HOUSTON – Walking over wires and air ducts, Behavior Training Manager, Melissa Taylor, gave KPRC 2 a post storm tour of the Friends For Life Animal Shelter.
“The portable air conditioner feeds cool air into each kennel and just imagine how scary it is for the dogs,” said Taylor.
According to Taylor, the temperature inside the shelter varies from 70 to 90 degrees, depending on the time of day. The shelter is at capacity. With two generators, it is still not enough to comfort the animals.
“It’s pretty terrible. Some of them don’t feel like eating,” said Taylor.
The yard where the dogs play is covered with debris and fallen trees. Tarp is covering part of the damaged fence.
Taylor said the shelter has had an issue with people trying to return fosters or dropping off their pets after experiencing damage to their homes.
“Many of those folks had animals and now they don’t have a place for the animals and now they’re bringing them to the shelter. So we are overloaded. We are desperately asking for help. From fosters for people to take in animals. Just for a week, two weeks,” said Taylor.
Volunteers and supplies are also sparse.
“We’re solicitating for donations, monetary otherwise just to keep things going here. As of now, we don’t know when this is going to let up,” said Taylor.
To volunteer, foster, adopt or donate to Friends For Life visit friends4life.org or email info@friends4life.org or call (713) 863-9835
Other animal shelters in the area are also struggling after the storm.
According to a statement from a spokesperson for BARC:
“They had to stop adoptions and intake for two days (Friday and Saturday). They canceled surgeries, too. They had no power in three buildings, and one building is still having A/C issues. The animals were/are okay, but they did not allow non-essential staff to work because of safety issues. They are very close to maximum capacity. They will be open tomorrow for adoptions to help clear kennel space. They need to keep things moving because if they don’t the situation could cascade pretty fast.”
To contact BARC call (832) 395-9084.
Address: 3300 Carr St, Houston, TX 77026
The Rescued Pets Movement posted images on social media of the damage sustained on their roof after the storm, along with a message asking for help as they try to reopen their doors and continue finding Houston-area pets forever homes.
“Without a stable roof, it’s challenging to provide the safe and comfortable environment our rescued pets deserve,” the post from RPM reads.
If you’d like to donate, you can do so on the RPM’s official website here.