Emergency Animal Rescue and Relief in Jamaica After Hurricane Melissa

Earlier durng the monthof October, Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm with winds reaching 185 mph (295 kph), tore through Jamaica, leaving catastrophic flooding, downed infrastructure, and communities isolated. Countless animals were in urgent need of care.

In the wake of this devastation, our Animal Rescue Team is on the ground providing emergency relief to animals and communities impacted by one of the strongest storms ever to hit the Caribbean. Since 2005, Humane World for Animals has responded to disasters worldwide—working with local partners to reach the hardest-hit areas and ensure animals receive the help they need.

At the request of Negril Puppy Rescue, which houses approximately 90 animals, our responders deployed to provide immediate relief. The shelter sustained severe structural damage, including near destruction of kennels, leaving staff and animals isolated without vehicles or communication.

“The level of destruction here is almost beyond comprehension,” said Gaia Bonini, Director of International Disaster Response. “We know we’re only seeing a glimpse of the full scale. Many of the hardest-hit areas remain inaccessible, but we’re honored to be here to help.”

Our team is providing food, shelter, and critical supplies while coordinating with partners across the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and the Bahamas to reach other affected animals. In Jamaica, our response includes:
- Delivering 200 pounds of dog food to sustain the Negril shelter’s animals until additional supplies arrive.
- Assessing shelter damage and immediate animal care needs.
- Supporting local veterinarians to provide ongoing care.
- Funding Wings of Rescue with a $25,000 grant for supply acquisition and delivery efforts.
- Evaluating access to remote communities from Negril to Black River to plan further relief efforts.

Donations to this project help deliver lifesaving food, shelter, and veterinary care, support local rescue teams, and fund transport for stranded and injured animals.

At Humane World for Animals, we remain committed to supporting animals and their families in Jamaica and across the Caribbean until recovery is underway. Together, we’re ensuring that no animal is left behind.

LATEST UPDATES:
- November 13, 2025: Yesterday, our team drove to Savanna La Mar, a badly impacted community, and distributed more than 200 packs of animal food and basic humanitarian relief packs. People were very relieved to receive both. Today, our team will load crates and food and deliver them to Montego Bay Animal Haven and Negril Pup Rescue. Tomorrow, we will be helping Negril Pup Rescue get 58 of their dogs ready for an evacuation flight by assisting with deworming, flea/tick prevention and microchipping.
- November 11, 2025: Our team drove south of Negril toward Black River, observing increasingly severe damage as they distributed animal food and supplies. Two colleagues from our Canada office joined the deployment. Together, they drove to Montego Bay Animal Haven, which is caring for 130 dogs and experienced serious kennel damage, to evaluate their needs and how best we can help them longer term.
- November 6, 2025: The team is meeting with a veterinarian today, sourcing more dog food for distribution and driving south to see what access from Negril to Black River looks like.
- November 5, 2025: Our team spent the day traveling to and spending time with Negril Pup Rescue, discussing their immediate needs as well as long term-recovery. They have been through an extremely traumatic experience and are completely isolated without a vehicle or communication service, so they were glad to see us. We provided 200 lbs of food which is enough for five days, until further pallets arrive. The 90 animals at the shelter were in good shape—they’re very well looked-after. But there are downed trees everywhere, with power poles snapped in half and metal billboards twisted by the wind.
- November 4, 2025: The team has been trying to prepare and gather supplies before heading west.
- November 3, 2025: Three members of our Animal Rescue Team arrived in Jamaica to assess the needs for animals impacted by Hurricane Melissa over the weekend.

Your support makes this lifesaving work possible. Thank you for standing with animals and communities in crisis.