Tyrrell County Animal Shelter (TCAS) received help in removing seven dogs before Hurricane Matthew hit on Saturday, Oct. 8, animal control officer Cecil Lilley reported.

On Oct. 6 Carol Cook with Best friends Pet Adoption (BFPA) from Cary arrived at TCAS around 9 a.m. to load the dogs and head back to Cary. All dogs were seen by a veterinarian that afternoon and soon placed in foster homes.

This would not have happened if it were not for TCAS Assistant Christy Roughton contacting Kirstin Bradley, pharmacist with Columbia Pharmacy, about the dogs being held at the shelter and their need to leave before the hurricane hit, Lilley explained.

The shelter dog pens are under roof but exposed to wind-driven rain. Cats are housed inside.

Bradley has rescued dogs from TCAS in the past and sends them to BFPA.  She was instrumental in contacting BFPA to come to Columbia and pick up the dogs and find them a foster home. All of the planning between Bradley and BFPA took place in less than a week.

Ginger, a mixed black and tan female rode “shotgun” all the way back to Cary.

Other dogs rescued from Bladen and Duplin counties brought BFPA’s total to 22.

Cosmo (formerly Little Man) had his own newsclip on WRAL on Oct. 16. www.wral.com/lifestyles/pets/video/16122066/

Bradley later told Lilley the rescue “was so awesome. Only two (Roscoe and Ginger) were heartworm positive. Diesel has a luxating patella. Other than that all are healthy in their foster home!”

Bradley is a native of Cary. She received her BS in Biochemistry from North Carolina State University in 2005, followed by her Doctorate of Pharmacy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2014. She currently lives on Lakes Phelps. In her free time Kirstin enjoys rehabilitating rescue animals and finding them permanent homes, according to the drug store’s website.