Manitoba Weather: Steinbach Animal Rescue Flooded by Heavy Rains

An animal rescue organisation in Steinbach is thanking the public for their help after it was forced to close its doors on Tuesday due to heavy rains that fell on the area.

Cameron Pidsadny, a board member at Steinbach and Area Animal Rescue, said the organization began receiving reports of flooding at its facility around noon.

“One of our volunteers came back and noticed a lot of water coming in from our windows,” Pidsadny said.

According to Environment and Climate Change Canada, 155.5 mm of rain fell in Steinbach in the last 36 hours.

Pidsadny said water entered the building and flooded the basement, reaching almost to the first floor.

The group posted an appeal for help on its Facebook page.

“It was about getting things out of the basement, getting the animals out, finding a place to put the animals, getting pumps and other things,” Pidsadny said.

Steinbach residents brought six pumps to help remove flood water from the building.

Volunteers pump water from Steinbach and Area Animal Rescue on Sept. 17, 2024. (Scott Andersson/CTV News Winnipeg)

There were nine cats and one dog at the rescue center. A volunteer took the dog in for adoption, while Clearspring Animal Hospital took in six cats. Another volunteer is caring for the other three cats.

“We literally can’t thank people enough,” Pidsadny said. “It was so quick. We’re just so overwhelmed by the support we’re constantly getting.”

Pidsadny said the rescue office will have to close for a while because of water damage.

Cats at the Steinbach and Area Animal Rescue shelter are moved to volunteers who will care for them safely after flooding on Sept. 17, 2024. (Scott Andersson/CTV News Winnipeg)