The ripple effects of Hurricane Sandy are still being felt in Southern Virginia. Every month a Martinsville animal shelter sends dogs to a shelter in New York.
The storm put this month's trip on pause, now the shelter is over flowing with dogs.
At the Martinsville Henry County Society for the Prevention and Cruelty of Animals, or SPCA, its generosity created a packed house.
"It pretty much happened overnight," Cooke said. "We actually had a meeting. And it was like ok, think outside the box, what areas in this building are we not using right now that we need to use."
On a regular basis, up to 50 dogs are taken to North Shore Animal League in Port Washington, New York on Long Island.
Instead of taking dogs from our area, the league is now saving its own.
Three weeks after the storm, volunteers are still caring for hundreds of pets separated from their owners.
That means until Long Island is back to normal, dogs are not leaving Martinsville.
"This was the first time the bus stopped, the wheels quit turning," Cooke said.
Dogs are everywhere. Filling rooms once only used for getting acquainted with a new owner, or housing a sick cat.
Typically it holds about 150 animals but since Hurricane Sandy hit, they now hold 300.
The sudden influx brought on a new team member.
"I was just on cats at first but now I have puppies, and cats and I do dogs. Anywhere they need me I'll go," said Amanda Denny, the new hire.
Extra staff and everyday costs are drying up their bank account too.
This change is their new normal for months to come.
