When Hurricane Helene struck the Greater Asheville area on September 27 and 28 of last year, the impacted communities faced devastating losses. Two of those who stepped up to help were Tera McIntosh ’12 (GSLC, PhD) and Amy McIntosh ’20 (Online, BA). Among many other roles, these two alumni are the dedicated founders of the nonprofit Misfit Mountain, an all-volunteer, no-kill, foster-based animal rescue group that takes in dogs, cats, pigs, chickens, and small animals. They immediately knew that there would be a great need for their services.
While managing their own recovery from more than $50,000 in storm damages, they rallied resources to support both people and animals displaced by the disaster. First, they had to support the animals already in their custody. During the hurricane, two creeks on the 12-acre animal rescue sanctuary had merged into a powerful river, sweeping away roads, culverts, gravel, and fencing, leaving the property severely damaged. With the help of volunteers, they were able to move all their animals to safety.
Soon, the McIntoshes began taking in further animals from families who had lost their homes or property. They ended up with 26 more animals in their care, including five snakes, four ferrets, three cats, two dogs and a rabbit, all from a single family. With deliveries from the outside world on hold due to infrastructure damage, Misfit Mountain organized daily distribution drives, providing food and essential supplies to struggling families. Donations poured in from across the country, allowing them to distribute nearly 25,000 pounds of animal necessities over four months.
“People lost their homes, their businesses, their families,” says Tera. She and her wife were lucky to keep their house, but still, as she explains, “we were without electricity and water for weeks.” Even facing these challenges, they leveraged their relative privilege to reduce the suffering of their neighbors and animals. As she says, “If we can help them save a little money and keep their pets while they recover, we will.”
The McIntoshes have long been committed to animal welfare and advancing social justice in their community. Tera, who currently serves Antioch University as Interim Chair of Online Undergraduate Studies and is longtime adjunct faculty in several other programs, recently joined FEMA as a Civil Rights Specialist and last year led the county’s first Pride Celebration. She is already planning another Pride Celebration for 2025. Amy, a passionate animal welfare advocate, is now studying at Penn Foster to become a registered veterinary technician.
Even as the impacts of last fall’s disastrous flooding begin to recede, the McIntoshes are continuing to seek out the need in their communities and address it. Recently, Smoky Mountain News highlighted Misfit Mountain’s “Summer Camp” program, which provides temporary housing for pets while owners face hardship, including experiencing homelessness and fleeing domestic abuse. “We help keep animals in their homes with their owners,” says Amy. “That’s one less spot taken in an already overcrowded shelter system.”
