Posted: June 21, 2008, 5 a.m. EDT
The animal shelters hit hardest by recent flooding in Iowa received emergency grants to help provide shelter and care for the hundreds of dogs and cats displaced by or rescued from the flood waters.
The American Humane Association issued $12,500 in emergency funds to several animal shelters. The money will help these agencies by bringing vital supplies and food. The following organizations received grants:
Paws and More Animal Shelter, Washington, Iowa ($3,000)
Animals are arriving daily at this shelter, which has been taking in dogs and cats since the disaster began. A total of 120 companion animals are housed there. The emergency relief will be used to improve housing capacity and sanitation for the dogs being sheltered.
Cedar Valley Humane Society, Cedar Rapids, Iowa ($3,000)
The normal capacity of this facility is 170 animals. It is currently sheltering nearly 300. Additional animals are being cared for at the overflow site at Kirkwood Community College, where hundreds more animals are housed. The emergency grant will allow the facility to continue sheltering these pets, as well as provide food, leashes, bowls, and other necessary items to residents who are living in motels or with family and friends.
Friends of the Animal Center Foundation, Iowa City, Iowa ($6,500)
The Iowa City Animal Care and Adoption Center was flooded with 4 feet of water and is uninhabitable. The shelter has been forced to evacuate its facilities and relocate to the Johnson County Fairgrounds, where it is now sheltering hundreds of animals. The emergency funds will be used to buy temporary kennels, leashes, bowls, food, and other emergency supplies. (Friends of the Animal Center Foundation raises funds to support the animal care services of the Iowa City Animal Care and Adoption Center.)