LAUREL COUNTY, Ky. (WYMT) – Homes throughout Laurel County are leveled, families are displaced, and pets are without their owners after Saturday’s storms.
Crews say they are now transitioning into searching for pets that were displaced during the storms.
Charlie Golden, founder of GB Rescue, said just as humans, every animal reacts different during a storm.
“So some dogs will run, some dogs will find their den and lay down,” Golden said.
Human rescue and relief has been a priority to many crews and teams. Now that survivors are receiving help and some things seem to be settling down, rescue crews say they will now begin searching for pets.
GB Rescue has saved three pets as of Wednesday, May 21 and they will continue to search.
“A pet to someone means as much as a loved one,” Golden said. “So you know, treat it as such. Even if you don’t have pets, understand that this pet means everything to this person. And having the opportunity to have them back in their lives means everything to someone.”
GB Rescue uses high tech drones with thermal imaging and night vision, if needed. This allows crews to keep eyes on a lost pet, so they can strategically capture it without scaring it, more than it is already.
Along with crews searching for pets, local clinics and shelters are doing what they can to assist to both human and pet survivors.
Corbin Animal Clinic was at the airport assisting those who have found a stray, and giving pets free vaccinations and microchips on Wednesday.
“There is all these animals that nobody has no idea who it belongs to,” Ashley Osborne, vet tech at Corbin Animal Clinic said. “So we are checking microchips to see if anybody finds anything, and we are also microchipping for free so if anything like this happens in the future, then we are covered.”
Both clinic and rescue team officials say if you see a stray animal, do not approach it, but report it.
Report stray animals to your local animal shelter, or call (603)-661-0312.
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