Columbus Co. Animal Shelter gets huge donations from community after hurricane

COLUMBUS COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — As the Columbus County Animal Shelter’s resources have been strained with the influx of displaced animals, the donations are coming when they are most direly needed.

Joey Prince with the animal shelter said Maggie Elliott asked her customers of Jay West’s Salon in Winston Salem to bring food and supplies to be donated to the Columbus County Shelter. She was moved to do so after seeing the devastation suffered on various news programs as well as social media photos from her  friends affected by the storm.

Prince said Elliott and her nephews loaded up a pick up truck and U-Haul trailer early this morning and brought all of the supplies to the Columbus County Shelter. Prince said she has a lifetime love of animals, as well as many rescue animals of her own. She made the run both to help the shelter animals and as a memorial to the memory of her 12 year old Shepherd, who recently passed.

Prince said Carolina Boxer Rescue also came out today, donating food raised at their annual Boxer Bash, held October 16, 2016 held in Murrell’s Inlet. The event “charges” a bag of food for entry. The food raised was brought to the shelter by Christine Dean and family from Loris, SC (Pictured with Daughter on Pick Up)

Many local people have also dropped off food and supplies for the animals. One local resident has donated a supply of firewood for the shelter to trade for any needed supplies. A vet’s office in the area donated a large amount of food, supplies and carriers that their customers had brought to the office. Two ladies who live in Wilmington loaded a pick up truck of supplies and brought it to the shelter

The Columbus Humane Society also continues to lend its support during this time, providing needed transport of animals for vet care as well as donating food and supplies.

Prince said that staff of the animal shelter have been overwhelmed with the support from both the community as well as those who have previously lived here or have ties to the area.

“It has been amazing,” Prince said. “It’s really good to see people pull together during a crisis.”

The shelter has processed more than 100 animals in the week since the storm began. Shelter staff have been putting in 12 hour days since 10/8/16, both in rescuing animals and caring for them. Power outages resulted in staff had to complete many of their duties, such as feeding and cleaning the animal areas by flashlight for the first few days after the storm.

Anyone wishing to donate to the animals or adopt from the shelter, may visit the shelter at 288 Legion Drive in Whiteville.