Last week, heavy flooding impacted multiple counties across Eastern Kentucky. We knew our friends at other shelters were in need. So, as we waited for the flooding levels to decrease and the roads to become passable, we did what we could by sending food and supplies to local stores for their shelter staff to pick up. We then helped prepare dogs and cats for transportation by paying local veterinarians to provide animals with updated health certificates and vaccines.
Now that vehicles can safely enter the affected counties, KHS is partnering with the BISSELL Pet Foundation, to assist shelters in Floyd, Estill, and Pike counties. We arranged animal transports to Charlotte & Winston-Salem, NC, Chicago, IL, and right here to Louisville, KY, to our own KHS facilities.
Just yesterday, 20 adult dogs were transported from Estill County Animal Shelter to KHS. These dogs were up for adoption in the Estill County Animal Shelter when the floods hit, and by taking them in, we’ve helped open up space in their shelter for animals who became displaced during the storms.
Additionally, KHS and BISSELL Pet Foundation helped coordinate the transfer of 17 animals from Floyd County Animal Shelter to Forsyth Humane Society and Humane Society of Charlotte in North Carolina, and 20 dogs from Pike County Animal Shelter to Anti-Cruelty in Chicago, Illinois. And thanks to Wings of Rescue, we were able to help coordinate an additional 40 animals to be air-transferred from Johnson County Animal Shelter to Seattle Humane.
In the coming days, our staff will provide KHS’ newest dogs with medical and behavioral assessments. As space opens up at our Sam Swope Pet TLC and East Campus, we will move them onto the adoption floor to help them find forever homes as quickly as possible. This is where YOU come in—starting Friday, February 28, ALL adult dog (1 year+) adoption fees will be WAIVED until Sunday, March 2, thanks to our friends at BISSELL Pet Foundation. This emergency “Empty the Shelters” event is designed to create as much open space at Sam Swope Pet TLC and East Campus as possible, so we can help these new arrivals find their forever homes.
Visit kyhumane.org/disasterrelief to learn more about how you can help KHS assist partner shelters in Eastern Kentucky. Thank you in advance for being a key player in our lifesaving work for animals across the state of Kentucky!