When you purchase items from the iHeartDogs store, a portion of those proceeds go to GreaterGood. GreaterGood uses those donations to save many dogs in need. Thanks to loyal customers like you, many dogs’ lives are improved with these donations. This shelter in the Bahamas is one of the many places that have benefited from GreaterGood donations.
After Hurricane Dorian, the Humane Society of Grand Bahama was in rough shape. The hurricane hit the island with 185 mph winds on September 2nd, 2019. Then, it stalled over the area for a while, causing 36 inches of rain on top of the damage that was already caused. The shelter ended up having about 12 feet of water in it.
After the storm, the shelter had to get rid of all of its belongings due to the damage. There was mold growing in the drywall, the windows were destroyed, and the kennels were rusting. Around the property, lots of trees had fallen, meaning there was no shade for the outdoor play areas. The fence outside was also severely damaged. Major items like the AC and water pump needed to be replaced.
As if Dorian’s damage wasn’t bad enough, a wildfire started nearby, only 10 days after the hurricane. The shelter needed all the help and support they could get.
GreaterGood’s Rescue Rebuild team came to the shelter not long after the hurricane hit. Their goal was to fix it up and help the staff return to their normal operations, which consisted of adopting out over 100 animals per month.
“We made it safely to the Grand Bahama, where the staff greeted us with open arms and full, yet still broken, hearts,” said Rescue Rebuild. “The team did everything they possibly could in these two weeks.”
Rebuilding the Shelter
First, the team cleared all the debris to help prevent future wildfires from occurring. They also made necessary repairs to the outdoor fence so the dogs could safely play outside. Additionally, they put up sun sails for the play yards to provide shade for the dogs. They even upgraded the outdoor water buckets to ensure that no dogs would tip them over.
Inside, the team replaced 62 windows and 16 doors. They also used their funds to replace the plumbing, electric, water heater, and water pump, which had all been damaged by the flooding. Additionally, they improved the kennels in a way that will help the staff get the dogs out if something like this were to happen again. Each kennel also received a brand new raised dog bed.
Finally, the team did some work for the staff too. They took down all the moldy drywall and covered it with a fresh coat of paint. They also helped add a new reception desk and new furniture. Now, there’s even a special area that’s designated as the staff break room. The entire shelter looks as good as new all because of their hard work!
Thanks to purchases from the iHeartDogs store, many dogs, shelters, and rescues benefit, allowing more dogs to be saved. iHeartDogs sells a wide variety of products for both you and your furry friend. Every purchase can change the world for a dog in need, so thank you to all the kind heroes who have bought iHeartDogs products!
Images from GreaterGood.org
Toledo, United States.
