In the wake of catastrophic flooding in Western Alaska, our Animal Rescue team is deploying to support animals left behind in remote villages. We’re partnering with Bethel Friends of Canines to evacuate dogs by air—because these communities are only accessible by small planes or boats. We’re also sending crates, food and critical supplies to ensure these animals are safe and cared for.
Donate to help fund this rescue mission to get these beloved pets safe before it is too late and support our lifesaving emergency rescue and response work.
Animal Rescue Team on the ground
Our Animal Rescue team is in Bethel, Alaska as catastrophic flooding in the region has left countless pets at risk. We’re supporting our partner, Bethel Friends of Canines to help fund independent flights and providing crates and food to help the dogs unable to be evacuated with their owners. (It’s uncommon for families to keep cats in these communities, but we’re ready to help our feline friends if there are any in need.)
Humane World for Animals
Humane World for Animals
Humane World for Animals
Latest updates
October 22, 2025: When Bethel Friends of Canines reached out to us for assistance after receiving an influx of dogs following the horrific flooding, we jumped at the chance to help. We’re bringing much-needed supplies and a Shelter Support Team to assist with the many dogs brought to Bethel after being displaced by this disaster.
October 23, 2025: Temperatures are dropping and snow has started to fall. Our staff is helping with such tasks as doing intake, walking dogs, cleaning kennels, microchipping, updating records, contacting owners, prepping dogs for transport, picking dogs up from the airport and making plans to trap dogs still running loose in one of the villages.
October 24, 2025: The team did more intake and microchipping, prepped one dog to travel for reunification with his owner and arranged for another to see a vet, ordered and picked up supplies including crates and dog food, and took stock of animal-related village needs.
Conditions on-scene
- In normal circumstances, the only animal shelter in Bethel, Alaska, is run by two full-time staff members with the help of rotating volunteers and a contract veterinarian. Our Pets for Life program has partnered with this small but dedicated organization, Bethel Friends of Canines, for 10 years to provide veterinary and wellness services to the Yukon–Kuskokwim Delta communities of southwest Alaska.
- The remnants of Typhoon Halong destroyed an estimated 90% of structures in the village of Kipnuk and caused widespread flooding throughout the region, displacing an estimated 1,500 people. State personnel estimate that many residents may not see their homes, or what remains of them, for many months—the destruction is that extensive.
- The town of Bethel, which serves as a hub for relief and resources, is usually only accessible via the Kuskokwim River or single-engine planes. Over the last week, Bethel Friends of Canines has provided temporary shelter to more than 170 dogs, reuniting most of them with their families; the shelter will continue to serve this role moving forward, as the community works to heal from the devastation.
- Our Animal Rescue Team arrived on Tuesday, October 21 in Bethel to assist local responders, and team members are participating in calls to help with coordination and information sharing. There are heartbreaking stories coming in about animals initially left behind as people were being evacuated because of the complicated nature of helicopter evacuations.
- The animal shelter has already chartered a small plane to evacuate animals from storm-ravaged Kipnuk. Such rescues are complex and expensive, so we are reimbursing them for their flight costs. We expect there will be more small, chartered flights necessary.
- We have also purchased dog food and supplies such as leashes, collars and bowls that arrived in Bethel via air cargo on Monday. An order of crates is on the way.
- So far, 157 homes have been reported as destroyed in this part of the state, with more than 150 people being evacuated to a Red Cross shelter at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage, about 400 miles away.
Humane World for Animals
FAQs
As western Alaska reels from devastating damage and flooding in the aftermath of Typhoon Halong, Humane World for Animals has deployed members of our Animal Rescue Team to assist at the request of Bethel Friends of Canines.
In addition to our on the ground assistance, we are providing funding for an evacuation flight of animals from Kipnuk to safety at Bethel Friends of Canines, where they are now being cared for until they can be reunited with their families. Several reunions have already taken place. Emergency management officials report that most of the residents of Kipnuk were evacuated from the village, where an estimated 90 percent of structures were destroyed.
We purchased dog food and supplies such as leashes, collars and bowls, which were delivered to Bethel via air cargo earlier this week, with a shipment of crates slated to arrive in the coming days. When procuring food and supplies from outside the state, transit to Bethel can take days or longer, and in some instances, transit costs have proved to be more expensive than the supplies.
Our assistance was requested by Bethel Friends of Canines, the only animal shelter in Bethel, which is typically run by two full-time staff members and rotating volunteers. For 10 years, Humane World for Animals’ Pets for Life program has partnered with this small but dedicated organization to provide veterinary and wellness services to the Yukon–Kuskokwim Delta region of southwest Alaska.
When disaster strikes, our Animal Rescue Team is prepared to assist in a variety of ways, depending on the local needs and capacity. Our response can include search and rescue, establishing emergency shelters, supplementing local animal shelter operations, operating animal supply distribution points, arranging and funding much-needed veterinary care for impacted communities, and more. In the aftermath of Typhoon Halong, our team on the ground has primarily been assisting with shelter operations and animal care at this stage.
The best thing for out of state folks to do at this point is donate money to impacted shelters and rescues. Please check with those organizations before sending supplies to make sure what you want to send is actually needed and helpful. It’s important to keep in mind that when procuring food and supplies from outside the state, transit to Bethel can take days or longer and in some instances, transit is more costly than the actual supplies.
In order for an out-of-state agency to assist in a federal disaster area, there has to be an official request from the appropriate agency or emergency official. Alaska has a protocol for how to make these requests during a disaster, and if a group or agency is in need of help, we ask that they contact their local emergency officials, who—if assistance is needed—will get the request to us. These protocols are in place to ensure there is not chaos created by outside groups coming in
If you need assistance evacuating, please contact your local emergency manager. You can find that information here:
For Alaska: DHS&EM | Home
A full list of state emergency contacts can be found here: https://www.fema.gov/emergency-management-agencies
More about animal disaster relief
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We never know where disasters will strike or when animals may be in need of urgent rescue, but we know we must be ready. Your support makes our preparedness, rescue, care and relief work possible.
Meredith Lee/Humane World for Animals