Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
Bryant sets up shelter for animals affected by Flood of 2008
 |
| Barb Bryant of rural Keokuk cuddles a pup born at her flood shelter. |
By Cindy Iutzi/Gate City Staff Writer
A rural Keokuk resident was summoned into community service during the flood this spring and summer by her conscience, her heart and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.
“On June 19, I was contacted at home by the state veterinarian, Dr. David Schmitt, and asked if I could operate an emergency shelter,” said Barb Bryant of rural Keokuk. “I asked, ‘When do I start?' He said, ‘6 a.m. tomorrow (Friday, June 20).'”
Bryant was then contacted by Ag Security Coordinator Mark Shearer and worked with the state through him.
Two Homeland Security trailers loaded with equipment were waiting at the Lee County Fairgrounds in Donnellson, Schmitt said. Volunteers, including Bob Dodds, director of Lee County Extension and his wife, Mary, and volunteers from Kinship Circle already had arrived and were getting things ready for the displaced pets to start arriving.
The shelter was to operate at the fairgrounds until July 5, in order to give fair organizers plenty of time to get ready for the Lee County Fair scheduled to begin July 9.
As she geared up for the new challenge, Bryant continued to care for the 15 pets at her home that had been displaced by flooding in the Tri-State Area.
The “originals,” as she referred to those first pets, had lived with their families in Pontoosuc, Ill., Alexandria, Mo., and along the Valley Road area in Keokuk. Pet owners had evacuated their pets early in flood season when the water looked likely to keep rising.
“Those owners were good about coming back for their pets,” she said.
One of the 15 dogs, a pregnant stray lab mix Bryant named Molly, came up out of the flood-swollen Mississippi River at Victory Park. Since living at Bryant's country home, Molly has given birth to seven puppies.
Undaunted by the new call on her time, Bryant, a member of the Animal Protection League based in Lee County, set up the shelter and opened for animals rescued from the flood as far away as Oakville.
“A lot of these animals came in smelling bad,” Bryant said. “We had to call them strays, because we don't know their names.”
As time went on, the strays were given names by the volunteers.
As the rescued animals streamed in, the decontamination process began, with the “yuck” from the flood water washed from dogs and cats alike, she said. Emily Buffington and Joyce Young were in charge of giving them baths.
Volunteers with national animal advocate groups, such as the Best Friends Animal Society and Bob Rude, went to Oakville and fished dogs from the water and cats from trees. Some families surrendered their animals until they could relocate. Some of the animals were found when washed up from the Des Moines or Mississippi rivers. One small female dog was brought by the flood to Croton and by a rescuer to the fairgrounds.
“We opened the facility on June 20,” Bryant said. “Some of these animals have been here since day one.”
At the height of the flood emergency, the Donnellson facility served as a temporary home for 101 pets. The labor of love also was labor intensive.
Dogs would be walked four times a day, all the animals fed, have their cages cleaned and their medical needs addressed. Several dogs had skin conditions from being in the flood water.
Many of the dogs and cats were spayed or neutered so that unclaimed pets could be directed into the animal rescue network. Some needed treatment for heartworms. All the animals were wormed and given basic shots including rabies. The vaccines were supplied by the Iowa Department of Agriculture.
Several area veterinarians pitched in and helped.
Dr. Anthony Beale, who was new in town and had been working just one day at Kritchel's Animal Hospital, Keokuk; Dr. Bill Jordan of Donnellson; Dr. Noll of New London and Dr. Ryan Walrath of Hamilton, Ill., furnished medical attention for the animals. Dr. Ross of Keokuk offered to board animals that hadn't been placed for $5 per day.
On June 27, shelter volunteers were notified by Brenda Mohrfield of the fair board that the animals had to get off the fairgrounds.
Volunteers Buffington, Dirk Fellows, Joyce Young, members of the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, among others, moved the pets on July 1 from Donnellson to the Bryant Farm when the search for an alternative facility failed.
Local volunteers and volunteers from Noah's Wish, a national not-for-profit, animal welfare organization with a mission to keep animals alive during disasters, set up cages and equipment and stayed to help with the chores.
Throughout the shelter operations, Wal-Mart and Purina donated feed and Dirk and Jody Fellows brought in bags of puppy chow, toys and treats. Hoffman's in Fort Madison gave Bryant a $100 gift certificate in their store and Keokuk Motor Lodge gave reduced rates to volunteers.
