Nesconset’s Paws of War rescues puppies orphaned by Hurricane Helene

Paws of War has been at the forefront of rescue and relief efforts in the devastated town of Asheville, North Carolina, in recent weeks, providing crucial help to hundreds of animals and people affected by Hurricane Helene.

Now, the animal welfare organization is looking to find homes for four puppies that volunteers rescued after the storm. The four-month-old Shepherd mixes — named Nova, Capone, Latte and Cramer — have been brought to the organization’s headquarters in Nesconset, where they be cared for until they can be placed in homes with veterans or first responders in need.

Paws of War volunteers Angelique Williams and Nikki Dawson were part of the rescue efforts in Asheville, delivering first-hand assistance in the affected areas.

Their efforts have included the following tasks:

• Delivering emergency food to animal sanctuaries and groups.
• Conducting welfare checks on at-risk families with pets.
• Distributing supplies to vulnerable senior citizen mobile home communities devastated by the storm.
• Checking on compromised dog/cat daycares and other animal shelters and facilities.

The situation in Asheville was so dire that upon their arrival, the Paws of War rescue team was provided with armed guards for protection in areas susceptible to looting and other threats. The volunteers are continuing their work to rescue animals and individuals threatened by the conditions left behind by Hurricane Helene.

The hurricane’s wide swath of damage between Sept. 26-28 included northwestern Florida, where the storm made landfall; Tennessee, Georgie and North Carolina. The deaths of more than 200 people have been attributed to the storm.

Since 2014, Paws of War has rescued hundreds of cats and dogs, and in turn has provided hundreds of veterans with service and support dogs.