Potter League takes in dogs from Puerto Rico

MIDDLETOWN, R.I. (WJAR) — Hurricane Maria left Puerto Rico in a humanitarian crisis, but it's not just the people in need of help.

About 350,000 animals can be found on the island, and they are also in need of homes.

The Potter League for Animals in Middletown received 10 dogs from Puerto Rico that arrived late Tuesday night.

Under the law, the dogs need to be quarantined for at least five days and looked at by a veterinarian before they can be put up for adoption.

The animals are used to depending on people and they are friendly, but they are shaken from the devastating effects of the storm.

This isn't the Potter League's first rescue mission. The organization also took in animals from Houston displaced by Hurricane Harvey after working with the Humane Society of the United States and their emergency placement partner program.

"These are dogs that were in shelters and rescues before the storm hit. Some of those facilities have been destroyed," said Brad Shear, executive director of the Potter League. "These aren't people's pets that have been separated from them. They were in the possession of these other groups before the storm hit, but logistics of Puerto Rico, getting them out before the storm hit, are really very challenging."

Shears' hope is that they can hold these animals for the mandatory five days and then find homes for as many as possible so they can continue to get more dogs.

The dogs from Puerto Rico are being flown into New Jersey and driven to shelters that can accommodate them.