HELPING HOW THEY CAN. ECCHA is taking in six dogs from the Carolinas in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in an effort to support animal shelters there. (Photos via CBS 58, shared by ECCHA on Facebook)

Animal shelters across the state of Wisconsin are doing what they can to support the animals displaced because of Huricane Helene, which has reportedly killed more than 150 people. Over 100 dogs are being transported right now from South Carolina to multiple Wisconsin shelters, including the Eau Claire Community Humane Association (ECCHA).

Addie Erdmann, ECCHA marketing director, said they are taking in six dogs from the Carolinas.

The shelter’s intake coordinator, Raven Johnson, drove to Waukesha – where the animals were flown in from South Carolina – in the ECCHA van this morning. As of this afternoon, she is on her way back to Eau Claire with the dogs.

“In natural disaster cases, oftentimes a national charity will reach out to one of the larger shelters in our area – in this case, that is Dane County Humane Society in Madison – for support,” Erdmann said in a phone interview. “Their shelters were able to take quite a few of the dogs, and from there, Dane County reached out (to more Wisconsin shelters).”

“We’re very full on dogs and cats right now, but we knew had to do everything we can to help,” Erdmann said.

ECCHA van on site in Waukesha to bring six of the 100-plus dogs transferred from the Carolinas to Wisconsin this morning.

Greater Good Charities and Lucky Dog Animal Rescue (South Carolina) are partnering with the Wisconsin Federated Humane Societies to support the animal shelters in the Carolinas. Spokesperson Ashley Curtis told WKOW the dogs on their way to Wisconsin shelters are those that were already in the Southern shelters prior to the storms.

“By transferring them north, the shelters in the Carolinas can free up space to accommodate animals displaced by the storm, providing them with temporary refuge until they can be reunited with their owners,” Curtis said.

Erdmann said she did not know what breed the dogs are, but that they are medium to large in size and are all vaccinated. ECCHA will be updating the community via social media over the next few days on the status of the six dogs they are taking in. 

Keep up with the Eau Claire Community Humane Association on Facebook and learn more about the shelter and how to adopt online.