March 28, 2009 - Fargo, North Dakota

Amy Hannesson - Volunteer:  

We're in Fargo, North Dakota, we're at the Fairgrounds, and right here we've got horses that were - the property where they were at went under water so we brought the horses here to take care of them until they can find dry land.  This is a rescue center for all animals, we've got dogs and cats here as well, so families that were misplaced and out of their homes, we were able to keep their animals.  A lot of hotels don't allow cats or dogs, so we're giving them a place to keep their animals.  As far as the flood goes, it's kind of, who knows?  They say it's supposed to crest and start receding.  I really don't forecast anything soon.  I'm hoping that within ten to fourteen days we can find places for the horses to go.  As far as the smaller animals - the cats and dogs - hoping that the owners will be able to take them.  The community's been amazing.  I mean, right here we have to turn people away that are coming to volunteer because we have so many people.  The volunteers have been just, you can't even describe it.  The phone rings off the hook "what do they- what do we want, what do we need?"  The response that we've gotten has just been phenomenal.  I've never seen a community pull together this strong, even comparable to the flood of '97.  The sandbagging has been going on and going on, and they're able to shut that down at nights now because we have enough sandbaggers, so it's been great.  People say "why do you live in Fargo?" Well, this is why.  We have a hard time and we still pull together and get the job done, and hopefully, we can fight this and win.

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