Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. (October 10, 2024) – Hurricane Helene’s war-like path of devastation across the east coast may have subsided for now, but for hundreds-of-thousands of lives affected in Western North Carolina, the recovery effort is only just beginning. Helene’s wrath, labeled as “one of the deadliest hurricanes to strike the US mainland in the last 50 years,” is years away from becoming a distant memory. In the midst of the deadly storm, bridges, roads, homes and even entire small towns were washed away, leading to a loss of human lives estimated to be in the hundreds and growing. Rescue Ranch, located in Statesville, North Carolina, has become a hub for rescue groups working to assist thousands of animals in critical danger. Helen Woodward Animal Center is donating $50,000 to help with the heroic efforts being made by Rescue Ranch, and 15 additional animal welfare organizations working together to save these lives, to let them know they are not forgotten, and they are not alone.
Rescue Ranch is a 501c3 non-profit animal welfare organization co-founded by Krissie Newman and a board of dedicated animal advocates. Their mission focuses on promoting, through education, respect for all animals, as well as agricultural, environmental, and wildlife conservation, while facilitating rehabilitation, rescue, and responsible pet ownership in order to enhance the human-animal bond. Their 87-acre sanctuary provides permanent residency for more than 80 rescued animals. Additionally, Newman has become synonymous with her efforts to support the community in her unrelenting quest to improve the lives of animals. For these reasons, Rescue Ranch was a natural go-to in the North Carolina community to help guide the gargantuan rescue efforts needed.
On September 28th, even before the full scope of devastation became clear, The ASAR (Animal Search and Rescue – Training and Response) team arrived at Rescue Ranch, utilizing their centralized location in Statesville as a base camp. Teams arrived from Michigan, Colorado, and Kansas, with Newman assuming the role of the local liaison. Each day, these teams leave the ranch, going out on missions to rescue stranded animals (large and small – from horses to dogs and cats), while also collecting donated supplies.
Beginning early in the week, the ASAR team, along with a number of supporting groups, began rescuing horses trapped by debris and high water, and providing much needed resources like food and water. The ASAR team is also assisting Red Dog Farms and Piedmont Animal Rescue, who are housing most of the shelter animals from the impacted areas, in order to make room for strays or lost pets, in hopes they are found by their owners. As of today, more than 200 animals have been airlifted out of the area by the Bissell Pet Foundation and their partner rescues to make room for those lost or found stray after the storm.
“The devastation is unlike anything we’ve ever experienced before,” said Rescue Ranch Executive Director Michelle Hepler. “The loss of human lives and homes means that there are abandoned animals everywhere. Hundreds of them. There is so much work to be done, but we have been joined by such incredible groups and working together, we’re trying to make some headway.”
Rescue Ranch has collaborated with a network of Animal Rescues, Humane Shelters and even local businesses to start a donation drive to support the ASAR team’s response. Rescue Ranch has been, and will continue to be, the donation hub where supplies are received, packaged and routed to various locations throughout the region. The team is working directly with ASAR and ASPCA to get donations of pet food, water, livestock grain, fencing supplies, and hay to all of the affected counties throughout the impacted region, making deliveries of supplies to Madison, Yancy, Avery, McDowell, Buncombe, and Ashe Counties in North Carolina and Grayson County, Virginia. The organization is sending out more than 100,000 lbs. of animal feed and water, and more than 250 bales of hay, all of which has been donated by locals – but has also been brought in by people wanting to help from as far away as Richmond, Virginia.
“Rescue Ranch is a very special group to us,” explained Helen Woodward Animal Center President and CEO Mike Arms. “I met Krissie Newman years ago when she reached out to ask for some assistance creating a Humane Education program similar to the one utilized here at our Center. We’ve been close friends ever since, and our organizations share a cohesive mission. When she reached out for help after Hurricane Helene, the only answer I could give was ‘tell me what you need.’”
The $50,000 gift by Helen Woodward Animal Center to Rescue Ranch is to provide additional supplies, medical care, food or transport costs. Additionally, Helen Woodward Animal Center is standing by to send staff to assist on the ground should the need for more volunteers increase.
“It is truly amazing how everyone has come together to support our community,” said Rescue Ranch founder Newman. “The devastation from Hurricane Helene is heartbreaking, and it will take a very long time for these communities to rebuild. Rescue Ranch is committed to continuing our support and increasing our capacity to be a resource to those in need. Having amazing partners like Helen Woodward Animal Center is such a blessing and will allow us to continue to assist in the rebuild and provide long term support for our shelter community.”
To donate to Rescue Ranch and the Hurricane Helene Relief Efforts, please click HERE.
For more information on Helen Woodward Animal Center, log on to https://animalcenter.org, call 858-756-4117, or visit Helen Woodward Animal Center at 6461 El Apajo Road in Rancho Santa Fe.
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About Helen Woodward Animal Center
Helen Woodward Animal Center is a private, non-profit organization where “people help animals and animals help people.” Founded in 1972 in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., the Center provides services for more than 90,000 people and more than 10,000 animals annually through adoptions, educational and therapeutic programs both onsite and throughout the community. Helen Woodward Animal Center is also the creator of the International Home 4 the Holidays pet adoption drive, the International Remember Me Thursday® campaign and The Business of Saving Lives Workshops, teaching the business of saving lives to animal welfare leaders from around the world. For more information, go to: https://animalcenter.org.
