NORMAL — As Hurricane Debby made its way across the southeastern U.S. last week, animal shelters needed to empty kennels of any current residents to make room for any strays or missing pets left unhoused by the storm.
So when Mandy Hawker, operations manager of the Humane Society of Central Illinois, was asked to take in around a dozen dogs, she said she was more than happy to oblige. Andrew Childers, left, and Mandy Hawker welcome Charlie, right, on Wednesday as the Humane Society of Central Illinois welcomes 12 new shelter dogs displaced from South Carolina. "I take who I can when I can," she said.
"I'll take any dogs. I don't have a set breed or age restriction." Hawker and her staff were on hand Wednesday at HSCI in Normal to welcome their new residents.
A dog shakes off the rust after arriving in Normal Wednesday as the Humane Society of Central Illinois welcomes 12 new shelter dogs displaced from South Carolina. A Rescue Riders Pet Transport van from South Carolina arrived just before noon with 12 good boys and girls ranging from a few months to 11 years old. "We normally only take in three or four (dogs) at a time in a week, every one to two weeks .
.. taking in (12) is not common at all," Hawker said.
James Kuliko, right, drove the Rescue Riders Pet Transport van from South Carolina to the Humane Society of Central Illinois. Originally, they planned for 16 new arrivals, but two did not pass veterinarian checks and two could not make transport, so they had to settle f.