PAWS Chicago is accepting 21 dogs rescued from a Tennessee shelter in the path of Hurricane Helene

On October 12, 2024By Yukito

When Behn Rudo heard about the devastation 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 is happy to help the shelter in its time of need.

Rudo and fellow volunteer Cyd Kuck began their mission early Wednesday morning. They left Chicago in a van full of supplies for the Appalachian Highlands Humane Society in Johnson City, Tennessee, more than 900 miles south of Chicago.

Once they arrived, they unloaded their donations and loaded the dogs into the van before heading back home.

“They are in desperate need,” said Rudo, 58. “They showed us great gratitude, and the people there now have their feet firmly on the ground. They are focused on rescuing animals displaced by the hurricane.”

A PAWS Chicago employee comforts Jolene, a dog who was rescued from the hurricane that devastated the Appalachian Highlands Humane Society in Johnson City, Tennessee, before being treated at PAWS Chicago Nan & Wayne Kocourek Medical Center at 3516 W. 26th St. in Little Neighborhood Village, Thursday, October 10, 2024 | Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times — A PAWS Chicago employee comforts Jolene, a dog rescued from Johnson City, Tennessee, which was hit hard by Hurricane Helene.

PAWS Chicago contacted a shelter that was in the path of Hurricane Helene and volunteered to take in dogs already in the shelter to make room for their rescue efforts.

The missions help provide relief to local shelters and give them the opportunity to focus on reuniting displaced animals with their families, said Susanna Wickham, CEO of PAWS Chicago. “We have facilities and space where we can take in animals in the event of a natural disaster.”

Although he needs a nap first, Rudo said he’s ready for his next mission.

“I have free time and there is always a need,” Rudo said. “It’s hard to find people who would agree to a two- or even four-day trip. Cyd and I have traveled a lot together and it helps the community. It was a truly uplifting mission, and we even had people along the way who saw us at the rest stops and gave us donations.”

Rudo and Kuck arrived at PAWS Chicago Medical Center on Thursday afternoon with a van full of dogs that will soon be up for adoption.

PAWS Chicago volunteers and staff trial dogs rescued from hurricane-damaged Appalachian Highlands Humane Society in Johnson City, Tennessee at PAWS Chicago Nan & Wayne Kocourek Medical Center at 3516 W. 26th St. in the Little Village neighborhood, Thursday, October 10, 2024. | Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times — PAWS Chicago volunteers and staff rescued Tennessee trial dogs on Thursday at PAWS Chicago Nan & Wayne Kocourek Medical Center in Little Village.

All 21 dogs – including Jolene and her six 4-week-old puppies – will receive medical care and be placed in foster homes until they are ready for adoption.

Jolene and her puppies were originally at a shelter in Erwin, Tennessee, which was destroyed in a hurricane and was taken in by the Appalachian Highlands Humane Society.

“We have already had a great response from our foster community,” Wickham said. “They are ready to accept these puppies. However, if more people sign up for foster care, it will mean we can save even more animals from disaster-affected areas.”

Wickham said PAWS Chicago is in contact with the Florida shelter, which is in the path of Hurricane Milton, and is preparing for the possibility of another rescue mission this weekend – this time involving cats.