Posted: June 14, 2008, 5 a.m. EDT
The Midwest flooding in the hardest-hit city of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, has forced residents out of their homes to seek safety on higher ground. Trying to get around town is hard, but a 53-foot trailer stocked with enough pet crates, beds, bowls, food and supplies for 500 companion animals was dispatched to Cedar Rapids, according to Trish Spencer of PetSmart Charities.
The nonprofit agency’s Emergency Relief Waggin’ containing the pet products departed from PetSmart’s Ottawa, Ill., distribution center loaded with items required for the animal relief effort. The truck was set to arrive Friday afternoon at the Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Spencer said.
In addition, the nonprofit will donate pet food and supplies to the city of Waverly, Iowa; the Brown County Humane Society in Indiana and the Dodge County Humane Society in Wisconsin.
The Midwest Rescue Waggin’ also transported 27 companion animals from Morgan County Humane Society in Indiana to the Wisconsin Humane Society to make space for cats and dogs impacted by the floods. Twenty-two additional dogs who were surrendered by their owners were scheduled to be picked up and transported Friday.
Residents that own pets are urged to take them to a private kennel, a veterinarian if they have kennel space, or as a last resort, to the Diamond V Building at Kirkwood Community College, according to the Cedar Rapids city website. The community shelters do not have places for pets, except for service animals.