POLK COUNTY, Fla. — Nearly 80 pets went missing during Hurricane Milton in Florida's Polk County alone, the county sheriff's office said.
The office's animal control division is searching for the owners of 44 dogs and 32 cats that were found during the hurricane and is trying to reunite the animals with their owners.
“Only two of the over 76 animals found wandering during the hurricane have microchips," Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said.
"We would like to encourage all pet owners to please microchip your pets. This helps our amazing Animal Control staff quickly and easily identify owners of lost pets, so we can promptly return your pets to you if they are lost.”
Any county resident who lost their pet during Milton is asked to stop by the county's Animal Control Shelter in Winter Haven to check the shelter's records. Owners are asked to stop by the shelter between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays.
The shelter also has 56 dogs and 84 cats ready to be adopted, which weren't found during Milton. The animals were looked after by the Polk County Bully Project, Rescue Pets of Florida, and the Florida Little Dog Rescue during the hurricane. Donations to each of the organizations can be made at their respective websites here:
"We are also appreciative of any donations to our shelter. Donations can be made via our Amazon wish list: https://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/I4E3W42F863T or directly on our website: https://www.polksheriff.org/donate---animal-control," the sheriff said.
