Efforts are being made to rescue pets who were left behind in a town in Iceland that had to be evacuated due to the threat of a volcano.

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Numerous pets in Grindavik, Iceland, have been saved from danger as they were separated from their owners due to the looming threat of a volcanic eruption.

Various charities have participated in rescue operations to protect animals in the town, with rescue teams going back to search for any remaining animals.

Numerous animals, including cats, dogs, hamsters, and hens, were the focus of rescue operations after being abandoned during urgent evacuation orders. More than 4,000 individuals were forced to leave their homes.

Numerous charitable groups and other institutions intervened to assist in the joyful reunions that occurred amidst the mixed emotions of the situation.

Hannah Everson, the manager of Kattholt Animal Shelter, returned to the town to search for animals. She successfully gathered a total of 49 animals.

She states that numerous pets experienced trauma and were struggling with eating, urinating, and defecating. She mentioned that one specific cat had “after-tremor shakes” for a full day.

“There are still some cats present,” she stated. “They are seeking shelter in the crevices due to the warmth caused by the earthquake. What will occur if the lava breaks through?”

The Asbru Dog and Cat Hotel, managed by Harpa Lind, Sæunn Hermannsdóttir, and Elmar Magnússon, has been providing complimentary accommodations for pets who were unable to accompany their owners.

Matthias and Lana Jonsson were finally able to see their beloved pugs, Mafia and Maria, after a harrowing 11 days. They were forced to leave their home with only 10 minutes notice.

The pair were required to reside at a hotel that did not permit animals. However, they found an alternative solution by entrusting their pets to the Dog and Cat Hotel, where 30 cats and 20 dogs were being accommodated free of charge.

Matthias recalled the intense and frightening experience of having only 10 minutes to gather their belongings before being forced to evacuate. They have not been allowed to return to their home yet and seeing the devastation of their town was heartbreaking. They are unsure if they will ever be able to return.

“It has been extremely difficult to be apart from them, but unfortunately we did not have any available room.”

Maria expressed her sadness at having to leave her children, but is now grateful to be reunited with them as a complete family.

Ms Lind expressed that there has been a lot of emotional distress, but individuals are grateful that they do not have to completely let go. The intention was to alleviate the added pressure they are facing.

Many individuals are currently facing the burden of paying two rents or experiencing difficulty in finding new housing. However, our office continues to receive calls from residents and we are committed to helping them find a solution, no matter how long it takes.

The organisation Dyrfinna, which focuses on reuniting missing pets with their owners, collaborated with emergency responders to safely evacuate animals in the town.

After earthquakes struck Grindavik, a meticulous effort was made to locate and rescue every pet in need. It was believed that there may have been around 300 pets in need of rescue.

Emergency workers were able to confirm that thousands of hens had also been evacuated.

On X, it was stated that the recent events have revolved around a significant battle for the rights of voiceless animals and their guardians.

The residents and individuals in Grindavík have actively participated in successfully removing the animals.

Maira Butt contributed to the reporting.

More information was provided by Maira Butt.

Maira Butt was a contributor to the information provided.

The source is The Independent, a UK-based news publication.