Groups across US take in dogs, cats after Alabama tornado

BEAUREGARD, Ala. (AP) — People across the nation are helping to find homes for animals evacuated from shelters in an Alabama community that was devastated by a tornado.

The twister left 23 dead and dozens of people injured as it roared across the community of Beauregard on March 3.

The Humane Society of the United States contacted several humane societies across the nation to ask for help, Al.com reported.

The Oregon Humane Society says it was asked by the national organization if it could take any of the 150 pets that were being evacuated from Lee County shelters.

In Tennessee, the Nashville Humane Association says it received 21 cats and dogs affected by the tornado. It said those animals will be up for adoption soon.

"They have been through a lot," said Laura Charvarria , executive director of the Nashville Humane Association.

"One of the shelters, Southern Souls, the tornado touched down actually in their backyard, so they experienced that, on top of, they just went through a 6-hour drive from Alabama to Tennessee, so that is extremely stressful on the animals," Charvarria said.

Many of the animals from Alabama were flown on a jet to Oregon about a week after the tornado. Staffers from animal shelters in that region met the dogs and cats when they touched down.

"There was a great camaraderie among the group 7/8— a wonderful testament to the collective compassion in the Northwest. As the plane touched down the group erupted in applause," the Oregon Humane Society said in a news release.