Animal shelter in need of supplies for winter
JACKSON, Tenn. — Animal shelters said the demand to take care of cats and dogs in West Tennessee continues to grow, and it’s not just a matter of their comfort when it comes to these chilly temperatures. “Most people assume dogs and cats have fur, so they are more apt to deal with the conditions outside,” Whitney Owen with Beyond Bars Animal Rescue said. That’s just one of the assumptions that have caused the rescue to build houses, which meet all the basic needs for pets to withstand the cold of winter. “It’s not anything fancy. It’s a 55-gallon barrel with a door cut in it,” Owen said. “It’s got a frame so it doesn’t roll around. We insulate them and of course bring hay with the house.” Last winter, Owen’s organization delivered these shelters to more than 80 people across West Tennessee. The need continues to grow, and those with local shelters will be looking through ads to help man’s best friend. “We’re out there scouring sales for dog food and crates so we can pass them out to people, so we do have them on hand for animals in need,” Owen said. Feeding these animals is also a concern, and local programs are starting to help owners struggling to provide for them. As winter approaches, only nine barrels remain, and Owen said they need any help they can get. “It’s not just about their comfort, whether they’re a little chilly or not. It is literally the difference between life and death. Hypothermia will kill them,” Owen said. One of the biggest needs the shelter has is the 55-gallon barrels to make the houses, and they say if there’s any person or business who has empty ones sitting around to give them a call. For more information, go to Beyond Bars Animal Rescue’s website, beyondbarsanimalrescue.org.
