In Sandy's Aftermath: The Animals Are (Mostly) All Right

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Drenching Cats and Dogs

During a regular heavy storm, the common phrase is that it’s raining cats and dogs.

The high winds and heavy downpour of Hurricane Sandy have caused problems for not only domestic animals, but for elephants and rhinos as well.

Click through the gallery to see how animals in zoos, animal shelters and private homes have fared in this monstrous storm.

Photo: Jorge Lopez/Reuters

Animal Shelters Evacuate

Homeless dogs and cats on the East Coast have new temporary homes as Hurricane Sandy forced animal shelters to evacuate. The Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter was one animal-rescue center that relocated its clients before Hurricane Sandy hit. In a matter of hours, volunteers transported more than 200 cats and dogs to First Mariner Arena, an indoor sports and entertainment venue.

Photo: Eduardo Munoz/Reuters

Endangered in Crossing

Unfortunately for some animals, calls of the wild do not come with built-in barometers. On their yearly crossing of the channel between Maryland and Virginia, the wild ponies of Assateague Island got pummeled by the hurricane. The 130 horses used their genius to hide away in a shelter and wait out the storm.

Photo: Melissa Farlow/Getty Images

Zoo Animals Taken to Safety

No need to worry about the zoo animals. The fauna at the Central Park Zoo and Maryland Zoo were safely locked in their nighttime holding areas. Rhinos were moved by following the beat of a tambourine, but birds caused temporary chaos because they did not respond to whistles or calls.

Photo: Stringer/Getty Images

Pets Allowed in Evacuation Shelters

A resident in Delaware takes shelter with her dog in a high school as Hurricane Sandy approached the eastern coastline earlier this week. In the past, because pets were not allowed in shelters, owners frequently remained in their homes with their pets rather than evacuating. The government learned from the past mistakes of Hurricane Katrina and mandated that all 65 shelters in New York City allow pets during Hurricane Sandy.

Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images

Dolphins Blown Ashore

While humans and their pets can shelter from the storms in evacuation centers, animals in the wild do not have the same opportunity. Many squirrels and birds lose their nests as trees topple over with the winds. Marine mammals are even less fortunate. According to Kevin Coyle of the National Wildlife Federation, "some dolphins and manatees have actually been blown ashore during major storms." A decade ago, more than 9 million fish were killed offshore during Hurricane Andrew.

Photo: Richard Wareham Fotografie/Getty Images

Deer Saved from Waves

New Jersey resident Joe Schaedel saved a deer stranded in the Atlantic Ocean during the hurricane. The rocks on the shore prevented the deer from freeing itself from the waves, so Schaedel ran after the deer in hopes of forcing the deer away from the rocks. After the deer was rescued, veterinarians treated it for a broken leg.

Photo: Kevin Lanthier/Getty Images

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Related Stories on TakePart:

• Hurricane Sandy Recovery: How to Help

• 11 Life-Saving Animal Sanctuaries

• Hurricanes and Climate Change: A Marriage Made in Hell

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Christina previously worked in production and publicity at Red Hen Press in Los Angeles. She studied modern literature and linguistics at the University of California, Santa Cruz. She enjoys writing about health, culture, food, and the environment for various print and online publications. Email Christina | @christinakhar

In Sandy’s Aftermath: The Animals Are (Mostly) All Right