Knox-Whitley Humane Association travels west to help four-legged tornado victims

“A call came in about a little dog that was lying in a field and was feared injured but upon arrival of animal control officers they found that the dog belonged to a home nearby that was destroyed and a piece of that home landed in the field where the dog was. It was also learned that the dog was blind and 14 years old. It was able to identify the piece of its home by scent and unable to see, felt safe by that piece of debris,” said Christian Mansfield, a volunteer coordinator with the Knox-Whitley Humane Association (KWHA), as he recounted one of the encounters Muhlenberg County Humane Society (MCHS) Director Janetta Smith told him.

Mansfield was one of six volunteers who traveled to western Kentucky to deliver donations and provide assistance to animals displaced during the Dec. 10 tornadoes.

While much of the volunteer work was completed in direct partnership with the Muhlenberg County Humane Society, the group’s first stop was to meet up with Kentucky Kitty Cats, Inc. rescue in Beaver Dam to deliver the first drop of supplies for displaced cats from the Bremen area.

“While our original intent was to deliver donations then proceed to areas affected by the tornadoes and search for displaced pets, we were informed that most searches had ended and that our help could be better utilized in assisting the shelter with immediate needs of cleaning and organizing of donations,” said Mansfield.

KWHA volunteers, alongside MCHS employees, unloaded numerous donations including people supplies, dog supplies, cat supplies and farm animal supplies. After all donations were surrendered to MCHS our volunteers coordinated with MCHS to assist with facility cleaning and organizing of both KWHA donations and those of surrounding communities of Muhlenberg County.

“While there, I interviewed shelter director Janetta Smith on a Facebook Live post to the Knox-Whitley Humane Association Facebook page where Janetta discussed not only current needs but ongoing needs in the weeks and months ahead as communities affected begin the rebuilding process,” said Mansfield. “Those needs are monetary donations, pet supplies and crates, fosters as displaced pets are continuing to be found, and, of course, people supplies. During the interview Janetta Smith told of the challenge of capturing displaced pets that’s homes were destroyed or severely damaged.

It was at this point during the interview that Smith told the story of a little dog who felt safe by a piece of debris. The dog was brought in for shelter and safety. It is unknown as to the condition of its owners.

“Many of the pets that are roaming near what used to be their homes are still suffering from trauma and leery of human interaction which makes obtaining the pets still a challenge for the shelter workers who are called out to these areas to bring them to safety,” said Mansfield. “​​For those that have been brought in, most have been sent out with rescues temporarily fostering these displaced pets while their owners rebuild their lives. For those whose owners were killed in the storms, they are awaiting adoption through various rescues.”

Mansfield said that Smith told the volunteers that the day after the storms, shelter responders were unfortunately faced with many pet casualties, but some were also able to save and transport injured pets to area veterinarians.

MCHS Board Director Joe Roney told volunteers that those that are still roaming or lost, will be brought to the shelter and held indefinitely for the owners while they begin the task of finding a more permanent residence in which they can be reunited with their pets, said Mansfield.

Mansfield said, Smith asked that everyone pray for the families and pets affected, and if anyone would like to make a monetary donation to their facility, they may do so by writing a check and mailing it to:

Muhlenberg County Humane Society

P.O. Box 164

Greenville, KY 42345

Physical supplies can be sent to:

Muhlenberg County Humane Society

615 Muhlenberg Drive

Greenville, KY 42345