Storm Shelter Fundraising underway at Paws Place Dog Rescue

WINNABOW, NC (WWAY) — A Brunswick County dog rescue is raising money to build a dedicated storm shelter to protect its animals during hurricanes and severe weather.

Paws Place Dog Rescue, a nonprofit no-kill shelter based in Winnabow, laid the foundation for a future shelter building in 2016. However, the project was paused due to a lack of funding.

In 2018, Hurricane Florence caused significant flooding at the site.

“A year after we built the building, we were back to ripping it apart due to the three feet of flooding,” said Lee VanOrmer, president of the rescue’s board of directors.

The property was impacted again in 2024 during Potential Tropical Cyclone 8.

“We had flooding all the way up to the front doors, as well as flooding into our driveway trapping our staff onsite. They couldn’t get out of here,” VanOrmer said.

Paws Place is now working to raise $150,000 to construct a two-story Storm Shelter Sanctuary. The building would include an elevated, climate-controlled environment where dogs can remain safe during storms, along with access to medical supplies and special diet foods.

“We need a place onsite where we can move our dogs into an elevated second-floor climate-controlled environment where they can also have access to all of their medications and special diet foods that they are on,” VanOrmer said.

The rescue currently has $75,000 raised, including a $50,000 anonymous donation and building materials for the shelter’s framing. Paws Place is offering multiple ways for supporters to contribute, including direct donations, materials, or purchasing nameplates and kennel dedications in honor of pets.

Volunteer Linda Schoeni, who is also part of the fundraising committee, said the effort is backed by a strong group of supporters.

“There is a wonderful group of volunteers that do work day in and day out, and it’s such a great cause,” Schoeni said.

“Many people are dog lovers. You appreciate what work it requires, and you also know how much dogs can add to somebody’s life.”

Founded in 1999, Paws Place operates 26 climate-controlled kennels and five quarantine spaces. The organization does not receive state or federal funding and primarily pulls dogs from county shelters.

The goal is to have the storm shelter in place before the height of the summer storm season.