People Fled Irma, Left Dogs Tied Up

As Floridians fled the wrath of Hurricane Irma, scores left behind man's best friend—some of them tied up, in pens, or in fenced yards, reports the Sun Sentinel. Authorities in Palm Beach County found 49 dogs in such circumstances, while shelters took in an influx of animals surrendered by their owners. Those owners who surrendered nearly 60 dogs and cats shouldn't show up looking to get them back after the storm passes, says the director of Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control. "We are pretty clear when you surrender your animal you give up your rights," she says. The county is running a storm shelter that allows pets that still had 45 vacancies Saturday night. Those who left animals trapped or stranded outside face felony animal cruelty, and animal control officers were searching out such pets until winds hit 35mph. (More Hurricane Irma stories.)