When Dana DeMasters first heard about Hurricane Debby and the potential threat it posed to the area, she immediately started making preparations to ensure the safety of animals at Tri-County Animal Shelter.
The animal shelter in Chowan County has had flooding concerns in the past, so she wasn’t taking any chances.
“We want to ensure our animals’ and staff’s safety,” said DeMasters, who is shelter director at Tri-County.
DeMasters contacted the Portsmouth Humane Society in Portsmouth, Virginia. The agency was able to take all 26 animals — dogs, cats and one rabbit — at Tri-County.
Even though the storm is now long gone, the animals will remain at the Portsmouth facility, DeMasters said. The agency has already found homes for some of them, she said.
“These partnerships with other organizations are what makes it possible to save animals,” said DeMasters.
DeMasters has been the director at Tri-County Animal Shelter for the last three years. She previously held the position from 2013-18.