LIVE OAK, FL (WALB) - There is an animal crisis in north Florida caused by Tropical Storm Debby, and volunteers from south Georgia are working practically non-stop to solve it.
They're helping feed livestock stranded by flood water and rescue pets displaced or left behind because of flooding.
Chet Powell and the Georgia Wildlife Rescue Association have not stopped moving for several days. "People need to remember that our main goal is to save wildlife, but we will go wherever we are needed," said Powell.
Folks throughout South Georgia and North Florida have asked Powell for his organization's assistance.
Wednesday afternoon Powell and the Suwannee County Sheriff's Office brought feed to folks with stranded animals. "This home where we are right now, unfortunately yesterday afternoon I believe or during the night, they lost several farm animals. Some goats. They drowned."
Raising chickens is a common practice in Live Oak, but the heavy rains washed much that business away. "It's a big business. There are people who lost whole poultry houses full of chickens because the water has risen in the chicken house," said Suwannee County Sheriff Tony Cameron.
The Georgia Wildlife Rescue Association is 100 percent non-profit and depends on donations to survive.
"Since I've been here I got a call from some people in Gainesville, Florida who wanted to support us financially because we came down to do this and we're using funds to do it," said Powell.
Animal Control Officers in Live Oak have also rescued nearly a hundred dogs and cats whose owners were forced to leave them behind.
For more information or to donate please visit http://www.georgiawildliferescue.org/.
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