For Immediate Release: Sunday, June 15, 2008

Contact: Linn County Emergency Management
Phone: (319) 363-2671
Update on Animal Rescue & Pet Sheltering

The Cedar Rapids Animal Shelter was significantly damaged during flooding, forcing the evacuation of all animals. These animals were safely evacuated to the Tippie Beef Center at Kirkwood Community Colleg

Animal rescue and sheltering operations have been set up at the Animal Health Technology Center at Kirkwood Community College, 6301 Kirkwood Blvd. SW. We are providing temporary care and housing for pets whose owners had to evacuate or will not be able to return to their homes as well as providing rescue services for pets that are stranded.

At this time, the Cedar Rapids Animal Shelter is sheltering approximately 400 animals and anticipate possibly housing up to 1,000 animals.

Members of the public should NOT attempt to rescue any animals themselves in order to minimize bites as well as avoid decontamination and related health issues.

Residents Needing Assistance with their Animals
If you have a pet needing rescue or are missing your pet, please call 2-1-1 to file a report.

If you have evacuated or have lost your home and have a pet needing temporary housing, please bring your pet to the Animal Health Technology Center at Kirkwood Community College, 6301 Kirkwood Blvd. SW between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m.

If your pet is currently at Kirkwood Community College, we ask that you NOT call to check on your pet or come to visit until Tuesday, June 17 while we continue to bring in animals being rescued. After Tuesday, regular visiting hours are between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Donations
We have been overwhelmed by the generosity of the community and we thank everyone for their assistance to meet our short-term and immediate needs.

At this point, we are receiving many donations of needed items from companies such as PetSmart Charities, Hill's/Science Diet, the Cedar Rapids Gazette.

Our primary need is for cash donations which will be used for those items not easily donated by the public or companies, such as supplies for the many volunteers needed to support the hundreds of animals the facility is caring for. We specifically do not need animal food, crates, or newspapers. We could use clean towels and blankets. These can be dropped off at the Animal Health Technology Center at Kirkwood Community College.

Cash donations can be made to the Kirkwood Foundation, c/o "Friends of the Cedar Rapids Animal Shelter "(please put this in the memo section of the check) and mailed to 6301 Kirkwood Community College, 6301 Kirkwood Blvd. SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52406

Volunteers

The Cedar Rapids Animal Shelter has many partners such as the Humane Society of Missouri, Humane Society of the United States, United Animal Nations, Code3, who are providing personnel for rescue and sheltering purposes to address our short-term needs.

The organization does still need local volunteers to fill the following needs:
Registered Veterinary Technicians
Veterinary Assistants
Veterinarians
Administrative support
Experienced kennel workers
Kennel support for essential work needed to support the shelter such as washing bowls, cage cleaning, etc.

Local volunteers will be needed for many weeks. Please stay in touch for the future.

At this point, out-of-state volunteers are not needed unless you have been deployed with an agency who is officially responding at the request of Cedar Rapids.

Our Partners

Our efforts would not be possible without the support of the agencies and organizations which have stepped forward to provide much-needed assistance.

Animal Health Technology Center at Kirkwood Community College
Cedar Rapids Gazette
Code3
Hill's/Science Diet
Humane Society of Missouri
Humane Society of the United States Animal Rescue Team
Kirkwood Community College
PetSmart Charities





More recent news.