TOWN OF CENTER, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – An area animal shelter is working to help pets affected by Hurricane Harvey.
Saving Paws Animal Rescue is gathering donations to take to Texas.
As people fled Hurricane Harvey in Texas some were unable to bring their pets. Now, as those pets are being rescued from the floods, comes another challenge.
Betsy Moder the co-founder and director of Saving Paws Animal Rescue tells WLUK.
“For the ones that are left behind and that are filling up the rescues down there, we just felt like we really needed to do something up here.”
Saving Paws, which is just outside Appleton in the Town of Center, began taking donations for shelters in Texas Thursday.
In a short time the community responded with hundreds of pounds of supplies pet food, kitty litter, bottled water, cleaning supplies and collapsible pet crates. The rescue is also taking monetary donations.
“We will transport them down to Houston,” said Moder who says the first shipment will leave today.
An anonymous donor gave the rescue $1,000 toward truck rentals.
Saving Paws only planned to make this a one-day donation event, but the response was so large, Moder says the plans changed.
“Let’s keep this going, because it’s not just now that they need the help, it’s gonna be over the next, how many, weeks they’re gonna need the help.”
Now because the shelter is volunteer-run there’s not always someone on-site. So if you want to bring in your donations when there’s no one here you can still do so.
Moder says there’s a donation shed outside where you can open it up and put your donations right inside.
“There’s a sheet in there for you to sign your name and what you brought and we will send you a receipt.”
People donating, like Mashel Griem of Kaukauna, say it’s important to step up and help right now.
“You’ve got such small animals who are helpless and we’re their only lifeline.”
“We are one country. We love our animals and if any part of our nation is hurting we need to jump in and help,” Moder added.
Because, they say, we would hope others would do the same for us.
The shelter is also planning on bringing animals back to Wisconsin from Texas at some point. Those plans have yet to be finalized.
Saving Paws will continue accepting donations for Harvey recovery indefinitely.
Someone will be at the shelter this evening (FRI) evening from 5:00 – 9:00. Otherwise you can use the donation shed.
You can also visit the shelter’s website here to find out how to make a monetary donation.
