Help urgently needed--please help if you can!

[hyphenate]

http://www.examiner.com/x-3605-DC-Animal-Welfare-Examiner~y2010m1d13-Late-Night-Fire-at-WV-Shelter-Elicits-Support-from-Local-Rescue-Group?cid=examiner-email

Late Night Fire at WV Shelter Elicits Support from Local Rescue Group

Last night at the Ritchie County Animal Shelter in Harrisville, West Virginia, a devastating fire took the lives of dogs, cats, kittens, and puppies, and additionally wiped out all the supplies of this already struggling shelter. With the economy, the unseasonably cold weather, and the general problem of pet overpopulation in rural shelters, Ritchie County is already dealing with their fair share of struggles. Thankfully, when local rescue group Homeward Trails hear the tragic news this morning, they immediately began planning how the local D.C. community could assist the surviving animals.

In a plea that went out this morning across the animal welfare community, Homeward Trails stated, “the most immediate need now is to replace the destroyed food. The building that burned included the supply rooms. As far as we know, everything is gone: food, medicines, vaccines, transport crates, refrigerators to store medicines, cat kennel cages, ex-pens for puppies, cleaning supplies, trash bags, litter pans, litter, cat food, feeding bowls, newspapers, bedding, etc.”

The rescue organization will be traveling the 300 miles up to the Ritchie County Animal Shelter this Friday, January 15th, so they are pleading with the community to drop off donations at Dog Paws and Cat Claws University in Arlington today or tomorrow. Additionally, financial donations can be made directly to the shelter by visiting http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/WV22.html and clicking the donate button. Financial donations through this website are preferred as it is the quickest way to help so that the shelter staff can buy the supplies they need immediately.

[endless october]

1. k/r

[Peregrine Took]

2. We'll send them a donation tonight. n/t

[gateley]

3. K&R nt