WPHS Helping Dogs Displaced By Tennessee Tornado

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - A tornado tore through Athens, Tennessee in late November. While people struggled in the aftermath, animal shelters also became overwhelmed.

That's where the Western Pennsylvania Humane Society stepped in.

"The Western PA Humane Society has a partnership with the ASPCA and we bring up dogs from the south, where there's a lot of population, and they're victims of different tragedies and it's harder to get them adopted," Dara Metzger said.

Since the partnership over the summer, dogs who may have otherwise been euthanized were brought here. Because of the tornado and overpopulation in shelters, almost two dozen dogs took the eight-hour journey to Pittsburgh.

"We're getting 19 dogs today. I'm not really sure on their conditions. Most are up to date on their vaccinations, their heart worm testing," Metzger said. "We'll triage them. See if there's any medical issues they need to be treated for and then hopefully they'll be available for adoption."

One of the benefits to being at the Humane Society is that they're here until someone takes them home.

"If they're in good health and they're behaviorally sound, they'll be made available for adoption. There's no time limit or anything. They'll stay in the shelter until they find their forever home."

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