Shelter takes in pets from flood-stricken Cedar Rapids residents

CEDAR RAPIDS, Ia. – For Gary Lewis, the worst thing about the looming flood is the way it temporarily took away his steadfast companion.

Lewis, 69, lives in an apartment in the area of Cedar Rapids that was evacuated Sunday. His 10-year-old calico cat, Zena, wouldn’t be allowed in the hotel where his niece was taking him. So the family showed up Sunday afternoon at the city’s Animal Care and Control shelter, which is offering to care for pets for free until the floodwaters recede.

The main purpose of the offer is to help coax people out of flood-prone homes. Authorities don’t want folks to remain in their houses out of fear that no one will take care of their pets. Zena was the 52nd pet the shelter accepted through the offer.

Lewis is deaf, and he was clearly anxious about leaving Zena in the hands of strangers. His niece, Jen Schultschik, used sign language to soothe him. “She knows you’re coming back for her,” Schultschik said aloud as she used her hands to convey the message. “Don’t be worried. In a short time, the water will be gone, and you can come back and get her.”

MORE:  Evacuation map

Shelter staff members removed Zena from her cage and prepared to insert a microchip under her skin. Lewis watched closely, looking concerned. His niece explained what was happening, and he nodded. When it was over, he made a crying gesture and shook his head no. Then he smiled. He was glad to see Zena had not cried out.

“Do you want to hold her one more time?” a staff member asked Lewis. He reached over to pet Zena, then watched as she was placed in a cage. “Look,” his niece said a few minutes later, “she’s eating already.”

Soon, Zena had settled down on a blanket, and her owner was headed for his hotel.

Shelter manager Diane Webber said the facility took in many more pets during the flood of 2008. At one point during that crisis, the shelter had more than 1,000 dogs, cats and other flood-stranded animals. It had to set up a separate, temporary facility to hold them all.

FULL COVERAGE: Flood of 2016

MORE: Residents of 5,000 Cedar Rapids homes asked to evacuate

Unlike in 2008, Cedar Rapids residents have had several days to make arrangements before this flood, Webber said. Most people apparently found places that would take both them and their pets. “Pets and people do better when they stay together,” she said.

To that end, the shelter has been offering a list of hotels and other places that will accept pets. But it will continue to take cats, dogs, rabbits and other pets from people who can’t find temporary homes for them.

Webber knows it's not an easy choice. Many pet owners have had an even harder time letting go than Lewis did. "They've just been bawling their eyes out," Webber said.