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When Behn Rudo heard about the destruction caused by Hurricane Helene, he immediately volunteered for a two-day mission to rescue 21 dogs from a shelter in Tennessee.
Rudo, who lives in Uptown, has been volunteering at PAWS Chicago for more than 12 years and said he was happy to help a shelter in need.
Rudo and fellow volunteer Cyd Kuck began their mission Wednesday morning. They left Chicago with a van full of supplies for the Appalachian Highlands Humane Society in Johnson City, Tennessee, more than 600 miles south of Chicago.
A PAWS Chicago staff member comforts Jolene, a dog who was rescued from Johnson City, Tennessee, which was hit hard by Hurricane Helene.
Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times
When they arrived, they unloaded their donations and loaded the van again with the dogs before making the trip home.
“They are in a desperate situation,” said Rudo, 58. “They were very grateful and the people there are very hands-on right now. “They are focusing on rescuing animals displaced by the hurricane.”
PAWS Chicago volunteers and staff process dogs rescued from Tennessee Thursday at PAWS Chicago Nan & Wayne Kocourek Medical Center in Little Village.
Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times
The 21 dogs, including Jolene and her six 4-week-old puppies, will receive medical care and be rehomed to welcoming homes until they are ready to be adopted.
Jolene and her puppies were originally in a shelter in Erwin, Tennessee, which was destroyed during the hurricane, and were taken in by the Appalachian Highlands Humane Society.
“We have already received a great welcoming response from our community,” Wickham said. “They are ready to receive these puppies. But if more people are willing to sign up to foster them, that means we can rescue even more animals from those disaster areas.”
Wickham said that PAWS Chicago is in contact with a shelter in Florida that is in the path of Hurricane Milton and is preparing for the possibility of another rescue mission this weekend, which would include cats.
Translated by Gisela Orozco for The Voice Chicago
