HOWLAND TOWNSHIP, Ohio - The Trumbull County Dog Pound on Anderson Avenue in Howland could be forced to evacuate if more rain falls and flood waters continue to rise.
On Monday, water was so high at the entrance of the facility that employees had to park their cars down the street and be transported in to work by the agency's truck.
Administrators at the shelter say the flood gates have literally been opend at nearby Mosquito Lake and the rushing water is traveling to the area surrounding the dog pound because it sits in what's considered the lowest lying area of the county.
Executive Chief Dog Warden Gwen Logan says, "You can see the water's current come across the road. Apparently the Mosquito Reservoir is very, very full so they're having to let the water out. It's the same as a few months ago when we were having floods. So if they get even more water, they're going to have to let it go somewhere, and well, here it is!"
The primary concern now is a forecast that calls for more rain. The dog warden is concerned it could flood the building and force the evacaution of 21 dogs. Logan says, "They're predicting to get only more water. So it's going to get higher and at some point we won't be able to get the truck out."
The Trumbull County Dog Warden has now put together an emergency plan and says other shelters around the county and outside of the county have offered to help house the dogs if they are forced to evacuate. Employees at the sewer treatment plant located next to the animal shelter will keep an eye on the water overnight, and plan to alert the dog warden if water threatens to flood the building.
