OUR FRIENDS IN SOUTHERN ILLINOIS

UPDATE: Rains Have Slowed, Some Flooding Down

A Caring Place Humane Society thanks each and every one who has stepped-up to help the animals at Franklin County Animal Control in Benton, Illinois and St. Francis CARE of Anna, Illinois this past week.

St. Francis C.A.R.E. a shelter who takes in animals from area pounds, was under water late last week due to regional flooding. Things have improved this week because the water has receeded and volunteers from the University have gone into the shelter and started cleaning. Animals will hopefully be able to be returned to the facility in the near future. But the latest problem they are experiencing is sickness in the animals, and volunteers, due to the bacterial contamination of the flood waters. St. Francis animals were rescued last week after the flood waters entered the building, and animals were stuck in their kennels with water rising. Thankfully volunteers came to their aid and pulled animals, soaking wet, from their cages and loaded them into vehicles.  

Franklin County Animal Control has been able to move out many dogs this weekend into rescue so they will not be euthanizing this week. The dogs and puppies are still living outside. Franklin County is a county pound that has one of the highest intakes for a county pound in southern Illinois. Despite having suffered a devestating fire on November 19, 2007 in which over 50 animals died and the entire shelter building destroyed, the county has continued taking in animals from the public. Dogs and some puppies live OUTSIDE in kennel runs each and every day; there is some roofing but minimal, and tarps covering the sides of some of the kennels when they don't tear or blow off.

On average Franklin County has 60 dogs each day needing rescue. This past week volunteers feared the rain would continue and flooding would reach them. Thankfully, that has not happened AND many animals were rescued so the pound did not euthanize THIS week. But, each day more animals arrive and the threat of euthanizing starts all over again. Therefore, A Caring Place has made a commitment to continue rescuing dogs and cats from Franklin County, pretty much weekly.

WAYS YOU CAN HELP

SHELTERS/RESCUE GROUPS & TRANSPORT HELP: People who can help with transports and other shelters/rescues who can help take in animals should contact the founder of the Illinois Animal Rescue Coalition (www.illinoisanimalrescue.org), Sally Matay at curtsshorty67@aol.com 
 
FOSTERING A DOG OR CAT IN THE CHICAGO AREA: If someone in the Chicagoland area can foster a dog or cat for A Caring Place Humane Society who is rescuing animals from these sites, they should go to our website and complete our online foster care questionnaire. Our Dog Foster Care Coordinator, Jen, will get back to them as soon as possible.  www.acaringplacehs.org   

 
GIFTS IN KIND & MONETARY DONATIONS

INSULATED dog houses are very much needed at Franklin County. Monetary donations for those dog houses can be sent to: Franklin County Animal Rescue, Attn: Dottie Darr, 13776 State Hwy 14, Benton IL 62812  If you are in the Chicagoland aera and have a dog house or dog Igloo that you can donate, contact A Caring Place Humane Society via email (acaringplace@comcast.net) so we can set up a time and place for drop-off. We will make sure your donation gets to the transport trucks so it can reach the dogs and puppies in need.
 
St. Francis C.A.R.E. of Anna, IL will need financial support as they attempt to rebuild the shelter. When we last spoke with Donna, the director, they entire office was under water so they very much need office supplies, office equipment, a computer, and a washer & dryer. Donations for this shelter can be sent through PayPal on their website:  www.petfinder.com/shelters/IL50.html

A Caring Place Humane Society of Darien, IL is taking in dogs and cats from both of these shelters so we will be in need of monetary donations to help cover some of the veterarinary costs. We have committed to taking in as many animals as we possibly can, but it will be expensive. Donations to help us can be sent through PayPal on their website:  www.acaringplacehs.org  or sent to A Caring Place Humane Society, PO Box 2481, Darien IL 60561