***PLEASE READ OUR LATEST UPDATE TO LEARN ABOUT THE CRISIS AT THIS SHELTER - YOUR HELP IS URGENTLY NEEDED***

Crowding continues to be an issue at the Kentucky River Regional Animal Shelter. At Locks 4 Paws, we are continuing to help them as much as we can, by sending donations their way, helping on the ground at the shelter, AND EVERY MONTH, WE ARE PROVIDING PET FOOD TO FAMILIES IN NEED AT THE "HIP TO SNIP" LOW COST SPAY AND NEUTER PROJECT IN THE COMMUNITY. EVERY PET THAT IS SIGNED UP TO BE STERILIZED WILL RECEIVE A FREE BAG OF PET FOOD FROM US.

It’s been months since the catastrophic floods hit Eastern Kentucky, where so many lives were turned upside down and countless homes destroyed, displacing thousands of people and their beloved pets.

People showed up barefoot and drenched from head-to-toe in flood water with their pet’s fur matted with sand, mud and blood. These people had lost everything in the flood but the clothes on their back and their pets that stuck with them through it all. Many of them are still homeless and living at local Red Cross shelters.

Although the devastation seemed to be endless with extensive loss of life and destruction of property, the locals are resilient. The Kentucky River Regional Animal Shelter is overflowing. On any given day, the shelter cares for 200+ dogs, 70+ puppies and routinely run out of food to feed these dogs. It takes a 50 pound bag just to feed the puppies! Yes, this is an animal shelter but many of these dogs are owned but have nowhere to go until their owners are back on their feet and the shelter is determined to keep them safe and fed until that happens.

This is where we come in…they have so many animals, there is usually not a single kennel or crate open. Dogs and cats are stacked in portable crates in every single room and hallway.

In a single day, it is not uncommon to see upwards of 30 dogs in 30 minutes brought in. Multiply that by hours and days and what are the results? Shocking.

These dogs come in wagging their tails and when they see they are going to ‘the back’, their legs start shaking and they try to put on the brakes. It is devastating to see. This is a typical day at many open access shelters and a huge part of why we do whatever we can to keep pets in the home with their owners and out of situations such as this.

The employees and volunteers at the shelter work tirelessly day in and day out just trying to keep their head above water and get very little support and appreciation. It takes hours just to clean the puppy room alone and then it has to be done all over again…puppies are messy when they are little! The work the three full time employees and volunteers do is incredible and most days it appears no end is in site. The women who work there are truly inspirational and without their dedication, so many more animals would have to be euthanized. They do so much with so little.

We joined forces with Starfish Animal Rescue, who’s team of rescuers go down every other week to pull animals and bring them back to Chicago for adoption. It is an outstanding feat, yet unfortunately the rescue fillsl up again within a day. For now, we focus on and celebrate the power of teamwork and on the number of lives we helped save. We have chosen to be a part of the solution that helps to slow and eventually stop the cycle.

We have implemented a Locks 4 Paws Pet Pantry onsite to divert as many animals as we can and provide food to buy the displaced dogs enough time to be reunited with their families and provide assistance to owners who are willing to keep pets in their home until a better place can be found for them. Our Pet Pantries are one of the most important parts of our approach to saving lives and here it is absolutely essential that we keep it stocked and the animals fed. The shelter is struggling to keep it's head above water and we HAVE to help. Life is terrifying for these displaced pets and some may never recover.

Please help us give these pet families the happy ending they deserve. They have endured so much already, helping them survive it intact, is the least we can do. Donations will be shipped directly to the Kentucky River Regional Animal Shelter, providing the food and supplies necessary to care for the abandoned pets awaiting their turn to be adopted or reunited with their owners. Please send a donation today.

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