Earlier this week, there was an electrical fire in the basement of our shelter building. While the fire itself was contained, smoke and heat traveled into the areas we use. This caused smoke damage to the shelter ceiling and the east-facing wall. Part of our back storage area was also damaged, and we lost several essential items, including kennels, cat carriers, cleaning supplies, and adoption event equipment. Some of these items were melted or made unusable by the heat and smoke.
Most importantly, thanks to the quick thinking and help of the employees at Centerville Produce, almost every cat was safely relocated to foster or permanent homes, and no animals were seriously harmed (two cats are still being monitored after smoke inhalation, and three of our recovering ferals escaped during the chaos and are actively being searched for). We're incredibly grateful to them, and so are the cats and kittens they helped save.
Our landlord is covering the major infrastructure repairs the building needs, including a full overhaul of the electrical system and major plumbing upgrades. These repairs were already needed and will make our day-to-day work much easier, and we are very thankful for that support!
However, we'll need help to repair the smoke damage in the shelter space, replace lost supplies, and make major improvements to the interior layout. This situation gives us a chance to rebuild with a clear plan instead of just cleaning up and patching things back together.
That’s where this fundraiser comes in!
Funds raised through this GoFundMe will be used for repairs and improvements in the shelter space that aren't covered by infrastructure work, including:
- Adding a secure entry vestibule so visitors don’t step straight from outside into the cat areas, with space at the entrance for posted updates, FAQs, and shelter information
- Fixing smoke damage to the shelter ceiling and walls
- Lowering the ceiling height during repairs to improve air quality, make the space easier to clean, and lower heating and cooling costs in a building with very high ceilings
- Remodeling the back half of the building to create better work areas, organized storage, and a dedicated quarantine room that can be accessed separately to help prevent illness from spreading to adoptable cats
- Separating adoption areas from work areas so visitors can see what we do while keeping daily care and cleaning calmer and less stressful for cats
- Creating a designated wet room/work area, including a dish sink and mop sink, to make cleaning, food prep, and sanitation easier and more effective
- Turning one of our large blank walls into an enrichment wall with shelves and climbing areas that give adoptable cats more room to move, play, and relax outside of their kennels
- Continuing to provide food, litter, and veterinary care for foster homes and community members while the shelter space is temporarily offline
These repairs and upgrades will allow us to reopen a shelter that is cleaner, safer, more energy-efficient, and better designed for both our adoptable cats and the people caring for them. Our goal isn't to create an Instagram-worthy shelter; we just want our building to be stronger and safer going forward.
Thank you for helping us turn a stressful situation into a real chance at long-term improvement for the cats and the community that supports them!
Organizer
T
Traphouse of Appanoose County, Inc.
Beneficiary