An animal shelter in the path of Hurricane Florence has warned it will euthanize animals if it can’t find people to adopt them before the storm hits. Jewel Horton, manager of Pender County Animal Shelter in North Carolina, said on Wednesday that local government-run animal shelters were filling up fast and that those that hit capacity must “make space”. This means putting down animals to reduce overcrowding. “We are avoiding euthanasia at all costs,” Ms Horton said. “That's why we're begging for assistance.” Organisations such as the Pender County Humane Society are helping to facilitate adoption and are working to clear space in the shelter without having to sacrifice any animals. “For us, animals are more important than things,” said Julie Lamacchia, who is president of the Burgaw, North Carolina-based Humane Society. “Things can be replaced - anything can be replaced - but you can never replace a life, whether it's a person or an animal.” Killing animals is the last thing the shelter staff want to do, Ms Horton said. Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast Show all 20 1 /20 Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast Barmen protect their business from the storm and the opportunists Getty Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast Many supplies have run out as Hurricane Florence approaches in Nichols, South Carolina AP Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast Hurricane Florence seen from space on September 12 AP Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast Students of East Carolina University's Coastal Storms class use anemometers to measure wind speeds at Union Point Park in New Bern, North Carolina AP Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast Rescue workers are on the scene in James City, North Carolina Getty Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast Sixteen hours before Florence even hits land, the Neuse River bursts its banks and floods New Bern, North Carolina Alamy Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast Volunteer rescue workers help three children out of their flooded home in James City, North Carolina Getty Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast A boardwalk is damaged in Atlantic Beach on North Carolina's coast Getty Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast Union Point Park in New Bern is closed Reuters Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast A child sits in Conway High School, which is being used as an evacuation centre in South Carolina AFP/Getty Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast Locals voice their disapproval of the storm in Atlantic Beach, North Carolina Getty Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast Volunteer rescue workers help children from their flooded home in James City Getty Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast A man floats down his street in a metal tub after the Neuse River burst its banks in New Bern, North Carolina Getty Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast Electric lines are affected in Wilmington, North Carolina Alamy Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast Floods in New Bern, North Carolina as Florence approaches Alamy Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast Waves crash over a pier on Atlantic Beach in North Carolina as Hurricane Florence approaches AP Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast Hurricane Florence is seen from the International Space Station as it churns in the Atlantic Ocean towards the east coast of the US NASA/Reuters Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast This NOAA/RAMMB satellite image taken on September 10, 2018, shows Hurricane Florence off the US' east coast in the Atantic Ocean AFP/Getty Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast In this NOAA satellite handout image, Hurricane Florence is shown travelling west and gaining strength in the Atlantic Ocean southeast of Bermuda on September 10, 2018 Getty Hurricane Florence hits the US East Coast Firefighters rescue people by boat in New Bern, North Carolina Getty Usually, when the shelter in the town of about 4,100 people nears capacity, she gets the word out and residents respond. Recommended Aquariums forced to abandon fish as Hurricane Florence approaches Even in the days before Hurricane Matthew in 2016, Ms Horton was able to find enough homes for the shelter's animals. But Matthew didn't hit North Carolina head on. “People are fleeing this state like no tomorrow,” Ms Horton said. “There's just not people here to take these animals on.” And as more residents leave under mandatory evacuation orders, the county shelter expects their cages to get more crowded. Ms Horton said she's bound by law to accept every animal that comes through her doors. It's important they clear out as many animals as possible now, before the storm hits, because once it does, Horton expects her shelter to get way more cramped. “When we start hitting recovery mode, space is going to be an issue,” she said. “Getting people here to help us is going to be an issue.” What to do with pets in a storm is a perennial question, challenging owners, activists and officials every hurricane season. Last week, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, on Twitter, encouraged residents to consider their pets in