It is finally the end of this record setting hurricane season and we want to take a moment to reflect on the enormous generosity shown by our community and the commitment of donors and volunteers who gave their support.
Hurricane Delta was one of the most devastating events our shelter has ever faced. We had eighteen rows of kennels completely wiped out and destroyed, two trees fell on to the roof of our cat cottage, and among other things, the roof of our barn was severely damaged. The kennels in particular were a hard pill to swallow, as the loss directly impacted our capacity to save lives. In fact, since their installation seven years ago these kennels have helped us save THOUSANDS of lives. The amount of damage was overwhelming, but that’s when YOU stepped in.
The response from our community overpowered everything else. Almost immediately after the storm volunteers were lending their hand to help clean away debris and assess the damage. We instantly felt an outpour of love and concern from people all over the state and rescue partners across the country. It is no surprise that your support of our mission and confidence in our work sustained us after Hurricane Delta. In just three weeks our community of individuals, as well as foundations and corporations like PetSmart Charities, The Petco Foundation and Best Friends Humane Society, collectively donated nearly $120,000 to help us rebuild our campus! We are incredibly grateful for ALL of the support!
Collaboration Leads The Way
The spread of kindness didn’t stop there. A few weeks after the storm had settled we received pet food and supply donations courtesy of Greater Good Charities and St. Charles Parish Animal Shelter. We helped distribute donations to Lake Arthur, Acadiana Humane Society, and Rayne/Crowley shelters that are managed by Haseya’s New Beginning Animal Rescue. All of it was further made possible by wonderful volunteers who are so integral to the work that we do.
Our hurricane damage was cleaned up, funds were being raised to rebuild and pet food had been delivered but there was one more thing: our transport bus. Before Hurricane Delta, our previous Colorado transport had left our bus broken down states away after successfully delivering 79 cats and dogs to adoptive families and our rescue partners, Life is Better and the Humane Society of Pikes Peak Region (HSPPR). The bus, unable to make a return trip, was left in the care of HSPPR until we could make arrangements for its repairs and drive home. Experiencing a breakdown is difficult under the best of circumstances but not only was our bus states away, this was on the heels of Hurricane Laura and in the preparation of Hurricane Delta. What should have been a nightmare turned into a blessing. Hurricane Delta left behind extensive damage at our facility and there is no doubt that if our bus were on site, the fiberglass shell would not have survived.
The Other Side Of The Storm
HSPPR made the generous offer to not only aid in having our bus repaired but to bring our bus all the way back to Louisiana! HSPPR’s transport manager and a team of volunteers, traveled to LA to deliver our bus back AND followed behind with their own vehicle to transport dogs in need on their return trip! Our partnership has been a true gift to pets and the plight they face in the south.
Pikes Pike took 29 dogs back to Colorado, including one of our long time residents that many of our supporters have come to know and love: ANTONY! Antony spent 82 days in our care and received zero adoption applications. Thanks to HSPPR he had the opportunity to be exposed to a whole new pool of adopters just waiting to meet him! Sure enough, less than two weeks later Antony was ADOPTED! This type of collaboration and true kindness in the face of a natural disaster is exactly what rescue is all about. We are forever thankful for the role our rescue partners play in saving lives in Louisiana.
It is clear that Hurricane Delta was no match for our donors and volunteers. YOU truly made the impact of the storm manageable by generously donating your time, funds, and resources. All of us at AAA felt your support and it helped us navigate some challenging unknowns and obstacles. We want to say a special thanks to PetSmart Charities, The Petco Foundation, and Best Friends Humane Society for supporting the role we play within our community and recognizing how vital it is for us to rebuild. Our hope is to be fully operational by early 2021 and resume lifesaving at our normal capacity. THANK YOU, to everyone who made this possible.
