Chella Phillips saved 97 dogs from certain death
As the world watched in horror, Hurricane Dorian tore through the Bahamas, leaving a trail of destruction. It flooded streets, demolished homes, and claimed the lives of at least five people. Dorian will forever be remembered as one of the most powerful and devastating storms of the 2019 hurricane season.
With warnings from authorities that the storm was headed straight for the islands, residents did what they could to prepare—stocking up on supplies and seeking shelter. But one woman, Chella Phillips, went beyond protecting just herself. She thought of the dozens of stray dogs who had nowhere to go.
She opened her home to 97 stray dogs to keep them safe from the hurricane.
Yes, 97 dogs.
Chella shared her bedroom with 79 of them, and that, she says, was the easy part. The hard part came when she had to keep them all safe—along with her brother, who stayed with her.
On the first night when Dorian’s eye hovered over the Bahamas, floodwaters began rushing into the house. They worked with three water pumps to drain it, but the storm overwhelmed them. Within an hour, all the machines had overheated and burned out. With no other option, they tried to bucket the water out by hand, but it was more than they could handle.
As the storm raged on, they lost power, and lightning fried their TV. That meant no cartoons to distract the dogs—a trick Chella often used to calm them. She won’t be able to use it again until she gets a new one.
Despite everything they went through, Chella managed to keep all 97 dogs safe, fed, and with access to clean water.
Chella is the founder and director of The Voiceless Dogs of Nassau, a dog rescue organization in the Bahamas.
“I’m not affiliated with the Humane Society, and I don’t receive any government support. It’s just me—and my love for these homeless dogs,” she shares on her Facebook page.
She moved to the Bahamas 11 years ago, and since then, she’s been dedicated to rescuing street animals. Four years ago, she officially opened her shelter. Thanks to her own funds and generous donations, she’s helped over 1,000 stray dogs.
