Photos from Madison County show a rural animal shelter scrambling to protect dozens of pets housed in outdoor kennels as Hurricane Helene approaches.

With flooding already underway, the shelter raised a desperate alarm, prompting a handful of local animal rescues in both Palm Beach County and up the Treasure Coast to respond.

“We got an email just a few days ago stating that there was some desperate need for shelters up in that area to evacuate their dogs because their dogs were in outside kennels that were already being flooded by previous storms,” said Sarah Fisher, communications manager with the Humane Society of the Treasure Coast.

The Humane Society of the Treasure Coast took in three furry evacuees, while Peggy Adams Animal Rescue in West Palm Beach welcomed twelve.

“There was a serious concern about flooding and just flying debris, and so we needed to get these dogs out,” said Jane Tomsich, Director of Operations with Peggy Adams Animal Rescue.

It’s not just dogs that are being evacuated; Peggy Adams is also expecting over a dozen cats from another shelter in the Panhandle.

While these animals are safe for now, the challenge is far from over. Both shelters were already at capacity before the storm.

“It’s just been getting worse and worse. And it’s not just our shelter,” Fisher said.

“We are super full. We really don’t have a lot of space to put these dogs. Actually, bringing them in has put us over capacity,” Tomsich said.

Both shelters are urgently seeking foster homes for anyone who can open their doors, even for a short time.

If you can help, whether by fostering or donating, these shelters are asking you to step up as they continue to take in animals displaced by the storm.