Eastern KY flooding: Local organizations stepping up to donate supplies to pets
HAMILTON, Ohio (WKRC) - Eastern Kentucky is still in dire need of help and supplies given the aftermath of the floods.
With homes swept away, people and pets are in need of everything.
“In tragedies like this, we all stand to the forefront. We all should work together,” Dr. Zeke Zekoff, President of United Pet Fund said.
Dr. Zekoff and his team with United Pet Fund recently took six tons of dog and cat food along with other supplies to Eastern Kentucky.
He shared photos of the destruction while delivering resources to the four hardest hit counties around Hazard, Kentucky.
“Well, you're driving along on 15th which is the main road getting into that area and you don't see anything until all of a sudden you caught you drive into Breathitt County, and then all of a sudden you look to the right and the left and you just see tragedy,” Zekoff said.
That is why in about two weeks, Zekoff hopes to bring another semi load down, this time with 20,000 tons of supplies.
As devastation plagues Eastern Kentucky, a number of organizations across the Tri-State are stepping up to help.
Pet Wants Hamilton is now serving as a donation destination to collect desperately needed supplies.
“While we know that there's a lot of effort to help the people that are down there, sometimes the pets, I don't want to say that they get forgotten, but they also need help as well,” said Rachel Steinman, co-owner of Pet Wants Hamilton. “And we wanted to step in and serve as basically a conduit through which the giving can help those people down in Eastern Kentucky.”
Pet Wants Hamilton is partnering with the All Dogs Come from Heaven non-profit out of Clermont County.
Pet Wants is collecting donations of unopened cat and dog food, wet and dry, cleaning supplies, paper towels, leashes, and cash donations.
Pet Wants will then give the donations to All Dogs Come from Heaven, where volunteers will be taking donations to Eastern Kentucky weekly.
The campaign runs until September 5th.
All donations will go directly to rescue efforts.
“Our hearts and prayers go out to all those people that have been hardest hit and we just want them to know that they are cared for,” Steinman said. “They are seen they are known they are loved. And we've got them up here.”
Pet Wants Hamilton is also donating $1 for every pound of dog and cat food that is purchased for donation.
There are a few ways you can help Pet Wants:
- Buy dog or cat food in-store or online under "Eastern KY Flood Donation".
- Drop off any other brand of dog or cat food, and all other donations listed in the shop.
- Give financially to under the donation link.
Stop by the shop at 139 Main Street in Hamilton Tuesday-Saturday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from Noon to 4 p.m. where the store will also collect all donations.
Pet Wants Hamilton already committed 800 pounds of their food as a start.
You can also donate to United Pet Fund.
