are working hard to create more space to help these displaced animals through this period,” says Manatee County Animal Welfare Chief Sarah Brown in a release.

Anyone with a missing animal can call Bishop Animal Shelter at 941-742-5933 or Manatee County 3-1-1 for more information.