INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR) - Nearly two dozen of dogs from hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico are now in Indianapolis.
The dogs were taken in by Indy Humane as part of rescue effort involving shelters across the country. They arrived at Indianapolis Regional Airport late Monday night.
There were 82 in all. Twenty-three went to Indy Humane, the rest to shelters across Indiana.
Tuesday afternoon found them getting adjusted to their new surroundings.
"He's a little nervous but doing well," Indy Humane executive director Steven Stolen said. "And this one, he looks health, he'll be okay."
It's Indy Humane's fourth "rescue mission” this year. Earlier, they took several dogs from a Korean dog meat farm then, took dogs from Texas and Georgia following hurricanes.
Stolen said the dogs from Puerto Rico are shelter dogs, animals that were lost, abused or surrendered by their owners and had been put up for adoption.
"We want to make room for animals found on street (following Hurricane Maria) so those dogs can be reconnected with their owners," he said.
Tuesday, they were being fed and settling in. Soon, they'll undergo medical, temperament and behavioral evaluations before being put up for adoption.
"I really think it's special what (Indy Humane) is doing for the animals and their owners,” said Paige Rauschuber, checking out dogs at the shelter.
Nicole Hunt and her two young daughters spent some time watching the dogs through the glass.
"He's cute and looks so soft,” said Lydia Hunt.
She was also aware of their long journey here.
"They're scared because they were in a hurricane in Puerto Rico, which is really far away," she said.
"I think it's fabulous indiana and Indy Humane are taking a chance and giving these dogs a chance,” Nicole said.
Stolen said he knows some people may ask, 'why take in dogs from so far away when many shelters here are packed.'.
"Someone has to do the work and this is what we do,” Stolen said. “It's not so much we are doing something this instead of something else. We are doing this in response to a need and we're doing this right in the flow of everything else we do."
Stolen said the dogs will be put up for adoption when they're ready, which he hopes is soon.