Posted: June 23, 2008 2 a.m. EDT
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| A kitten waits for adoption at an animal shelter. |
The animal shelters hit hardest by recent flooding in Iowa received emergency grants to help provide shelter and care for the hundreds of cats and dogs displaced or rescued from the flood waters.
The American Humane Association issued $12,500 in emergency funds to several Iowa animal shelters. The money will help these agencies by bringing vital supplies and food. The following organizations received grants:
Friends of the Animal Center Foundation, Iowa City ($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 sheltering supplies. (Friends of the Animal Center Foundation raises funds to support the animal care services of the Iowa City Animal Care and Adoption Center.)
Paws and More Animal Shelter, Washington ($3,000)
Animals are arriving daily at this shelter, which has been taking in dogs and cats for emergency sheltering 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 animals being sheltered.
Cedar Valley Humane Society, Cedar Rapids ($3,000)
The normal capacity of this organization is 170 animals. It is now 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 continuation of emergency sheltering of 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.
American Humane awards grants to animal sheltering organizations to help them cope with disasters.