TOP PHOTO: After a chaotic rescue operation to move dogs to higher ground and floodwaters began receding, volunteers take a pause from the action in the pre-dawn hours of Saturday, April 5, 2025. Below, a walk-in visitor stops by the shelter Wednesday afternoon to make a donation toward the Humane Society’s efforts to rebuild and relocate. | Joel Phelps/arkadelphian.com
By JOEL PHELPS | arkadelphian.com
ARKADELPHIA, Arkansas — By all appearances, there was little evidence Wednesday that the animal shelter on Walnut Street had been the scene of a chaotic midnight rescue operation nearly a week ago, when a torrential downpour sent floodwaters rising knee-deep inside the shelter.
Since that frantic night, countless volunteers have pitched in to aid in the cleanup effort, as well as taking part in the tedious task of temporarily relocating the dogs to the old armory building, itself nearly flooding after the relocation effort. The armory is now void of animals, and those that remain at the shelter won’t be there much longer.
The air inside the shelter now feels a bit heavy, and the former smell — the typical odor one might expect for a place that homes scads of dogs and cats — has been replaced by the stench of mildew. Fans, dehumidifiers and pressure washers sat scattered throughout the 7,500-square-foot warehouse. On the concrete floors, patches of silt were a tell-tale sign that mucky water had recently been squeegeed away. A few dozen dogs and about 20 felines remained, as most of the rescues had been fostered out to caring homes in the days after the flood.
Now, the Humane Society of Clark County says it’s washing its hands of the old shelter. With plans to relocate already in place before the flood, Friday night’s disaster was the final straw for the existing shelter, said Leslie Kent, interim shelter director.
“We know the contamination is here, we know the mold is there and is probably going to be a lot worse,” Kent said. “It’s time the community steps up so we can get away from makeshift facilities and move toward a proper, modern animal care facility.”
Kent added: “We’re going to shut this shelter down and get our board of directors and supporters actively involved in fundraising.”
In the meantime, the Humane Society will be paring down to a skeleton operation in a temporary, as-yet-determined location, Kent said.
To say the last five days have been hectic at the shelter would be a gross understatement. Kent, the board of directors and volunteers have worked seemingly around the clock since Friday’s flood, either relocating animals, cleaning the mess left behind, or tackling any number of various tasks assigned to them. During Wednesday afternoon’s sit-down interview, Kent fielded numerous phone calls and walk-in inquiries of how people can help out.
Donations have poured in since news got out about Friday’s event, but more are needed in order for the nonprofit organization to start anew with its plans to rebuild. During our visit Wednesday afternoon, one resident stepped inside to write a check to donate to the Humane Society’s new shelter.
“Every little bit helps,” Kent said.
CLICK HERE to donate to the Humane Society’s efforts to relocate and rebuild.
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