A local nonprofit says it has been working hard to help animals affected by the recent violent weather.

The VCA Shoreline Animal Hospital is acting as the headquarters for EARS, or Emergency Animal Response Service, which has been busy since Tuesday's storm hit.

"We've actually gotten called so far for 14 different patients," says Director of Operations Jon Nowinski.

It's a heavy workload, he says, but with two ambulances running and extra staff on call, the nonprofit was able to get animal patients where they needed to go.

In many cases, that meant bringing pets to VCA Shoreline, where specialty equipment, as well as a generator, means the emergency rooms can handle animal emergencies in a storm when smaller, family practices may not be able to.

Volunteers say their ambulances are fully equipped to make sure patients are stable on their way to the hospital.

EARS is run by volunteers and fully funded by donations.