On Sunday, May 17, 2020, the state of Illinois suffered devasting storms causing flooding in areas, filling up the yards, streets, business, and homes with rainwater, mud, and sewage.

Unfortunately, K9EI Rescue is headquartered in my home in Plainfield, IL. The water flooded into my two lower levels with the water reaching halfway to my knees and more in some rooms in a matter of 20 minutes or less, it was a blur. I attempted to move as quickly as I could in shifting items on lower shelving to dry space, but the water won the fight leaving me standing there watching it rush in ruining everything in its path. Two sub pumps, trenches around the back of the home could not stop it. The sewers were overflowing unable to intake the stream of water rushing down the street.

If you have ever had a home or business flooded you know how the water fills in all crevices. You open a box thinking it was saved only to find it filled absorbing the water from below. I had totes I thought were airtight only to open them to toys drenched in the muck.

Carpet, dog beds, files, office supplies, microchip scanner, printer, file scanner, food, treats, event baskets, training books, heartworm preventative, the list goes on and on.

I have spent the last 24 hours hauling items to the curb for removal, drying out my washer and dryer, water heater, freezer. Pumping out water and cutting up carpet for removal. Shelving that was constructed of particle boards wilted as it drank the water. My grown children's electronic games, tv's, puzzles, all swept up, along with K9EI's file cabinets filled with records & paperwork.

I am devasted to have had the rescue lose so much as well as my family's belongings. I had planned to transport 4 more lost souls from the kill shelter of Missouri on May 19th, instead, I will need to board them until I can go pick them up. I have food to transport to rural food pantries to help them keep pets in their homes in these challenging times and I am letting them down by postponing the trip.

I am still attempting to raise funds to care for 8 pups and Mama we took in 5 weeks ago, only at 4 days old, while we have a Mama set to give birth any moment now with 8 pups showing on her xray, now this. It's more than I can mentally cope with at this time.

I added to the K9EI Rescue Amazon list items that they sell for items lost. Much of what the rescued owned was purchased through other company's. https://smile.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3UP9IADRU0PWH?&sort=default

If you can find it in your heart during these very unsettling financial times to help out, it is greatly appreciated. Of all the challenges I have faced over the past 5 years with litters of parvo pups, expensive medical cases, providing behavioral help to dogs in dire need, while providing the best leads, collars, beds, toys, blankets, food & treats to my fosters while in foster care to turn their lives around.

I hate to lose it all now when over the past two months we have saved so many left in limbo due to shelter in place orders affecting animal welfare. I didn't back off from that challenge, I found new ways to operate safely, I need your help now to make it past this challenge and continue on with the work we have established.

Thank you and may you all be safe and finding joy in the moments of your daily lives.

~Cynthia Lynn Guzman

Founder/Executive Director

K9 Enrichment Initiative

www.k9ei.dog

K9 Enrichment Initiative, Inc.

Rescue. Advocate. Community. Education

Fundraising Campaigns

EMERGENCY SURGERY FOR ATTICUS CRIPPLED PUP

Emergency Surgery 4 Eileen

Keep K9EI Rescue Operating