Hundreds of dogs and cats are being rescued from Hurricane Dorian. Here's how to help

Grace Hauck, USA TODAY

As Hurricane Dorian continues its march along the East Coast, disaster response groups are evacuating homeless animals from shelters in the path of the storm. Many are now up for adoption.

On Tuesday, 191 cats and dogs were airlifted out of South Carolina to Delaware thanks to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Wings of Rescue, a volunteer pilot group. The animals were moved from shelters at risk of flooding, which also made space for local pets affected by the storm, the SPCA said.

The Brandywine Valley SPCA branch in Delaware has been a central point for the rescue operations: On Wednesday, it received 122 animals from Jasper County, South Carolina, and 45 animals from the Outer Banks, North Carolina, via land transport from Best Friends Animal Society.

The animals are being taken to shelters across the Northeast and prepared for adoption.

The Humane Society of the United States has also coordinated several large animal evacuations. The organization airlifted about 80 cats and dogs out of three animal shelters in Florida and transported about 150 cats and dogs from two shelters in South Carolina, according to public information officer Kirsten Peek.

The animals were relocated to shelters in Michigan, North Carolina and the Chicago area.

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In the Bahamas, where the death toll from Hurricane Dorian's strike on the archipelago has risen to 20, several national and international organizations have teamed up to coordinate animal relief efforts, according to a post by the Bahamas Humane Society.

A shelter run by the Humane Society of Grand Bahama sustained severe damage, but at least 74 dogs and 77 cats survived the storm, the HSGB said in a Facebook post Thursday.

"Please pray for the animals and for the staff as 5 of the shelter workers lost their homes," the HSGB said in the post.

The shelter is continuing to pursue search efforts and reuniting animals with owners who boarded their pets at the shelter during the storm.

Here's how you can help:

Adopt

When you adopt a local pet or an animal evacuated from the hurricane zone, you're not just giving your pet a new home – you're also making room in the shelter for another animal.

"We have amazing success in adopting out the animals that we transport out of affected areas," said Dr. Dick Green, senior director of ASPCA Disaster Response. "Communities across the country want to help people and pets impacted by devastating storms and, typically, we see animals get adopted more quickly in their new shelter than if they had stayed in their own community."

These U.S. shelters are housing animals evacuated from affected areas and preparing them for adoption:

Abby Smith of the Chicago-based Felines & Canines adoption center said her first batch of cats arrived Thursday morning. She was expecting a second batch in the afternoon.

"Come on over and help us help them," Smith said. "We do same-day adoptions and we're open seven days a week!"

Smith said she planned to take in 30 to 40 cats this week. An 18-year veteran of animal rescue operations, Smith also took in 50 cats after Katrina.

In the Bahamas, adoptions are open at the Bahamas Humane Society.

"I just brought my first Nassau dog home from here today. The BHS is a SUPER place, well-run, knowledgeable, friendly and amazingly unstressed. I will be helping out when I can ... they deserve support!" Mace Marx posted on the organization's Facebook page.

The Humane Society of Grand Bahama was not immediately able to confirm whether adoptions were underway.

Donate or volunteer

The Brandywine Valley SPCA is accepting financial donations to support the feeding, boarding and care of its animals. Supporters can also donate supplies by purchasing an item from the organization's Amazon Wish List.

The Humane Society of the United States is accepting financial donations through the organization's Emergency Animal Rescue Fund.

In the Bahamas, the HSGB has recommended making financial donations to two sites that directly benefit the organization.

"Many people have asked how they can help and, right now, the best way is to donate either through the GoFundMe Page for 'Save The Potcakes Bahamas' by Jacque Petrone ... (this is our only sanctioned GoFundMe) or through the Kohn Foundation," the HSBG said in a Facebook post Tuesday.

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While the BHS said Wednesday that it had not yet identified whether its specific needs would include modes of transportation, supplies or animal care volunteers, it is encouraging interested parties to reach out.

"If you or someone you know would like to donate supplies or your time to this relief effort please email doriananimalrelief@gmail.com with the subject of 'Volunteer'," the BHS said in the post.

In a disaster zone and need pet help? Here's how

U.S.: The ASPCA has mobilized a team of responders to provide on-the-ground support at an emergency shelter in North Carolina for residents and their pets, and they're on standby to provide additional assistance as needed.

For those headed to emergency shelters, BringFido.com put together a list of pet-friendly shelters in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina.

Animal rescue organization Red Rover collected a list of available animal emergency shelters and resources in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina.

You can also search for your local animal care agency online at Adopt-a-Pet.com or Petfinder.com.

Bahamas: The Bahamas Humane Society is encouraging anyone who needs assistance relocating animals from Abaco or Grand Bahama to email doriananimalrelief@gmail.com with the subject "Assistance Needed."

Follow Grace Hauck on Twitter at @grace_hauck.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hurricane Dorian: How to help animals rescued in Bahamas, US