A husband and wife in Stamford, Connecticut, are working to rebuild their special needs senior dog sanctuary after it was devastated by flooding, and a fundraising effort is now underway to help them, according to News 12 New York. The couple runs the sanctuary out of their own home, caring for older and special needs animals.
The flooding struck two weeks ago, when flash flooding tore through the property and destroyed the lower level of the home, which is where the sanctuary is based. The rising water left the couple's ground-floor space, and the animals' quarters, badly damaged in a matter of hours.
The damage was extensive. According to the station, the water wiped out walls, couches, and dog supplies, stripping the lower level of much of what the couple had relied on to care for the animals in their charge at the sanctuary.
In response, the couple launched an online fundraising effort to help them recover from the losses and repair the damage the flooding had caused, turning to the wider community for support as they tried to get back on their feet.
The response has clearly touched them. One of the couple said they had been completely blown away by the community and by the love and support they received from friends and family in the days after the flooding hit their home.
The sanctuary carries a personal meaning for the couple, who started the nonprofit in honor of their own dog, Chester. Before he became part of their family, Chester had spent eight years living in a shelter, a history that reflects the kind of older animals the sanctuary now works to help.