Pets for Adoption in Orlando

As an outpatient clinical manager at Aspire Health Partners, Judy Charuhas stands ready to help survivors and families affected by the mass shooting in Orlando.

But as the executive director of a local lost pets group, she also kindly offers support for others caught up in the horrific collateral damage:

Dogs, cats, fish, small mammals, reptiles locked in homes of victims or those with serious injuries in hospitals.

"This is how our community pulls together, " she said Monday.

And it has. The response to a Facebook post on her Winter Park Lost Pets page has been overwhelming. As of Monday afternoon, there were 3, 921 shares and 986 likes.

"We are compiling a list of rescues/services/people willing to hold/foster/adopt pets for victims and survivors of the Pulse Orlando shooting, " the post read. "Please comment if you are a pet service or can help in any way. Some people won't be coming home to their pet."

Everyone willing to help was in scramble mode. The key is finding those pets. Law enforcement officers are not allowed to bust through a door to rescue a pet if an owner isn't present. The only logical recourse is a relative or a friend coming forward.

And the key becomes finding them.

Most of the work Monday involved connecting with "reputable rescues" or private homes that can offer short-term or long-term foster options, as well as organizations offering kennel space.

"I've got a huge list of resources, " Charuhas said. "We're basically vetting them out making sure these people can do what they say they can do. If anyone is willing to step forward, I'll add them to my list."