Hempstead Animal Shelter Assisting Pets Displaced By Sandy

With many residents along Nassau County’s South Shore devastated by the impact from Superstorm Sandy in late October, the Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter has seen a large increase in pets that have entered the Wantagh facility due to their owners being displaced.

Hempstead Town Press Secretary Susan Trenkle-Pokalsky said from Oct. 28 to Dec. 5, 390 animals were taken into the shelter on 3320 Beltagh Ave. in Wantagh compared to 230 in roughly the same period last year.

As a way of assisting area residents harmed by the Oct. 29 storm, the animal shelter is waiving all adoption fees for pets until Jan. 19. 

“So many of these animals were living in the homes of loving families until Hurricane Sandy hit our township, destroying homes and forcing some residents to relocate,” said Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter Director Cynthia Iacopella in a statement.

“The Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter is doing everything possible to help these wonderful animals find loving homes where tails can wag once again.”

Trenkle-Pokalsky said to help Sandy victims who are unable to find temporary housing that allow pets, the town is referring them to a Nassau County-run pet shelter on 241 Miller Ave. in Garden City.

She said donations are always welcome but the town is urging people instead to donate to local shelters who incurred significant damage from the superstorm such as Bobbi and the Strays in Freeport.

Story by Andrew Coen.