Dustin Potenza, executive director of the Hopkins County Humane Society, said the money will help offset the cost of a $120,000 facility now in the works.
“What we're doing now is an intake waitlist,” Potenza explained. “As we have space available, we start working on that list to bring more animals in. So we are always at max capacity at this current facility.”
The building will be much larger and better equipped to handle different types of animals. The Humane Society currently has just 14 dog runs in its temporary facility. Along with the risks of physical injury or death during extreme weather events, pets can face dehydration and exposure. They can contract diseases or become ill without veterinary care.
Todd Blevins, Kentucky state director for Humane World for Animals, said the region has learned lessons about ensuring pets are not forgotten. He added many owners have had to give up their pets until they can find stable and safe housing.
“Maybe their owners' homes were flooded or maybe they were injured by a tornado, and so they simply had to just temporarily relinquish their animal to the shelter until they're able to get back on their feet,” Blevins observed.
According to Humane World for Animals, pet owners can keep animals safer in a natural disaster by preparing emergency supplies ahead of time, including a crate, leashes, five days of food and water, bowls, and a manual can opener.
The organization recommended making pets more identifiable by putting a tag on their collar, including a cellphone number, and keeping recent photos of them on a phone.
