TUNICA, MS (abc24.com) - The little shelter that could. Tunica's Humane Society is quickly putting itself back together after last week's damaging storms.
Winds blew a roof off kennels, knocking over fences and whipping debris everywhere. The shelter is all volunteer and depends year round on outside help and contributions. These last few days, those volunteers have stepped up.
"There was debris laying everywhere and broken lumber with nails sticking up where the roof had torn off," says director Sandy Williams. She says they've struggled since losing thousands last month when the county cut their yearly budget in half.
"And then this catastrophe happened and we really had no money or funds on hand to deal with this. But we had to get the roof back up there."
It's up now, and work is almost done on all the remaining damage. Williams credits ready volunteers for their swift action.
"Donations were made to buy materials. Individuals donated their time. We had a contractor who just moved here from New Mexico, Curtis, on the job Friday."
Materials cost about $5,000. "We've received donations from all across the country," Williams tells abc24.com. Then there's the labor.
"Over the weekend we had a wonderful crew of volunteers. On Monday and Tuesday another crew. We're just about complete," she says.
With so much work to be done, though, adoptions have suffered. The shelter has a full house of almost 150 dogs. It's an all time high.
But Williams is convinced homes will come, just like the volunteers did.
"We just kind of live a day at a time here," she says. "God always provides for these animals and we'll be okay. We'll be here."