Volunteers from the national animal advocacy network Kinship Circle worked in Donnellson alongside local volunteers.
“We had eight tents here at one time,” Bryant said.
Bryant's husband, Mel, who also helped with the sheltered animals, said the storms and gnats were “something awful” for the campers.
Kinship Circle member Craig Hill of New Jersey stayed with the animals for the whole time.
Asked what his motivation is for animal rescue work, Hill replied, “They needed us. The animals needed help. You can't ignore that.”
Although Bryant put in 16-hour days while the rescue animals were at her home, she said the outpouring of help from area residents and total strangers has been an eye-opener.
“We have had so much help,” she said. “It's amazing how something like this brings them out.”
Volunteer Jody Fellows admires the work and care Bryant devoted to the rescue of flood animals.
“Of course lots of people helped her,” Fellows said. “She's that kind of person that brings out the very best of people.
“But if it had not been for Barb, these precious, sad critters would not have made it through the flood and the aftermath. Her volunteers have worked wonders with these animals, bringing them back from their fear using love and compassion.
“She not only gave of herself, but made sure any other resources were tapped that could help.”
Volunteers came from Anchorage, Alaska; New York City; St. Louis; Muleshoe, Texas; Ann Arbor, Mich.; Hamilton, Ill.; Charlotte, N.J.; New Orleans, La.; Washington, D.C.; Grindstone, Pa.; Harwood, Md.; Tallahassee, Fla.; and many cities and towns in Iowa.
Finding homes for the animals was a big part of the rescue effort.
The Robert Rude Ranch in Maryland said it would take the pit bulls and two ladies in Galena, Ill., took 10 cats into foster care as part of Safe Haven.
Mary Parker of St. Louis took five cats and two dogs to the Open Door Sanctuary in St. Louis, and others took one or two or more to place in their areas.
“One of the girls is taking a cat named after Mel,” Bryant said. “He's (the cat) going to Florida.”
Barb, Mel and all of their help said in one way or another that they go through the effort, black gnats, sleeplessness and heat for one reason only - for the love of animals.
“Barb has been an animal person since I've known her,” Mel said.
“If it wasn't' for Mel, I wouldn't be able to do what I do,” Barb said.
The couple has been married for 20 years.
“On June 19, I was contacted at home by the state veterinarian, Dr. David Schmitt, and asked if I could operate an emergency shelter,” said Barb Bryant of rural Keokuk. “I asked, ‘When do I start?' He said, ‘6 a.m. tomorrow (Friday, June 20).'”
Bryant was then contacted by Ag Security Coordinator Mark Shearer and worked with the state through him.
Two Homeland Security trailers loaded with equipment were waiting at the Lee County Fairgrounds in Donnellson, Schmitt said. Volunteers, including Bob Dodds, director of Lee County Extension and his wife, Mary, and volunteers from Kinship Circle already had arrived and were getting things ready for the displaced pets to start arriving.
The shelter was to operate at the fairgrounds until July 5, in order to give fair organizers plenty of time to get ready for the Lee County Fair scheduled to begin July 9.
As she geared up for the new challenge, Bryant continued to care for the 15 pets at her home that had been displaced by flooding in the Tri-State Area.
ADVERTISEMENT |
“Those owners were good about coming back for their pets,” she said.
One of the 15 dogs, a pregnant stray lab mix Bryant named Molly, came up out of the flood-swollen Mississippi River at Victory Park. Since living at Bryant's country home, Molly has given birth to seven puppies.
Undaunted by the new call on her time, Bryant, a member of the Animal Protection League based in Lee County, set up the shelter and opened for animals rescued from the flood as far away as Oakville.
“A lot of these animals came in smelling bad,” Bryant said. “We had to call them strays, because we don't know their names.”
As time went on, the strays were given names by the volunteers.
As the rescued animals streamed in, the decontamination process began, with the “yuck” from the flood water washed from dogs and cats alike, she said. Emily Buffington and Joyce Young were in charge of giving them baths.
Volunteers with national animal advocate groups, such as the Best Friends Animal Society and Bob Rude, went to Oakville and fished dogs from the water and cats from trees. Some families surrendered their animals until they could relocate. Some of the animals were found when washed up from the Des Moines or Mississippi rivers. One small female dog was brought by the flood to Croton and by a rescuer to the fairgrounds.
