News
Apr 01 2011
One Month of Recovery
We have had so many blessings in the past couple of weeks at SART. Our kitties are all back in their homes, settling in and realizing that they are safe and warm and no water is coming in on top of them. They are healthy, much to everyone’s surprise, considering all they went through, and we are so thankful for that. We have had wonderful donations come in which is helping tremendously in getting supplies for the cat rooms, and helping with the cleaning and sorting of our equipment. Thank you to all of you that have contributed – every dollar is so appreciated!
This past Saturday was a new experience at SART. A vet friend of the shelter offered their services to come and neuter the remaining males at SART. It was so awesome! We had surgery performed right there at SART, and were able to assist and help with the after care for each of the animals. We worked very hard that day, doing all the normal daily routine, and then spent the afternoon doing surgeries – 28 of them! We are so grateful to our vet friend who offered this to SART – it made a huge step in our goal to have every animal spayed/neutered by the end of spring – which is something we have never been quite able to do. We are determined! We can now concentrate on our little girls, and hope to have every animal completed within the next 6 weeks. What an accomplishment for SART!
There are so many people we need to especially thank for the moral support, encouragement and expert help through this past month. Everyone pitching in with their little area of expertise has helped us find answers to many problems. Recovery is continuing, it is slow, but steady, and one day soon when people pull in at SART it will be the peaceful, welcoming and special place it has always been, for both feline and human!
Mar 16 2011
Two Weeks In
Amazement is the word of the week at SART. We have been amazed at the never-ending amount of physical work there continues to be to clean up our buildings and grounds. We are amazed at the kindness of people who have reached out and volunteered, donated, brought food, gave hugs and well wishes, and shared their concern for us. Amazement is the word.
We have had all of our residents returned to the shelter as of yesterday afternoon. All seem happy to be home; a little weary and worried, but otherwise in good shape. They will need extra attention and time to realize that they will be safe here again – time is a great healer for all – animal and human.
Thank you to all who have helped in some capacity. We would never have been able to have done what we have done without your help. At this time all the buildings have been cleaned, sanitized, some painted, and new homes provided for our kitties. We are now tackling the food and litter storage building and the filling of dumpsters. Warm, sunny weather can not come too soon!
We are progressing, but still need your help. If you would like to help in our efforts, please visit Operation Dry Paws to help us reach our goals.
”The godly are concerned for the welfare of their animals.”
~Proverbs 12:10
Mar 15 2011
We Are All OK
As we continue on with the recovery, it is not very difficult to see just how close the SART family has become. It’s a big part of the lives of everyone involved. We’d like to share a poem written by our very own hard-working volunteer, Denise, reflecting back on the day of the flood.
We Are All OK
Another lazy Monday
As we lie here in bed
The volunteers will be here soon
To make sure we are fedSomething is not right
There is water on our floor
Do we stay here on a shelf
Or swim toward the doorWe are scared
We don’t know what to do
Our only question is
Where is Mama SueWait there she is
On her face we see tears
We meow and tell her its OK
“We are all right here!”She lifts us up with a big smile
And tells us it will be OK
There are more people outside to help
We will soon forget this dayThey carry us to a better place
Where we can get high and dry
Thank you for saving us
From a place we would’ve diedYour love and dedication
Helped see us through this day
And you are so very appreciated
In so very many waysYou waded through freezing muddy water
To make sure we got out
So please put a smile on your face
And please do not poutWe see what you all are doing
And we know its all for us
We still sit back and sleep and play
And wonder, “why all the fuss”Thank you for helping us
Through this scary day
But we wanted you to know
That we are all OKBecause of you, we are all OK
~Written by Denise J.
Mar 14 2011
SART on Your News Now [Video]
We would like to thank the Your News Now team and WLIO for helping to spread the word about the flooding at SART. You can read the full article online by clicking here.
If you would like to find out how you can help us recover, please visit the Operation Dry Paws page on our site.
Mar 07 2011
Under Water
Last Monday morning, a flash flood hit SART’s property. We walked through waist-high water for 4 hours rescuing all 297 cats and kittens that reside at SART. The volunteers were then evacuated from the property by boat! Since that day, the waters subsided as fast as they came, and work has been endless in cleaning up our buildings and making them safe and healthy for our cats. Many of our residents went to “camp” at several of our volunteers’ homes this week since our facilities needed such deep cleaning before the cats could return to them. We have filled dumpsters, scrubbed with bleach, carried river water drenched condos, rugs and blankets, painted and re-organized each and every day. Hopefully this coming week we will be able to get everyone back to their homes.
We are so grateful that our cats are so healthy and strong, trust us to the end, and are enduring all of the stress and strange conditions. It makes it easier doing what we need to do knowing that our cats are okay. It has been difficult, to say the least, and as often as we see flood disasters on TV, living through one is entirely different.
There’s a long road ahead to get SART back to where it was before the flood. Much of our supplies and equipment are a total loss, and many repairs need to be made to our facilities. We’ve created an emergency relief and donation section on our website and desperately need your help in any way you can provide. If you’re interested in lending a hand in Operation Dry Paws, please visit sartohio.org/drypaws to find out how you can help.
