Brandywine Valley takes in dogs from Bahamas

Brandywine Valley SPCA welcomed 54 pooches to Delaware who were evacuated from the Bahamas in the wake of Hurricane Dorian. 

The dogs arrived Oct. 5 at Delaware Coastal Airport in Georgetown before being taken to Brandywine Valley’s Animal Rescue Center on Shingle Point Road. Brandywine Valley spokeswoman Linda Torelli said the dogs will be quarantined for 14 days while receiving preventative medical care. Following the quarantine, the animals will go up for adoption at Brandywine Valley’s adoption centers in Georgetown, New Castle and West Chester, Pa., she said.

The dogs came from the Abaco Islands in the northern Bahamas, east of south Florida. Abaco was one of the areas most heavily hit by Dorian, and many pets lost their families and their homes. 

Torelli said the dogs were rescued by a coalition of local animal welfare groups in the Bahamas. The animals were first taken to Grand Bahama Island, where they were held in hopes of reuniting with their families. The dogs were originally supposed to come in late September, but Torelli said the flights were delayed in order to give more opportunity for people to possibly reclaim their lost pets. 

Brandywine Valley SPCA CEO Adam Lamb said the center was established for animals like these.

“The trauma these dogs endured is unimaginable. We’re proud and honored to be entrusted with helping them heal and rebuild their lives with loving families,” he said.

Those wishing to make donations to support the dogs, they can be made at  bvspca.org/dorian or by mail to: Brandywine Valley SPCA, Attn: Hurricane Dorian, 22918 Dupont Boulevard, Georgetown, De. 19947.