Dogs cruelly neglected, sick and confined in crates. Cats abandoned, scared, injured and alone. Help us bring animals like these from crisis to care.

Helping people and pets when disaster strikes
United Animal Nations (now known as RedRover)

In Pierre, South Dakota, Denice Felker was terrified when the National Guard bullhorn warned that she had mere minutes to escape rising floodwaters that threatened to leave her neighborhood under water. With nowhere to take her dogs, she frantically punched in the phone number for an emergency temporary shelter.

She spoke to Debbie Ferguson, RedRover`s volunteer team leader at the shelter. Formerly known as United Animal Nations, RedRover had set up the emergency shelter to provide safety and care for people`s pets. Denice was terrified of losing her home, but was even more terrified of leaving behind her three schnauzers Tasha, Teddy and Pepper. Debbie calmly assured Denice that her animals would be well taken care of while she was gone.

When Denice arrived at the temporary shelter, she cried and shared her fears about losing everything and trying to rebuild her home on her own. But her biggest worry was leaving behind her dogs, who were clinging to her, whimpering.

"We all choked back tears as we promised to take good care of her dogs and give them as much love and attention as possible," Debbie recalls. "I was very proud to be a RedRover Responders volunteer at that moment. The other volunteers and I were doing what we came here to do — bringing animals from crisis to care."

But the best part, Debbie said, was the reunion. When Denice came back after the floodwaters receded, Debbie said she had never seen or heard three dogs so happy to see their person.

United Animal Nations (dba RedRover) - CFC #10463