Nearly 20 dogs and puppies made the journey from South Carolina all the way up to Erie County ahead of Hurricane Dorian.

Now, they're looking for a forever home. 

Many states including South Carolina are already being ordered to evacuate.

But for some four-legged residents, they can't do it on their own.

That's why Monday afternoon, Devon Smith and her husband loaded up 73 dogs and five cats from St. Francis Animal Center in Georgetown, South Carolina, and headed north.

“You know when a hurricane is going to hit,” she said. “We are right on the coast and the shelter is right in the flood zone so we don’t have a choice. We have to get them out so somebody has to make the 40-hour trip, so it’s usually us.”

More than a dozen dogs and five puppies were dropped off in West Seneca as the first stop on the trip. 

The remaining dogs and cats are headed for New Jersey and Pennsylvania before the Smiths return home to care for any animals displaced by the storm. 

"On average, if we would get 10 animals a day, we get usually double that during a storm,” Smith said. “Fortunately a lot of those get returned to their owners, which is good news. They get loose because it's scary and windy and then they're able to find them at the shelter after the fact.”

All the animals that were brought up north were already surrendered and seeking a home. 

When they're transported, it's important to the SPCA that it's done in a safe manner.

"We have to ensure that the animals are being transported responsibly, that it's a proper transport, that the animals are being given enough time along the route to relieve themselves, enough food, enough water," said Gina Lattuca, chief communications officer for the SPCA Serving Erie County.

Lattuca said some other shelters have also mentioned the idea of a transport before the storm, but right now they're only able to accept dogs since they have an abundance of cats.

As for their 19 newest additions, the puppies have not been fully vaccinated and will be placed, for the time being, in foster homes.

“Now the perk with being a foster family is once you're fostering your animal, if you fall in love with that animal, when it's time for the pet to be put up for adoption, you have first chance at adopting," Lattuca said. 

Some of the 14 adult dogs that were brought to the Erie County SPCA could be available for adoption as early as this week, so be sure to keep checking their website for updates.