Kenny Chesney Partners for Pet Rescue After Hurricanes Irma and Maria

Dozens of dogs rescued in the aftermath of Hurricanes Irma and Maria arrived at Palm Beach International Airport on Thursday evening (November 16) on a flight from the U.S. Virgin Islands. These dogs will soon be adopted into homes following a harrowing experience this hurricane season, and it’s thanks to a partnership between country music superstar Kenny Chesney and Big Dog Ranch Rescue.

Photo: Pixabay

This season of storms hit everywhere with a fury that seemed like it would never end. From Texas through Louisiana, to Florida, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, rains poured, winds blew, and people and pets were left homeless. This shipment of 100 dogs was coordinated out of the chaos that has occurred in the Virgin Islands, where Chesney owned a home, which was also destroyed in the storm season. Similar to singer Miranda Lambert’s rescue efforts in Texas following Hurricane Harvey, Chesney has a soft-spot for furry, four-legged friends.

Photo: Pexels

His home was located on the island of St. John, in the U.S. Virgin Islands, which for the large part, is still struggling without power, making it difficult for the populace to care for themselves, much less their pets. Many of those ended up in shelters, with conditions that were hard to maintain for the very same reasons. So, to take initiative, Chesney chartered a plane, and with the help of Big Dog Ranch Rescue, he filled it with more than 100 stranded dogs to fly back for adoption. “Our pets are like our family and right now our family is hurting. It’s a struggle for people to survive the conditions and nearly impossible for our dogs and cats so we are working with several groups to do the most we can to sustain life during this difficult time,” said founder and President of Big Dog Ranch Rescue, Lauree Simmons. And, while volunteers worked through the rain that fell when the dogs arrived, bringing some out in crates and others on leashes, plans for their future adoption are being coordinated at shelters in Florida, Virginia, and South Carolina. If you would like to support the pet rescue efforts resulting from Hurricanes Irma and Maria, you can get further details on volunteering or donating through Big Dog Ranch Rescue at the link provided here.