Animal shelter in Belleville reports evacuating 40 dogs from flood

BELLEVILLE, Ill. – The Belleville Area Humane Society cleans up flood debris caused by severe flooding on Tuesday.

The St. Clair Animal Control Center was closed due to flooding on Tuesday. Placement manager at the Belleville Area Humane Society, Amanda Roos, said they went to their partner’s shelter to rescue the animals from standing water.

“I arrived at our partner shelter, St. Clair County Animal Services around 7:15 a.m. when the flooding was in full effect,” Roos said. “We were pulling dogs out of water up to their necks, and pulling cats out and putting everyone in crates, and setting up on the sidewalk to at least get them out of the majority of the floodwaters.”

The Belleville Area Humane Society was unaffected by the flooding, but partnered with Gateway Pet Guardians and Stray Rescue of St. Louis to save pets from the flash flood.

“Animal Control, also known as St. Clair County Services, they are always busy so they were full,” said Kim Vrooman, executive director of the Belleville Area Humane Society. “We were able to evacuate more than 40 evacuated dogs in a short time.”

The dogs were temporarily housed at the Belleville Area Humane Society, but on Wednesday the kennels were empty.

“I think we received over 200 foster family requests yesterday,” Vrooman said. “A lot of outpouring from the community showing up with donations, showing up with supplies or showing up as a volunteer, it was really amazing.”

Vrooman said they are working with St. Clair County Animal Services to determine a plan while they are safe from flood damage.

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