The Bloomington Animal Shelter is housing about two dozen animals displaced by Hurricane Irma.
More than 160 dogs and cats flew into Columbus, Ohio through the Humane Society of the United States Emergency Placement Partners, making room in southern Florida shelters for animals escaping Hurricane Irma. Of those, six dogs and 18 cats arrived in Bloomington over the weekend.
The Bloomington Animal Shelter partners with the Humane Society of the United States emergency placement program to help in case of a crisis like this one.
Emily Herr is the outreach and behavior coordinator for the shelter. She says while some shelters across the country are temporarily holding animals, the Bloomington Animal Shelter will house the pets until they find permanent homes.
"They became ours, so our plan is to find them homes from here that's what they were trying to do," Herr says. "Florida's got their hands full with other animals that are in much dire need."
Because the animals' stress levels are high as a result of the move, some are being placed in foster homes to help with the transition.
All the animals will be available for adoption once the shelter determines they're healthy.
The Dubois County Humane Society is housing 15 dogs from Florida, with at least one already adopted out to a forever home in Indiana.
Last week, the Humane Society of Indianapolis took in 11 dogs from Texas displaced from Hurricane Harvey.