Animal rescue touches down in Hayward
A plane full of pets evacuated from Florida ahead of Hurricane Irma arrived at Hayward Executive Airport last week in an airlift organized by former Oakland A’s Manager Tony LaRussa's Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF).
One-hundred-sixty-five dogs and cats touched down at about 1:45 p.m. Thursday at the APP Jet Center. They traveled on a plane flown by Wings of Rescue, a Livermore-based charitable group that transports endangered pets to non-kill shelters for eventual adoption into loving homes.
According to the San Jose Mercury News, ARF worked with the Human Society of Broward County to evacuate animals from its Fort Lauderdale, FL, shelter to keep them safe from the approaching hurricane and to make room for new animals expected to be displaced once Irma made landfall in Florida on Sunday. Some of the pets that arrived in Hayward last week originated in Puerto Rico, ravaged earlier in the week by Hurricane Irma.
Upon arrival in Hayward on Thursday, the dogs and cats received health evaluations and then were driven by volunteers to LaRussa’s ARF in Walnut Creek, East Bay SPCA in Oakland and Dublin, and Berkeley Humane, where they are being made available for foster care and adoption.
ARF has been offering free adoptions to make room for the new arrivals. The group also is accepting donations of cash, pet bedding and large crates—and is looking for people who can provide foster care for some of the pets. To get involved, contact ARF directly at (925) 256-1231.
