EMERGENCY FLOOD RELIEF DONATIONS NEEDED
FOR WE CARE SHELTER ANIMALS

Make a donation to the We Care Emergency Flood Relief Fund

We Care Animal Rescue's St. Helena Refuge has been destroyed by torrential floodwaters, and we are now in desperate need of emergency donations to rebuild our shelter facility.

At 1:00 a.m. on Sunday, January 1, Shelter Director Chelsea Sheridan received a call from the police alerting her that water was rising to alarming levels in the area. She and a team of shelter staff and volunteers responded immediately to rescue the cats from the disaster. The group waded through waist high water to get into the building, and worked through the night to evacuate all the cats. All 120 animals were successful evacuated the dogs were very quickly put into foster homes and the cats are currently residing in a modular trailer on a part of the property that is on higher ground. They are not kept in cages and are able to roam about freely.

Photo credit: Susan McWilliams

The cats were found in a panic, some literally swimming to keep their heads above water. Sopping wet from being covered in water, cats were clinging to shelves and any perch they could manage to find. As a result of the trauma, many of the cats have developed upper respiratory infections and one cat who was trapped in high water is being treated for hypothermia.

The devastation was of a magnitude that is difficult to describe. The front yard and entire building were under several feet of water. Everything from carriers, chairs, shelves, tables, and litter boxes were floating in the water.

This is an unprecedented disaster and fundraising challenge for We Care Animal Rescue. In order to raise these funds, we are counting on our supporters, members of the community, and animal advocates everywhere to help by making an emergency donation to the We Care Emergency Flood Relief Fund.

Donations are needed to install a large modular building unit on high ground to serve as the new shelter facility, to run electric and water to the building, and to rebuild a fully enclosed outdoor recreational and exercise area for cats.

Photo credit: Susan McWilliams

As you know, many of our cat residents are "special needs" animals coping with conditions ranging from blindness to hip dysplasia and kidney failure. They have suffered horrendous abuses in their lives, and then found refuge, for life, at We Care. Now, they need your help more than ever before. We must guarantee their safety and provide them with a new home.

Please respond now with an emergency donation to help the shelter residents. Thank you for helping at this time of urgent need.