HOUSTON HEIGHTS – Inside the Friends for Life Animal shelter, staff is cleaning up after water spilled into the building during Beryl.
KPRC 2 Reporter Corley Peel spoke with Wellness Manager, Angie Topper.
“The wind was so strong that we had used a chain to close the front door,” Topper said. “We had two staff members that had stayed the night luckily, and they woke up around 5 [a.m.] to the door just flying open and water just coming in. So, they were cleaning nonstop. We definitely have a roof leak somewhere that will have to eventually get fixed, and the water came down on our scale and it was all the way in the hallway too.”
The shelter used three generators and airducts to help with air flow throughout the shelter as staff worked to maintain power before it came back on Wednesday afternoon.
Fortunately, the 85 animals inside the shelter were safe. The shelter is asking the public to hold off on bringing in strays.
“We are not taking in any animals right now. We’re actually trying to find fosters for the ones that are here,” Topper added.
Outside, a large tree fell on the shelter’s fence. The shelter was still recovering from the Derecho in May. Topper said the damage from Beryl is much worse, and it’s unclear how long it will take the shelter to recover.
“It’s heartbreaking honestly because every animal matters, so even the tree matters. It’s just crazy to see all the destruction that happens after these storms,” she said.
To volunteer, foster, adopt or donate to Friends For Life visit friends4life.org or email info@friends4life.org or call (713) 863-9835