Operation Sunflower brings pets affected by Hurricane Ida to South Dakota

BROOKINGS, SD (KELO) – A bunch of pets were flown out of the hurricane flood zone in Lafayette, Louisiana today. They arrived in Sioux Falls this morning and then traveled to animal shelters across the region. Here’s a look at Operation Sunflower.

“Look at you. Welcome to South Dakota.”

Moiria Curry welcomed ten new cats and kittens to Brookings one at a time.

“I’m so excited to have this opportunity for a new life,” said Moiria Curry of the Brookings Regional Humane Society.

But Curry’s connection to the kittens goes deeper, she grew up in Lousiana.

“It felt really wonderful to welcome these animals from one place I’ve been, from one place that is very close to my heart, to another place that is close to my heart, where we really do aim to help all animals we can, ”said Curry.

90 animals were flown out of the flood zone to make way for stray and injured pets that turned up at animal shelters along the Gulf Coast. Greater Good Charities coordinated the transport and Hills Pet Food paid for the flight.

“They’re going to Brookings, they’re going to Yankton. They go to Sioux City, we even have transport to Watertown and some to Fargo, ”said Darci Adams of Greater Good Charities.

“These guys are Hurricane Ida survivors, they were the adoptable pets in the shelters there, just waiting to be found,” Curry said.

“It’s a bit bitterly sweet, I’m really excited and humble that they are entrusting us with these animals, but my heart goes out to the people who are affected and who are still there who have firsthand experience of the hurricane. “Said Maia Moore, executive director of the Brookings Regional Humane Society.

The flood pets saw clouds over the Sioux Falls airport and sunflowers on the ground. Curry and Adams say “Sunflower” is the perfect name for this surgery.

“When you think of sunflowers, you think of light and the future and they always look up,” said Curry.

“We want these guys to see their future, and we will help them find that future,” said Adams.

“Salma and Jasmine … Welcome to South Dakota.”

Most of the animals have been neutered, neutered and microchipped so that they are immediately ready for adoption.