People and pets are getting out of the path of Hurricane Florence, the massive storm taking aim at the Carolina coast.

14 dogs arrived at Pets Alive animal shelter in Middletown Tuesday morning after an emergency transport rushed them from a shelter in South Carolina. Eight of the dogs will stay with Pets Alive, while the other six will go to a nearby shelter.

Rescue aids say the dogs had to be evacuated in order to make space for thousands of pets that will inevitably become displaced by the storm. 

Workers say making space in shelters before the hurricane hits will prevent people from having to make the difficult decision of what to do with their pets if they have to evacuate. Mandatory evacuation orders have already been issued for parts of North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.

The dogs sent to Pets Alive will stay there and be available for adoption after they are quarantined, de-wormed and spayed or neutered if necessary.

Shelter aides say they are expecting even more dogs in the coming days.