Animal shelter facing flooding needs help

MT. JULIETTE, Tennessee (WTVF) – Volunteers have come together to help with flooding at an animal shelter so rescuers can go and rescue newborn kittens that were stuck in a window well.

Real rescue in Mt. Juliet has helped house animals displaced by the Waverly Flood, as well as Hurricane Ida evacuees from Louisiana, and now they themselves need help.

On Saturday, water poured into the shelter. “[It] quickly flooded our atrium where we keep some of our kittens, ”said General Manager Amy Simcik.

She said there were several inches of standing water. Some cats jumped onto higher ground while others played on it. “Some people were laughing because we had towels stretched out, and before we knew it the water was really squirting out, it looked like a really sad attempt to stop the water, but it came so quickly,” Simcik said. .

They appealed for help and the volunteers took action. “We brought in a carpet company here on their day off, Quality Carpet Cleaners, and they brought fans, they brought the wet and dry vacuums,” Simcik said.

While the shelter was flooded, they had to intervene in an emergency. A cat and her newborn kittens were in a window well during heavy rains. Hopefully the rescued kittens will be offered for adoption in a few months.

“When we finally decompressed and realized how amazing it was, for the community to give, to allow us to come out into the community and give, it was very overwhelming, our team is just beyond gratitude “said Simcik.

On Monday, water began to seep into the building again. Now they are trying to find a way to stop the flooding. “It will cost over $ 15,000 to get a new drainage system,” said Simcik. “It’s a bit hard.”

They hope to be able to fix it with the support of the community. “We actually have our grand opening on October 9, and through thick and thin we have it,” Simcik said.

They accept donations through a Paypal account.

Originally they were based in Lebanon but just moved to Lebanon Pike in Mt. Juliet to have more space. They are also planning to do some renovations eventually.