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Dogs, Cats Displaced By Sandy To Go Up For Adoption In SoCal

SAN DIEGO (CBS/AP) — Dozens of animals displaced by Superstorm Sandy will soon be available for adoption in Southern California.

A plane carrying about 60 dogs and cats landed at Lindberg Field Saturday, and the pets were taken to a shelter in Rancho Santa Fe.

A spokeswoman for the Helen Woodward Animal Center said the animals were facing being euthanized at New York and New Jersey animal shelters that lost power after the storm struck last month.

The animals are being vaccinated, spayed and neutered before being put up for adoption. KNX 1070's Ed Mertz reports that they are expected to be available for adoption by Wednesday.

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Jessica Gercke said her organization approached Southwest Airlines and SeaWorld to help rescue the animals.

"We just happen to be very, very lucky. And it was kind of the eleventh hour. There was kinda a crisis with some of these animals that were going to be put to sleep," Gercke said.

She said a pilot and crew donated their time, BP footed the gas bill, and animal handlers from SeaWorld accompanied the animals on the flight.

For more information about how to adopt the Sandy rescues, click here.

(TM and © Copyright 2012 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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