Flooded Okla. animal shelter sees outpouring of support

When a sewer line backed up and flooded the Pauls Valley Animal Shelter in Oklahoma earlier this spring, it could have been a disaster for the nearly 60 animals inside. Instead, it turned into a testament to the power of community and the lifesaving impact of a partnership built on trust, teamwork, and shared goals.

In just a few hours, every animal was out of the building and safe.

“There were people coming in left and right,” says Christopher Hurley, the shelter director. “We were hanging tags on kennels and cages: This one is going here, these two can go together, this person can take three. Before we knew it, everybody was out of the building. I mean, it was amazing.”

The Pauls Valley Animal Shelter is a city shelter operating in close partnership with the nonprofit Pauls Valley Animal Welfare Society (PAWS). And while the sewer flood was unexpected, the response was no accident. For the past year, the city and PAWS have worked closely together to build trust with the community, expand their support network, and create a consistent, engaging presence online.

[How rescue groups and shelters save more pets together]

That foundation made all the difference. Around 25 families opened their homes to temporarily house pets who were in the shelter when it flooded, most taking in two animals each. Five of those placements became adoptions. Local businesses, faith groups, volunteers, and veterinary professionals rallied together to offer their support.

The local Walmart store donated a gift card for emergency supplies. Volunteers showed up in force, including PAWS board members and a local church congregation. Williamsburg Small Animal Hospital boarded the shelter’s office cat, Ham. And Best Friends helped restock food for the shelter’s animals and the community pet pantry, as well as sent gift cards to foster volunteers.

When asked whether he was surprised by the outpouring of support, Christopher says he expected people to step up but not quite like this. “I didn’t anticipate that we would be getting every single animal out that day. I was anticipating we were going to have to call the local vet clinics for boarding,” he says. “But once the plea went out on social media, it was left and right. Everybody came.”

[A community unites for the good of its pets and people]

Thanks to the collective efforts of the city, PAWS, and the broader Pauls Valley community, the shelter was able to bounce back quickly. But more than that, the moment reinforced that when shelters, rescuers, and community members work together, there’s no limit to what they can do, even when the unexpected comes pouring in.

Our goal at Best Friends is to support all animal shelters in the U.S. in reaching no-kill. No-kill means saving every dog and cat in a shelter who can be saved, accounting for community safety and good quality of life for pets. 

Shelter staff can’t do it alone. Saving animals in shelters is everyone’s responsibility, and it takes support and participation from the community. No-kill is possible when we work together thoughtfully, honestly, and collaboratively.