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A 3-year-old cattle dog mix named Hope survived mudslides, a freedom flight, and hurricane season fears, and now she's ready for a family.
Hope is one of 12 dogs the Humane Society of Broward County rescued from a shelter on the island of Dominica after severe rain and mudslides wiped out the road to the facility. More than 100 animals were flown to shelters across the United States, some in Florida, some in the Northeast, in what organizers called a "freedom flight."
"Hope has quite an interesting story," Cherie Wachter, VP of Marketing with the Humane Society of Broward County, said. "We recently helped a shelter on the island of Dominica with some dogs. We took 12 of them. Some of them have been adopted already, but Hope is still waiting."
The timing of the rescue was urgent. With hurricane season underway, the island's wooden shelter structures posed a serious risk.
"Their shelters are made of wood, and they would never have withstood the winds of a hurricane," Wachter said. "So we're happy to help."
Hope is described as sweet, outgoing, and curious — but like many of the island dogs brought to South Florida, she is still adjusting to life in a new environment.
"A lot of these dogs are island dogs," Wachter said.
"They've been given lots of TLC, but they don't know the sounds of a television. They love the air conditioning. Riding in a car is a whole new experience for them. And for some of them, walking on a leash is a new experience also."
Wachter said prospective adopters should come prepared with patience.
"Whoever adopts Hope or any of the other pets that we have, time and patience will suit them best," she said.
With summer heat intensifying across South Florida, Wachter also offered a reminder to all pet owners about keeping animals safe in high temperatures.
"Make sure your pets don't take them for walks in the middle of the day when it's the hottest," Wachter said. "Go in the early morning or late evening when it's much cooler."
Those interested in adopting Hope or learning more about other available pets can visit the Humane Society of Broward County's website, humanebroward.com, and complete a pre-adoption application.
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