PORTLAND, Ore. — Dozens of shelter animals from Maui are arriving in Portland on Friday. The Oregon Humane Society is helping create more space at shelters on the island after wildfires devastated the area, burning thousand of homes and businesses.
More than 110 people have died and many others are still missing, including thousands of animals.
The Maui Humane Society is expecting an influx of injured or displaced pets. Around 136 animals that were at the shelter prior to the wildfires are being transported to other shelters in the United States. The Oregon Humane Society is welcoming 92 cats and kittens.
"These are shelter pets who were looking for homes before the wildfires and by clearing out the animals that are in shelters in Maui, it frees up their resources to be able to help lost sick and injured pets and reunite them with their owners," said Laura Klink, public information manager for the Oregon Humane Society.
RELATED: Maui's emergency services chief resigns after facing criticism for not activating sirens during fire
The animals will be cared for at the organization's new Behavior and Rescue Shelter.. It's the first time the Humane Society will be using the center, which is meant for animals who need to heal physically and socially, for disaster-related intake.
On Thursday, a Southwest Airlines plane arrived in Maui carrying emergency supplies including t-shirts, blankets, flashlights, socks and hygiene kits. The next day, the plane loaded in more than 100 shelters pets from the Maui Humane Society to be flown to Portland International Airport. The mission was a partnership between the airline, Greater Good Charities and Lucky Dog Animal Rescue.
In order to be able to take in the animals from Maui, the Oregon Humane Society needs to clear out space of their own. It's waiving adoption fees for cats one year and older in Portland and Salem through the weekend.