Evacuating for Hurricane Florence? Some NC shelters will welcome your pets

If you are evacuating your home to escape Hurricane Florence, or perhaps a loved one or friend from the eastern part of North Carolina is hoping to get out its path, you may be concerned about what to do about your fur family.

Our pets are as much a part of our families as the humans who share our walls, so it's understandable that you want to keep them safe during the storm.

According to Purina, neither veterinarians nor animal behaviorists can agree what part of a storm causes pets the most stress. Needless to say, though, the triggers – whether it being loud noises, flashing lights or something else – will run the gamut when Florence nears.

Keeping in mind our pets are our family, if you evacuate ahead of the hurricane, it is important to remember to take your pets with you.

"If it isn't safe for you, it isn't safe for your pets," the Humane Society of the United States insists. "You have no way of knowing how long you'll be kept out of the area, and you may not be able – or allowed – to go back for your pets. Pets left behind in a disaster can easily be injured, lost or killed."

Just as a number of counties are offering refuge from the storm, many shelters also offer solutions for keeping our furry family safe. Nearly three-dozen shelters offer pet-friendly sanctuary from Florence, while many other counties will help you find a safe shelter to keep your pet.

County-by-county storm information

Alamance, Beaufort, Edgecombe, Franklin, Guilford, Martin, Orange, Pitt and Sampson all offer alternative solutions to the general population shelters opened for the storm.

Shelters require pet owners to provide proof of ownership, a current rabies vaccination and shot records. Pet owners should also bring bedding, a kennel, bowls, medicine, and enough food for several days for their fur family.

Most shelters also require that pet owners to stay at a general-population shelter in the county, meaning if you choose to stay at home, keep your pets with you.

If you are planning to stay at The Lamb's Chapel in Haw River in Alamance County, staff from Burlington Animal Shelter will be on hand to take your pets to the shelter until a time when you can safely pick them up after the storm.

In Beaufort, evacuees can board their pets at Beaufort County Animal Control. Proof of rabies vaccination is required; otherwise, pet owners will need to pay $10 for their pet to be vaccinated.

Edgecombe County is offering an animal shelter at 2906 Anaconda Road in Tarboro.

While the Louisburg Senior Center in Franklin County will not allow pets, the Franklin County Animal shelter is open to pets of Franklin County citizens who need to evacuate their homes during the storm.

In Guilford County, Animal Services will be available at the Glenwood Recreation Center to assist those who have pets.

Residents of Martin County who have domestic animals (read: dogs and cats) and are evacuating to the Riverside Middle School shelter can take their animals to the Martin Community College horse arena at 1161 Kehukee Park Road in Williamston.

Service animals for the hearing and visually impaired will be allowed in Orange County shelters. Otherwise, Animal Services staff will be on hand to board pets in the best manner possible.

In Pitt County, pets and other non-service animals are not permitted in general population shelters. However, emergency animal sheltering options will be available through the Pitt County Animal Shelter located at 4550 County Home Road in Greenville.

And in Sampson County, a pet shelter is available at Livestock Arena, located at 93 Agriculture Place in Clinton. The shelter is only available to residents staying in a general population shelter, and pets must be picked up from the shelter within three hours after the general population shelters close.

Below is a list of general-population shelters that have been designated as pet-friendly.

Windsor, NC 27983

Bladenboro, NC 28320

Southport, NC 28461

Leland, NC 28451

Shallotte, NC 28470

Pittsboro, NC 27312

Tyner, NC 27980

New Bern, NC 28562

Fayetteville, NC 28311

Fayetteville, NC 28304

Hope Mills, NC 28348

Warsaw, NC 28398

Durham, NC 27707

Snow Hill, NC 28580

Weldon, NC 27890

Raeford, NC 28376

Benson, NC 27504

Sanford, NC 27332

Kinston, NC 28501

Charlotte, NC 28277

Charlotte, NC 28212

Huntersville, NC 28078

Charlotte, NC 28273

Charlotte, NC 28210

Carthage, NC 28327

Rocky Mount, NC 27804

St. Pauls, NC 28384

Garner, NC 27529

Raleigh, NC 27610

Wilson, NC 27893