Eastern Carolina Veterinary Referral collecting donations for displaced animals in Asheville

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) – The Eastern Carolina Veterinary Referral (ECVR) is collecting donations for their “Fill The U-Haul” Campaign to help animals displaced by the flooding in Ashville.

ECVR will be taking the supplies to Viewmont Animal Hospital in Hickory, N.C., where they will be made available to pet owners who have been displaced or for fosters who are helping care for a lost or displaced pet due to the natural disaster in Asheville, where supplies have been cut off.

ECVR will be collecting dog and cat food, bowls, water, beds, blankets, collars, and other supplies.

Gary Walker, the ECVR Hospital Administrator, says his team approached the disaster with the question “What can we do?”

“Being animal lovers, our team was concerned about what was happening to all of the displaced animals, both those who are displaced with their pet owners, as well as those displaced and lost. The sense of urgency to help was overwhelming and was our call to action.” Walker said.

Walker called the Director of Viewmont Animal Hospital asking if they would be a drop location and then be able to distribute to owners and rescuers who are fostering lost animals. Michelle Hammer, the Director of Viewmont agreed to the plan.

“We posted on Facebook that we were taking supply donations and within 24 hours our lobby was filled with food and other supplies. The response from the community was exactly like I thought it would be”, Walker says.

The supplies will be loaded on the U-Haul Thursday, Oct. 3, at 1:00 p.m., taken to Hickory, and unloaded Friday, Oct. 4, at 10:00 a.m. at Viewmont Animal Hospital. The supplies will be made immediately available to the public.

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