LARGO, Fla. -- Nearly three dozen Puerto Rican families separated by Hurricane Maria are reunited in Largo today.
Zeus, a husky, there’s Oreo, a lab mix in a kennel behind him, and Bolto, a golden retriever is a neighbor too. They’re at the SPCA of Tampa Bay waiting for their families to pick them up.
“Susie, hi! Come to momma,” says Juana Cruz from Kissimmee, Florida.
Susie’s story started on Facebook after Hurricane Maria showed up on the doorstep of Juana’s Cruz’s niece in Puerto Rico.
Cruz said, “I happened to look on Facebook and joking around said bring her to me.”
Susie, along with 34 other dogs like “Linda Mia,” another golden retriever, were flown into Tampa and taken to the SPCA of Tampa Bay.
“We came to the US 6 months ago and something was missing from our family,” said Jose Graxirena about Linda Mia.
“Puerto Rico Animal Unite has been maintaining a list of all displaced Puerto Rican families, where they are on the mainland, organizing flights to get pets and families back together,” explained Martha Boden, the CEO of SPCA of Tampa Bay.
Boden added, “The animals here today are going home with a free bag of food, compliments of IAMS, (along with) a leash and collar and crate if needed.”
“I said no no more dogs, but I couldn’t say no to Susie. She gets along with cats, dogs, everybody. I can see we are going to be very close, very close,” said Cruz.
Linda Mia headed to her new home in Orlando and Susie found a new 'furever'” home and family.
Cruz said to Susie after loading her in the car, “We’re going home baby girl.”
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