SPCA Albrecht Center in Aiken caring for cat evacuees from Southwest Florida

Dede Biles, Aiken Standard, S.C.
·2 min read
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Sep. 29—Eleven cats are at SPCA Albrecht Center for Animal Welfare in Aiken waiting to find forever homes after being evacuated from Southwest Florida.

They were among the 80 cats and kittens the Charleston Animal Society rescued from the Humane Society in Naples and Collier County Domestic Animal Services, according to a news release.

The evacuees left that part of the Sunshine State before Hurricane Ian made landfall Wednesday as a devastating Category 4 Hurricane.

All were already available for adoption at their shelters.

"Right now, I'm processing their paperwork; and then as I'm getting it (the information) into our system, I'm moving them out onto our adoption floor," Albrecht Center's Shelter Manager Sybil Altman said on Thursday.

Originally, the Albrecht Center received 16 evacuated cats, but five were transferred to the care of the Greenwood Humane Society.

In addition to the Albrecht Center and the Greenwood Humane Society, the news release, which was issued by the Charleston Animal Society, listed several other shelter operators in Greenville, Oconee County and other South Carolina locations as supporters of the evacuation effort.

"We do what we can to help out whenever it is needed," Altman said.

She added that the Albrecht Center had agreed to accept up to five dogs evacuated from Florida "if necessary."

Said Samaria Fenner, the Albrecht Center's director of marketing and fundraising: "We're super glad they (the Charleston Animal Society) reached out to us."

The Charleston Animal Society is in touch with other Sunshine State shelters through the Florida Association of Animal Welfare Organizations and offering to provide further assistance, according to the release.

In addition, at the Bissell Pet Foundation's request, the Charleston Animal Society is helping out with dogs that were evacuated from Citrus County in Florida, the release stated.

For more information about the Albrecht Center, located at 199 Willow Run Road, visit letlovelive.org.