Perry agricenter gives free shelter to horses - and owners - fleeing Hurricane Irma

It’s one thing to find a temporary home for a 20-pound beagle.

It’s quite another to find shelter for a 1,100-pound thoroughbred.

The Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter in Perry is offering a safe haven for people and their horses fleeing Hurricane Irma, which is projected to slam into Florida this weekend and travel up the coast of Georgia.

“We’re getting calls contantly,” said Stephen Shimp, executive director of the fairgrounds, which is about 106 miles from Atlanta. “Our phones are lighting up.”

Currently about 45 of the available 350 stalls are occupied.