Several metro-east rescues took in animals from St. Clair County Animal Services after its pet adoption center flooded Tuesday in a weather event that brought substantial damage to the area.
The Belleville Area Humane Society took in the facility’s cats and helped evacuate dogs, and BAHS officials say their shelter remains without power Wednesday afternoon.
“The animals are currently safe and buildings are cool. We will keep you updated if we need fosters for cats, kittens and dogs as the warms up,” BAHS said in a Facebook post , noting Ameren Illinois had visited the site. The humane society remains closed to the public.
Tuesday, as floodwater began to cover many St. Clair County roadways, the humane society put out a desperate plea for foster homes to evacuate the dogs housed at St. Clair County Animal Services as the building flooded. Photos and videos posted to social media by the organization show workers and volunteers carrying dogs through feet of floodwater surrounding the SCCAS, located at 1250 S. 11th St. in Belleville.
In a follow-up Facebook post, the humane society confirmed it evacuated all dogs to safety, along with rescuing one “drowning in the creek and one that was running on Hwy 15.”
The BAHS experienced flooding in the play yards and the facility’s fences were knocked down, co-executive director Savannah Rigley McDonald said in an email to the News-Democrat Wednesday afternoon.
“We were worried that we were going to flood in our kennels so we evacuated dogs to the lobby in an abundance of caution - and then sent dogs to foster. We had an amazing turn out of fosters!” Rigley McDonald said.
While the majority of BAHS’ dogs are in foster now, new intake dogs are onsite along with adult cats. The shelter has a waitlist for owner surrenders. Staff are using generators to provide necessary care.
BAHS took in 26 animals from St. Clair County Animal Services and has 195 total animals in care. The humane society’s most urgent needs are monetary donations and adoptions of large dogs, Rigley McDonald said. It doesn’t currently need any more fosters.
The organization reports the facility is unable to offer wide stray intakes, but staff are managing surrenders through an online waitlist.
The humane society took in all of the St. Clair County Animal Services’ cats when that facility flooded Tuesday, according to a press release from BAHS.
“We were the first shelter to respond and took every single cat out of catastrophic danger. After bringing back all the cats, our team went back for the dogs,” the release said.
BAHS is hosting cats and kittens in pop-up kennels in offices, the release continued.
St. Clair County Animal Services officials were not immediately available for comment Wednesday.
How can I help BAHS following flooding?
As of Wednesday, the humane society continues to ask the public for donations and willing foster homes.
The latest list of needs include:
- Monetary donations
- Generators
- Extension cords
- Slip leads for dogs
- Portable fans
- Large plastic dog kennels
It is also has a running Amazon wishlist allowing donors to make quick purchases of needed items shipped directly to BAHS.
A Facebook donation fundraiser had collected nearly $11,000 as of 1 p.m. Wednesday.
St. Clair County Animal Services
St. Clair County Animal Services also flooded Tuesday, and several organizations took in some of the shelter’s animals. SCCAS thanked staff with Helping Strays of Monroe County, Belleville Area Humane Society, Gateway Pet Guardians and Freeburg Animal Hospital in a Tuesday Facebook post for their help in the crisis.
SCCAS officials asked people who are interested in fostering to contact one of the above shelters.
This isn’t the first time the facility has experienced flooding.
“Everytime it rains, we panic- two years ago, 7/26/2022 our building St. Clair County Animal Services - Illinois flooded. Almost two years to the day later, we flooded again. But this time- it was so much worse,” SCCAS said in the Facebook post.
Another local animal shelter, Gateway Pet Guardians, urgently asked the community for help in a Tuesday press release.
“We need the community to step up to foster a dog for at least two weeks,” Alisha Vianello, Gateway Pet Guardians executive director, said in the release. “Our shelter is at maximum capacity currently, so the only way for us to help the dogs in danger of drowning is to find foster homes for our current shelter dogs.”
Gateway Pet Guardians officials said all dogs needing fosters are adults weighing 40 pounds are more, and fosters will receive dog food and all necessary supplies. No prior experience is required to foster. You can also donate to Gateway Pet Guardians online.
Donations can be dropped off at 725 N. 15th St. in East St. Louis, and requests include:
- 36- and 42-inch dog crates
- Dog treats
- Cat carriers
- Benebones
- Large easy-walk harnesses
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