Flooding in Hopkinsville, Kentucky resulted in many businesses being temporarily shut down. One business in particular needed a more urgent response.
The Pet Lodge is a pet boarding and grooming facility in Hopkinsville, and it sits alongside the Little River. When Christian County received a record breaking 12.11 inches of rain during the recent three day storms, water rose into the three building pet facility holding 40 dogs and two cats.
Tammy Stratton is the manager at The Pet Lodge. She has worked there for nine years and has taken care of many of their frequent customers since the puppy stage. As she heard and saw the roads were flooded, she knew she had to help rescue the dogs.
When Stratton got to The Pet Lodge, police told her she would not be able to walk in the front entrance, so she found her way inside from the back. Shetratton is 5’7” feet tall and said the water reached her waist where the dogs are housed
“We don’t know exactly when (water in the building) started, (but) we know it was fast and furious,” Stratton said.
Members of the Hopkinsville Fire Department and the Christian County Rescue Team were on the scene to help get the animals out.
The original call came in for a family stuck in an apartment building nearby, when they realized The Pet Lodge was in need. Christian County Rescue Team provided boats for both departments to transport the animals to safety. The teams started with the smallest dogs at the front before making their way to the back of the building with the larger dogs.
Hopkinsville Fire Department’s Public Information Officer Payton Rogers was among the group on site. She said they faced a unique challenge trying to get the scared dogs out.
“We honestly don’t typically train for a situation like that,” Rogers said.
Each trip brought back five to six dogs at a time. Roger said it took well over an hour to get all the animals out.
Stratton thanks the rescuers and all the volunteers who have helped since. Stratton’s daughter, Clippendales Dog Grooming and the Christian County Animal Shelter stepped in to house the dogs.
“Those are the heroes,” Stratton said after naming all those who helped.
The Pet Lodge is temporarily closed to all services, but plans on opening again.
