Rescue Story: Helping Pets in West Virginia Flooding
On Monday June 27 Karen Sable and Lori Mozina packed two SUVs full of donated pet and cleaning goods to drive to the Kanawha-Charleston Humane Society. The shelter is right in the middle of the area hit worst by the catastrophic flooding from storms on June 23 and immediately began collecting food and looking for emergency foster homes for the animals in their care. Karen and Lori volunteer with the Westmoreland County Animal Response Team (CART), a group of animal lovers who are skilled with rescues during natural disasters and even though the organization wasn’t called up to work as part of the rescue they still volunteered to pull together whatever was needed and get it there as fast as possible.
“Our food donations came from a couple places in Westmoreland County. It was just a spur of the moment thing we put together yesterday morning,” Karen said. Lori is the CART Coordinator and has a contact who works with the vet at the shelter operating the main distribution center. “What they really need now is people to help foster or adopt, rescues to take on some of the surrendered animals, and things like cat carriers, large dog crates, etc. They are beyond full with pets,” she said.
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Essence of Love Animal Rescue Donation Transport and Fostering Flood Animals
Kerbie Ann Fryer runs non-profit Essence of Love Animal Rescue Inc. in Pittsburgh and rescues cats and dogs from high-kill shelters and pounds, many of them in rural areas in West Virginia.
“When I saw what happened in WV, I felt compelled to help,” she said on Wednesday, June 28. “My husband and I loaded up my Jeep with anything we could think of that the displaced animals may need and drove down. I have quite a few contacts down there so we ended up helping in Clendenin (Kanawha county). It’s a poor area and they had next to nothing to begin with…”
Kerbie has many photos of her first trip down to the flooded area on her rescue’s Facebook page. She put out the word for donations when she came back intending to make another trip down once she filled her Jeep again. Then she got a surprise call for a very generous donation.
“The woman that owns Pamela’s in Millvale must have got my number from a post that was widely shared and called to offer her help. I told her what was needed and that I’m likely going to need a u-haul this next trip down,” Kerbie said. “She called back and said, ‘I purchased $3000 worth of items and I’d also like to pay for the U-Haul rental.’ I’m blown away by her generosity,” Kerbie remarked.
She announced the rest of her plans on her organization’s Facebook page.
I will be headed down to WV again on Friday with donations in a U-Haul (Thank you Pamela’s Diner!).
My first stop is Clay County (they have very little help with the animals in that county and many have been found deceased). Donations will be dropped off at Bob’s Muffler Shop.
Next, I will be headed to Webster county dog pound. It is rescue only (no adoptions to the public) and gets next to nothing in donations…this is where Cinco was from.
After Webster county, I will be heading to Kanawha County again to see what they need.
If any donations are left after all my stops or more donations come in, the remaining donations will be dispersed to local Pittsburgh rescues taking in WV flood animals.
For anyone wanting to foster a WV flood animal… Please email [email protected] for a foster application or check with other local rescues. I cannot immediately take flood victims here yet, but I’ll be sure to announce it when I do!!! Please continue to share the litter of kittens and Cinco (rescued and in Essence of Love care now) in hopes that they will find forever homes. Not only do they deserve it but it allows for me to help more animals in need. THANK YOU ALL FOR THE SUPPORT IN HELPING WV…YOU GUYS ARE AMAZING!
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The Kanawha-Charleston Humane Association
EMERGENCY: Everyone, we need your help immediately. The focus right now needs to shift from dog food donations to IMMEDIATE ADOPTIONS, FOSTERS AND RESCUES!!
The Kanawha-Charleston Humane Association shelter was hit hard by the flooding on June 23 and is working to bring their animals to safety and provide guidance for others in the flooded areas. They are a large and organized shelter and are helping both pets and people all around the area. Keep in touch with their page to follow the rescue efforts in that area.
“At this time KCHA cannot accept any stray animal unless they are a severe medical case or from the flooded areas. Because of the emergency situation in our county, we are at FULL capacity. Please work with us to help find the owners of lost pets or a temporary home until the shelter can move beyond the influx of animals from the flooded areas!”
Supply Needs:
Large dog crates and carriers
Cat carriers
Cat traps
Tomahawk feral cat dens
Paper towels
Bleach
As always, please make a monetary donation by going to adoptcharleston.com/give. Thank you so much!
FREE Wellness Checks at KCHA beginning June 30
Disaster Relief – FREE Wellness Checks for Flood Victims! KCHA is honored to partner with American Humane Association Red Star Animal Emergency Services to provide relief to pets impacted by the #WVflood.
Beginning today, June 30, we’re operating a mobile veterinary clinic where we’ll offer wellness checks, vaccinations, flea and tick prevention, microchipping, and heartworm tests / prevention (dogs only), in addition to temporary housing for pets of flood victims.
Hours of Operation through Sunday, July 3:
General inquiries, stray and displaced animal admissions, 9:00a – 5:00p
Veterinary exams and wellness services, noon – 4:00p
For pets, the health risks associated with flooding don’t subside when the water does. With rising water comes a new set of concerns for pets. Rising water pushes wildlife and rodents into contact areas with pets, plus mosquitoes love the added moisture. Because heartworm disease is transmitted to dogs through mosquito bites, the likelihood of your dog contracting heartworm disease after a flood increases.
For more information, visit the mobile clinic located at I-79 exit 19, Bufflick Road in front of Shafer Equipment. Thank you!
Read more Rescue Stories on The Creative Cat.
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