“We opened the facility on June 20,” Bryant said. “Some of these animals have been here since day one.”
At the height of the flood emergency, the Donnellson facility served as a temporary home for 101 pets. The labor of love also was labor intensive.
Dogs would be walked four times a day, all the animals fed, have their cages cleaned and their medical needs addressed. Several dogs had skin conditions from being in the flood water.
Many of the dogs and cats were spayed or neutered so that unclaimed pets could be directed into the animal rescue network. Some needed treatment for heartworms. All the animals were wormed and given basic shots including rabies. The vaccines were supplied by the Iowa Department of Agriculture.
Several area veterinarians pitched in and helped.
Dr. Anthony Beale, who was new in town and had been working just one day at Kritchel's Animal Hospital, Keokuk; Dr. Bill Jordan of Donnellson; Dr. Noll of New London and Dr. Ryan Walrath of Hamilton, Ill., furnished medical attention for the animals. Dr. Ross of Keokuk offered to board animals that hadn't been placed for $5 per day.
On June 27, shelter volunteers were notified by Brenda Mohrfield of the fair board that the animals had to get off the fairgrounds.
Volunteers Buffington, Dirk Fellows, Joyce Young, members of the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, among others, moved the pets on July 1 from Donnellson to the Bryant Farm when the search for an alternative facility failed.
Local volunteers and volunteers from Noah's Wish, a national not-for-profit, animal welfare organization with a mission to keep animals alive during disasters, set up cages and equipment and stayed to help with the chores.
Throughout the shelter operations, Wal-Mart and Purina donated feed and Dirk and Jody Fellows brought in bags of puppy chow, toys and treats. Hoffman's in Fort Madison gave Bryant a $100 gift certificate in their store and Keokuk Motor Lodge gave reduced rates to volunteers.
Volunteers from the national animal advocacy network Kinship Circle worked in Donnellson alongside local volunteers.
“We had eight tents here at one time,” Bryant said.
Bryant's husband, Mel, who also helped with the sheltered animals, said the storms and gnats were “something awful” for the campers.
Kinship Circle member Craig Hill of New Jersey stayed with the animals for the whole time.
Asked what his motivation is for animal rescue work, Hill replied, “They needed us. The animals needed help. You can't ignore that.”
Although Bryant put in 16-hour days while the rescue animals were at her home, she said the outpouring of help from area residents and total strangers has been an eye-opener.
“We have had so much help,” she said. “It's amazing how something like this brings them out.”
Volunteer Jody Fellows admires the work and care Bryant devoted to the rescue of flood animals.
“Of course lots of people helped her,” Fellows said. “She's that kind of person that brings out the very best of people.
“But if it had not been for Barb, these precious, sad critters would not have made it through the flood and the aftermath. Her volunteers have worked wonders with these animals, bringing them back from their fear using love and compassion.
“She not only gave of herself, but made sure any other resources were tapped that could help.”
Volunteers came from Anchorage, Alaska; New York City; St. Louis; Muleshoe, Texas; Ann Arbor, Mich.; Hamilton, Ill.; Charlotte, N.J.; New Orleans, La.; Washington, D.C.; Grindstone, Pa.; Harwood, Md.; Tallahassee, Fla.; and many cities and towns in Iowa.
Finding homes for the animals was a big part of the rescue effort.
The Robert Rude Ranch in Maryland said it would take the pit bulls and two ladies in Galena, Ill., took 10 cats into foster care as part of Safe Haven.
Mary Parker of St. Louis took five cats and two dogs to the Open Door Sanctuary in St. Louis, and others took one or two or more to place in their areas.
“One of the girls is taking a cat named after Mel,” Bryant said. “He's (the cat) going to Florida.”
Barb, Mel and all of their help said in one way or another that they go through the effort, black gnats, sleeplessness and heat for one reason only - for the love of animals.
“Barb has been an animal person since I've known her,” Mel said.
“If it wasn't' for Mel, I wouldn't be able to do what I do,” Barb said.
The couple has been married for 20 years.
 |
 |
|
| Enrollment up at Hamilton schools; state funding down | Around the Tri-State Area this weekend |
Reader Comments
| Please log in or create an account by filling out the form on the right. | |
