When a disaster strikes, it doesn’t just impact people, homes, buildings and roads. It affects our most vulnerable members of our communities - animals.

The devastation of Hurricane Helene and Milton impacted many animal rescues across Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Tennessee. Thankfully, animals at most shelters were evacuated early and placed in emergency shelters and fosters ahead of the hurricanes making landfall.

With shelters, sanctuaries and farms struggling due to loss of power and water, hundreds of animals have been evacuated from destroyed areas and relocated to various animal shelters across the east coast - or placed in foster homes.

Shelters like Brother Wolf and Furry Friends Jupiter were completely devastated by the hurricane whereas many other rescues, like True & Faithful Pet Rescue Mission, have to undergo extensive cleanup and construction. Esther Neonatal Kitten Alliance (in Asheville, North Carolina), was hit extremely hard and left without power, water, and essential kittens supplies.

Although it sounds fun (and rewarding) to be around animals all day, working/volunteering at an animal rescue is hard - mentally, emotionally and physically. Staff and volunteers see the abused, neglected, and abandoned. Rescues are always in need of supplies to keep their animals safe, healthy and happy. And behind the scenes, rescues spend a lot of money providing care (and safe living conditions) for the homeless animal population. When an animal is abandoned, surrendered, or found, the rescue takes full responsibility for caring for that animal - which means paying for vaccines, neuter/spay, dental, emergency surgeries, transportation (ex. to another shelter), grooming, etc. to get/keep that animal in good health. Roughly 6.5 million animals enter shelters each year but only 3.2 million are adopted. (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals).

Monetary donations are the lifeblood of rescues.

The ultimate goal for every rescue is to find a loving forever home for these deserving animals but without the generous and ongoing support of the public, rescues can not function. Shelters require monetary support for veterinary care, maintenance of facilities, food, vaccines, emergency surgeries, transport and so much more.

Now, more than ever before, pet adoptions and fosters are urgently needed to help free up space and resources for animals displaced from Hurricane-ravaged areas. Many shelters are at max capacity, which means turning away homeless pets with nowhere to go or having to euthanize adoptable animals to create space.

To help the animal rescues impacted by Hurricane Helene and Milton, you can show your love for the mountains or ocean, coffee and animals by purchasing a one-of-a- kind long sleeve shirt. And with every purchase, our small business will donate 100% of the net proceeds to rescues, sanctuaries and shelters impacted by Hurricane Helene and Milton.

You can also make a monetary donation (with or without a shirt) and 100% of your donation will go to rescues, sanctuaries and shelters impacted by Hurricane Helene and Milton.

Shirts are designed by the incredible artistic mind, Heidi Hogan at Creative Mile.
Shirts are produced by Graphic Cow, a custom apparel screen printing company in our town of Greenville, SC.

Orders will be accepted until October 18th, 2024 at 12pm. Estimated shipping is the week of November 4th, 2024.

Monetary donations will be accepted until November 4th, 2024.

In late November, a social media/blog post (and in our weekly newsletter) will share how much money was raised, how many shirts were ordered and which rescues received the donations (and how much). Currently there are many rescues that are struggling after the Hurricane. Our goal is to provide donations to those who need it the most.

Thank you for your support and for helping animal rescues!
-Marni