their disaster preparations. “Make a plan and practice it with them,” the agency encouraged. Organisations such as the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Humane Society of the United States have become more aggressive about responding to disasters, especially after Hurricane Katrina. One poll after the devastating 2006 storm found that 44 percent of people who chose not to evacuate did so because they didn't want to leave their pets behind. But still, plenty of animals were abandoned - more than 100,000, according to the Louisiana SPCA. As many as 70,000 died throughout the Gulf Coast. On Tuesday, the ASPCA issued a plea to pet owners, asking them to evacuate their animals, too, and gave them instructions for doing so. “We can't stress enough how important it is to incorporate pets into evacuation plans to keep families together and pets safe,” Dick Green, head of the ASPCA's disaster response unit, said in the statement. In a separate statement, Mr Green encouraged animal shelters to plan ahead, too. “It's imperative that animal shelters take proactive, necessary measures, and collaborate with other agencies if necessary to keep the animals in their care safe during emergency situations,” he said. The ASPCA and other groups are on the ground in the Carolinas, assisting with local animal relocation efforts. In Pender County and other areas, animal lovers have used social media and word of mouth to try to pull off a large-scale pet rescue. Samira Davis, a Wilmington resident, volunteered on Monday to help the Pender County Humane Society coordinate animal relocation. She said they've done a good job - for now. “We've probably saved between 30 and 50 animals, but there are about to be so many more in need,” she said. What's more, the local Humane Society is strapped for cash, and Ms Lamacchia worries that Hurricane Florence is going to further sap their resources. “This storm is going to wipe us out,” she said. “If we don't get people to step up and foster and donate, it's really going to limit our efforts.” The Washington Post<doc-sep>One poll after the devastating storm found that 44 percent of people who chose not to evacuate did so because they didn’t want to leave their pets behind. But still, many animals were abandoned — more than 100,000, according to the Louisiana SPCA. As many as 70,000 died throughout the Gulf Coast.<doc-sep>EMBED >More News Videos Rescue crews saved two kitties stuck in a flooded neighborhood ravaged by Hurricane Florence -- and tried to comfort them with pets and kisses. JACKSONVILLE, N.C. (WTVD) -- On Friday, dogs and cats in Jacksonville, North Carolina, were rescued from flooded homes and brought to safety.Live video showed dogs being removed from a boat in the flood waters of Hurricane Florence. Later, the same rescue team saved cats who were stranded near a flooded home.The hurricane made landfall just before 7:30 Friday morning Category 1 storm.<doc-sep>
Rescue workers helped two people and over 100 animals escape from a flooded animal shelter in North Carolina on Friday, one of the happier endings to the havoc being wreaked by tropical storm Florence. Carteret County Humane Society (CCHS), located in the city of Newport, notified Facebook followers early that morning that at least two people along with 43 dogs and about 80 cats were trapped on the top floor of the building. Roughly 15 chickens and roosters were stuck in an area at the back of the facility, but flooding from tropical storm Florence kept staff from reaching them. After being trapped for hours, the Cajun Navy, a volunteer group of private boat owners who assist in search and rescue efforts, helped escort the shelter workers to safety later that evening, and emergency personnel put the animals in large vehicles soon after. More:Florence downgraded to tropical storm, but winds, rain still punishing Carolinas Related:Hurricane Florence: A visual primer The local fire department cut down trees so that some of the roads leading to and from the shelter could be drivable. Prior to the rescue, those trapped were confined to the upper level of CCHS due to rising flood waters. Not only were they standing in at least an inch of water, but part of the roof collapsed during the storm also. "The shelter is old and needed repairs before the storm," manager Cassandra Tupaj wrote in a message. "Also the roof over dog kennels is saturated and not looking like it will hold up the whole storm." Tupaj said the closest safe site is 3 hours away in the city of Standford and roads aren't likely passable. Still, the Carteret County Animal Control Services department confirmed that the situation was under control and that the animals and people were being relocated. The National Weather Service issued a flash flood emergency for the area lasting until 9:00 am Saturday, Sep 15. "The unprecedented rainfall approaching 2 feet in Carteret County is being exasperated by an intense rain band that extends into nearby counties," the NWS posted on Facebook. On Wednesday the shelter posted a Facebook status that reads: "Hey everyone! As we prepare for Florence we ask if anyone is out and about we could use the following items! Purina dog and cat chow, cat litter, and any type of water jugs. Thank you to anyone who can donate, our animals greatly appreciate it!!!!" Follow Dalvin Brown on Twitter: @Dalvin Brown