ERWIN, Tenn. — The Unicoi County Animal Shelter in Erwin is asking the community for donations after around 4 feet of floodwater wiped out the interior of the building.
The shelter's director of four years, Cody Walker, said it's weird to see the shelter so empty and hear it so quiet. Staff were able to rescue all of its animals as the water rose in late September, totaling more than 90 animals in its care.
"Everybody was safe. Everybody was accounted for," Walker said. "There was water in here as they were still dragging them out."
According to the shelter's Facebook page, shelters across Tennessee rescued animals and took them in, including the Nashville Humane Society and local surrounding shelters.
Walker said community members also came in droves to foster animals.
"People's houses drifted down the river," he said. "And the fact that they're still willing to help us, regardless of the worst circumstances out there, it really shows us everything about how much people care about us being here."
The shelter is still in charge of animal control services, but solutions vary on the situation, the director said. Walker thanked the Washington County and Sullivan County animal shelters for pulling a lot of the weight.
The foundation of the building is still intact. Walker said businesses and volunteers have been a tremendous help in getting the shelter gutted.
"Our building's still good," Walker said. "We just have to rebuild, and we lost everything that we had. So we've got to completely restart from new."
The director of the shelter said it would take around $500,000 to rebuild. The animal shelter managed to raise around $200,000 so far.
Walker said his goal is to build back bigger and better, with larger crates and yard areas for dogs and cats and a new intake waiting room.
"I want the public to walk in here and honestly just blow them away," Walker said. "I want them to see how much better it is, versus what it was."
To donate to the Unicoi County Animal Shelter, people can visit their Facebook page. They are taking donations through Venmo, PayPal, CashApp, and other donation sites. The shelter said it does not need physical donations right now.
