During this first week of October, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials reported that 62,161 evacuees remain housed in hotels due to the destruction of their homes or apartments by Hurricane Harvey. You read that correctly: Hurricane Harvey, which hit Texas in late August. [1]
Saline K9 Crusaders hasn’t forgotten, and they are confident the caring people of Saline haven’t forgotten either. As reported previously on The Saline Post, drop-off locations have been coordinated to accept donations of still-much-needed items to supply animal shelters in affected areas. They’d like to have everything received from this area by Sunday, October 8. [2]
Organization president Jim Peters has been pulling items from these locations for several weeks now, sometimes twice a day. He’s noted generous contributions ranging from pet food provided by Dollar General to cleaning supply kits donated by Junga’s ACE Hardware. [3]
The plan following October 8 is that Jim Peters will personally drive these items to a currently designated central distribution center, probably in Dallas. The mid-October delivery target was strategically planned to allow time for necessary road and infrastructure repairs to be sufficiently completed for handling the influx of goods.
As people from Texas struggle to recover from the devestation, having this help with the canine members of their households can mean the world to them. Erin Simpson of Wags to Wiskers in Eastgate Saline can personally empathize with the stress. “What our community is providing is one less worry.”
Laura Sobota, also of Wags to Wiskers, added: “The animals look to us to understand. People want to help. This is an important way they can.”
Saline K9 Crusaders has provided a list of ideas for people who would like to do just that this weekend. You can donate pet food, cleaning products, blankets, towels, cat litter, insect repellent (for pets and for people), storage bins with lids, collars, and leashes. Anecdotally, local merchant Pets ‘n’ Things reports having received a lot of items; but they have room for a lot more.
Drop-off locations:
- Saline City Hall (parking lot, under the east-end car port)
- About Cats N’ Dogs, 147 Keveling Drive, Saline [4]
- Bridgewater Pet Boarding, 7596 Austin Road, Saline [5]
- Friends of Michigan Animal Rescue, 51299 Arkona Road, Belleville [6]
- Pets ‘n’ Things, 541 East Michigan Avenue, Saline [7]
- Wags to Wiskers, 1363 West Michigan Avenue, Saline [8]
Saline K9 Crusaders is a not-for-profit founded in 2009. Saline locals may remember its “Strut Your Mutt” fundraisers at Mill Pond Park. That event raised $5,000 each time it was held. The group is now looking to tap into the generosity of the Saline once again in these final days of Hurricane Harvey collections to help displaced pets.
References
- “New Hurricane Harvey Stats: 22,032 Hotels Still House 62,000 Evacuees in Texas and 33 Other States” Mike Ward (October 5, 2017) Houston Chronicle.
- “Saline K9 Crusaders Collects Supplies for Animal Shelters in Hurricane Stricken Communities” Tran Longmoore (September 20, 2017) The Saline Post.
- “Dollar General Donates Shipment of Pet Food To Saline K9 Crusaders” Tran Longmoore (September 27, 2017) The Saline Post.
- About Cats N’ Dogs (Facebook Page).
- Bridgewater Pet Boarding (home page).
- Friends of Michigan Animals Rescue (home page).
- Pets ‘n’ Things (Facebook Page).
- Wags To Wiskers Saline (Facebook Page).
