STARKVILLE — On Friday night, tornadoes tore through the Amory Humane Society with the animals still inside, pushing trees through the roof of the building and causing significant damage. But by Sunday afternoon, more than 80 volunteers were lined up outside of the Oktibbeha County Humane Society, ready to love on dogs that had been rescued from the damaged shelter.
Jessica Sanders, transport coordinator for OCHS, said the volunteers made a huge difference for the animals that had been through such a stressful situation.
“Some of the dogs were a little traumatized and nervous,” said Sanders, of the condition of the dogs. “Some of them were actually under the trees when they came down on the shelter. Some of the puppies had gotten out of their kennels and were hiding in some shelving.”
OCHS vans took seven dogs to the Westbrook Veterinary Clinic in Amory, but the other 20 were brought back to Oktibbeha County. The shelter was packed with the new influx of dogs.
Sarah Hankins, shelter manager for OCHS, said Saturday was “chaotic.” OCHS has 27 kennels and already had about 40 dogs in their care (including puppy litters) before the Amory dogs arrived.
On Sunday, OCHS put out an announcement on social media, asking for help with the influx of dogs. They emphasized they needed dog food, cat food, litter and volunteers to walk the dogs.
By Sunday afternoon, 84 volunteers were lined up outside of the OCHS building, waiting for their turn to walk one of the shelter’s dogs. Hankins said many also brought supplies with them, while others showed up just to drop off supplies, more than filling the OCHS lobby, porch and vans.
Sanders said they had a line “wrapped around the building” and that each dog was walked multiple times, including the ones previously housed in the shelter. Hankins said one specific dog was walked 11 times.
“They were living their best lives,” Hankins said. “Their kennels were clean, and we barely had to spot clean or anything like that, because they did all their business outside. It was sunny, everything was calm, and I think being talked to and being given treats helped a lot.”
Sanders said the effect of the volunteers has already been clear, as the socialization the dogs received helped to put them at ease after the tumultuous weekend.
“After they’ve been through an event like that, sometimes just talking to them and spending time with them makes a huge difference,” Sanders said. “Kids got to play with them and they got taken on some walks, and they got some air … it just helps a lot.”
Hankin said she can’t remember the shelter ever having that many volunteers show up in one day. Ardra Morgan, vice president of the board of OCHS, said the generosity was “overwhelming.”
“Our community has always stepped up and supported the shelter anytime we’ve needed it,” Morgan said. “We want to thank each of the 84 volunteers who showed up at the shelter to walk the dogs, and also all the others who showed up to drop off other supplies and cash. We could not do the job that we do in the community without the support of the community.”
The Amory dogs will be cared for by the Oktibbeha shelter until they are transported further north to an ASPCA emergency center, Hankins said. But the supplies that were donated at the shelter will remain in the area.
Hankins said the supplies donated will be used to help the dogs while they are in the OCHS shelter, and any excess supplies will be sent back to the Amory Humane Society as they rebuild. The OCHS fundraiser had also raised $5,785 for the Amory Humane Society by press time on Monday.
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