Update from the Ontario SPCA Huron County Branch in Goderich

Ontario SPCA provides aid to homeless pets

Goderich, ON (August 26, 2011) – After the F3 tornado hit the town of Goderich on Sunday August 21, 2011 the Ontario SPCA has been working tirelessly to help the animals in this devastated community. Below is an update from Kara Gosleigh, Ontario SPCA Huron County Branch Manager in Goderich, ON.

We want to thank everyone who worked collaboratively to help the animals affected by the tornado. The Huron County Branch was deemed unsafe and we were forced to evacuate all the animals in the shelter. The evacuation went smoothly with the invaluable assistance of the Ontario Provincial Police. They have been exceptionally helpful and responsive during this time of emergency.

Ontario SPCA Officers, Agent Scott Silvia, Agent Norm Ryan, Inspector Carol VanderHeide and Inspector Jennifer Bluhm came to our aid and the animals were quickly and efficiently removed from the shelter. They have been safely relocated to various adoption centres to be cared for. We are extremely thankful for this assistance.

The Town of Goderich has also rallied with their support and designated a temporary space to house incoming animals, located at East Side Auto on Parsons Court in Goderich. We will also continue to maintain a presence at the command centre for the town at the Knights of Columbus Centre. The Red Cross, OPP, Victim Services and Salvation Army are also working to provide support to the Goderich community from this building.

Additional rescue efforts were concentrated on animals that had not been evacuated from residences. We were working from a list that we were given by people in the damaged zone. Once again, the OPP came to our assistance and escorted us downtown to each of these addresses to look for trapped animals. This was also done with the coordination of Ministry of Labour and they assisted us in purchasing approved masks, safe for asbestos contamination, to protect rescue workers from unsafe conditions. An engineer accompanied our rescue team and he gave us the approval to enter or not enter each building, depending on the structure. One building was condemned but thanks to our team and supporters, we were able to get a cat out. A lizard and two turtles were also rescued. Sadly, several of the homes did not contain the animals listed, and we can only hope that they escaped out of blown windows or doors. We will go out again in a few days to these homes and try again.

To help the community, we are walking in damaged neighbourhoods to extend our help, and to look for displaced animals. Over the next few days we will work with other organizations to try to reconnect lost animals with their owners.

We would like thank all of the volunteers that spent the day at our table assisting folks and staff. My staff members Laurie Hill, Julie Denomme and Jennifer Adamson have gone over and above their call of duty. We also want to extend a huge thank you to the OPP, especially Constable Calum Rankin, Goderich town councillor Kevin Morrison and the Red Cross for their assistance in helping us help the animals of Goderich.

Kara Gosleigh, Manager, Ontario SPCA Huron County Branch

If you wish to support the rescue and relief care provided up in Goderich and for the care of the animals that have been forced to leave their homes, please call 1-888-668-7722 ex 356 or visit our Huron County Branch on line donation site

To view photos of the Ontario SPCA team hard at work, visit our flickr site www.flickr.com/photos/ontariospca/?saved=1