Skip to content

Clean-up at dog charity after 'terrifying' flood

Liz Copperin Kidsgrove
BBC A woman with light brown hair tied back and a fringe. She has silver framed glasses on, a purple hoodie and blue waterproof coat. She is standing inside a kennel building with grey metal cages for the dogsBBC
Assistant manager Sarah Partridge said a "deluge" of water flooded the kennels

A clean-up is under way at a dog rescue charity in north Staffordshire after its kennels flooded during Storm Austen.

Greyhound Gap, near Kidsgrove, cares for nearly 50 dogs, but 15 had to be evacuated and moved to other kennels on Friday.

Storm Austen was the first named storm of the season, leaving thousands of homes without power, downing trees and disrupting travel across parts of England and Wales.

"It was just like a deluge came off the field behind us - it was mud and water," said Sarah Partridge, assistant manager.

"The staff were fantastic, grabbing dogs, putting them on vehicles, moving them into spare kennels as best we could - but we just couldn't clear the water, it was just terrifying at the time."

The charity is appealing for donations of money and food and any local tradespeople who could help with repairs.

Greyhound Gap Inside a kennels building with grey metal kennels on the left. A walkway to the right of them is completely submerged in muddy brown water which has clumps of mud in it. The water has gone into the cagesGreyhound Gap
Fifteen dogs were moved from the kennels

"We've got the cost of living crisis that everybody is suffering with, but we've got the vet bills, we've got the electricity, we've got the gas," said volunteer Rachel Bridge.

"We've got to try and find this money from somewhere so we can carry on doing the work that we do.

"With the environment at the minute, it's likely that big storms like that are going to happen again."

Storm Austen was immediately followed by Storm Boleo, with gusts of 85mph (137km/h) recorded on Saturday night.

A yellow warning for wind remains in place over much of the country, including Kidsgrove, until 21:00 GMT on Sunday.

Greyhound Gap A hallway inside a building submerged in brown muddy water. An open door shows water and mud outsideGreyhound Gap
The charity is appealing for financial donations to help them

"Last night was rough due to the winds, also with more forecast today," said the charity's founder Lisa Cartwright on social media on Sunday morning.

"Financially now we are just about to push into our hardest months, once the kennels' heating goes on, then the electric rises to around £2,000 a month.

"On top of up to £8,000 in vet bills a month is another huge expense, so continued donations to general funds are absolutely needed."

She added: "For now everyone is safe, the dogs are warm and dry, and we hope to attempt to bring those relocated home over the next few days.

"We also need to say thank you to all of the local kennels, vets and nationwide rescues who offered us kennels space."

Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.

More on this story
Related internet links