YARMOUTH PORT – Local Cape Codders are heading to the area hit hardest by Hurricane Irma to help animals deserted by the storm.
Lindsey and Derek Malouin, the owners of Paws Dream Doggie Daycare in Yarmouth Port, have traveled to Antigua and Barbuda to spend a week working with the group Dogs and Cats of Antigua.
The island of Barbuda saw 95 percent of its infrastructure decimated by the powerful category five hurricane earlier this month.
“All the people on the island of Barbuda were evacuated leaving behind all of their animals, their livestock and it’s just really sad that they’ve been over there trying to fend for themselves the best way they can,” Lindsey said.
The priority of the animal rescuers, who have been granted permission by the government to travel to the island, is to find the owners of as many of the animals as possible.
“Once that is determined that they are owned we want to get everyone safe, healthy and the vet treatment that they need,” Lindsey said. “And any animals that are not owned we want to get them to the vet and start a rehoming process to get them adopted.”
Lindsey and her husband are passionate about animal rescue work and regularly help with efforts across the country and internationally.
“We believe that animal rescue has no boundaries or borders,” she said.
Lindsey spent a lot of time vacationing to Antigua and Barbuda as a child and said the area is very close to her heart.
Dogs and Cats of Antigua is a non-profit organization that relies solely on donations.
“Some organizations you don’t know where all of your money goes to but this is one that 100 percent of any donation goes right to the animals, which is wonderful,” she said.
Paws Dream Doggie Daycare was the first dog daycare to open on Cape Cod back in 2004. The business was originally in Hyannis and then moved to Yarmouth Port in 2010.
By BRIAN MERCHANT, CapeCod.com NewsCenter
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