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St. Augustine business provides relief, helps rescue a dozen dogs from Bahamas

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — Relief for the Bahamas continues, but this time it's for the animals that have nowhere else to go.

A local company out of St. Augustine called Mermaid Life made a special trip to Nassau Friday to rescue a dozen dogs and bring them back to the U.S.

And Action News Jax reporter Dani Bozzini got a first-class seat to help with the rescue efforts.

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Mermaid Life CEO Milena Lyons says, "We've helped the people in the Bahamas, but I thought, 'Oh my gosh, these dogs they can't help themselves, let's go ahead and pitch in and get them out of Nassau.'"

It's an idea that quickly became reality with the help of the local community coming together to donate everything needed to make it happen.

Boomerang Air even stepped in and donated the plane to get the group to Nassau.

With crates and supplies loaded up at St. Augustine airport, it was wheels up to Nassau to rescue a dozen dogs from the gravely overcrowded Bahamas Humane Society.

In Nassau, the Bahamas Humane Society, with grateful hearts, helped load all the dogs up to head back to the U.S.

By taking the pups back with, it's giving them a chance to take in more dogs from the islands hit hardest by Hurricane Dorian.

Fiona Moodie, the adoption coordinator for the Humane Society, says, "Pets are being surrendered to us because the people just have no hope at this point to take their dogs and cats back in."

And until families get back on their feet, the Bahamas Humane Society wants to give their dogs shelter.

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But before they can do that, they need space, which is where the U.S. and locals like Lyons come in to save the day.

One by one, everyone, even airport employees, pitched in and helped load the 12 anxious pups onto the plane.

"We really, really appreciate everybody's help. It's a blessing," exclaims Moody.

And then it was tails up to West Palm Beach and St. Augustine to drop off the rescued dogs to local shelters. A long, yet rewarding day helping those who need it most.