Sandra Sue Benson Animal Adoption Center: $4,000
Jennifer Heard, board secretary at the Aransas Pass, Texas, shelter, tells us: “Our animal shelter, the Sandra Sue Benson Animal Adoption Center, has weathered through Hurricane Harvey in fairly good shape. [Board member] Dona Farrar and her husband, Steve, and their family members kept our animals safe and sound while the storm raged outside. The animals were all brought inside and kenneled safely away from the storm. In the aftermath, a generator was provided to maintain occasional air conditioning and a microwave. This family is truly the heart, soul, and backbone of our center.
“Throughout the week following the storm, the Farrars placed all of the animals from our center into the capable hands of other rescue groups that were not in the path of this destructive storm. Thanks to the Gulf Coast Humane Society, the Humane Society of San Antonio, the Wayward Whiskers of San Antonio, the Cowboy Cat Ranch, a farmer in George West wanting barn kitties, and one of our members, Cigden Zambrano, for fostering our two office kitties. So you see, what they say is true: ‘It takes a village.’
“We have been without power since the hurricane struck on Aug. 25.
“We need to take in pets from the community. People are dumping cats and dogs at our shelter. The most immediate need is for medical assistance. Animals need shots, flea prevention and heartworm prevention. Our first priority is to pets back with their owners. Our second priority is for community intake for animals who are lost and to treat them upon intake.
“Our fences are down. We have an 8-foot-high cyclone fence with barbed wire top that is four acres in perimeter and is down in multiple places. We need to put the fence back up.
“We are canceling the birthday bash and the Denim and Diamonds Casino Night. Since locals are financially stressed at this time, we ask that they take care of themselves first. Most of our needs can be taken care of by volunteer man hours and hard work, but our entire budget for a year comes from Casino Night. By canceling this event, we are putting our organization in financial jeopardy.”
