Ben Madilynn
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WSMV) – A North Carolina animal rescue is pleading for support after Hurricane Helene devastated the shelter.
Brother Wolf Animal Rescue in Asheville, North Carolina said they are thankful they were able to evacuate all 150 of their animals to foster homes and all team members have been accounted for after flooding from Helene devastated the area. However, they lost their shelter and all other physical assets in the flooding caused by remnants of Helene.
The Brother Wolf team said they have been operating in a makeshift office with a small team to ensure the safety of animals, but they are fighting obstacles such as “impassable roads, no power, fuel shortages, and extreme communication difficulties.”
As of Friday, the rescue was able to assist in the adoption or transportation of 100 animals to partner shelters from Charlotte, NC, to Massachusetts.
“Brother Wolf Animal Rescue plays a vital role in saving more than 5,400 animals annually, with over 60 percent of these animals coming from rural shelters, which often lack resources and adopters, across the Western North Carolina region,” said Brother Wolf. “The sudden halt in operations threatens not only Asheville but also the surrounding communities that rely on Brother Wolf Animal Rescue’s services for their most vulnerable animals.”
The rescue is launching a donation match campaign that they are crediting to a “compassionate donor” with all contributions being matched dollar for dollar for up to $500,000. The money will be used to establish a temporary headquarters and go to a new facility in Asheville.
“We are incredibly moved by the community’s response so far,” says Executive Director Leah Craig Chumbley. “But our fight is far from over. We urgently need financial support to rebuild and to continue serving the communities and thousands of animals each year who depend on us.”
Anyone interested in donating can visit www.bwar.org.
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