AC goes out at metro-east animal shelter, so adoptions fees are being waived

Gateway Pet Guardians in East St. Louis is waiving all fees for adopting and fostering animals until Saturday due to a broken air conditioner.

With temperatures well into the high 90s with a triple-digit heat index, the facility has focused all attention on keeping the animals cool.

“Right now we’re focused on moving animals around,” said Jill Henke, operations director for Gateway Pet Guardians. “We’re seeing what animals are the most uncomfortable or panting the most and spending some time spraying them down and letting them play in the pool outside, or rotating them into offices to cool down.”

While the staff are doing everything they can to care for the animals, Henke says that the sheer magnitude of animals in their care makes it hard to constantly identify which animals are in the greatest need.

“We have more than 80 animals in the facility, so identifying the ones that need immediate help is a little difficult with our staff,” Henke said.

Both cat and dog rooms have been affected by the broken air conditioning. More than 12 rooms need new air conditioners, and with each costing more than $5,000, retrofitting the facility is too expensive.

Alisha Vianello, the organization’s executive director, says that adoptions have ramped up since they put out a release asking for help. More than anything, they need adoptions.

“We don’t need any more fans,” says Alisha Vianello, the facility’s executive director. “We already have a lot of them, so right now we need dehumidifiers, cash donations, bottled water -- and most importantly, fosters and adoptions.”

Gateway Pet Guardians’ recently implemented “doggy day out” short-term foster program allows for pet-lovers to take a dog out for a day on a “field trip” or “sleepover,” allowing for a short reprieve from the high temperatures.

“Really we mostly want the animals to be safe,” Henke said, “We need short term fosters to give the animals some reprieve in an air conditioned facility.”

Fees are being waived until Saturday at the facility. To adopt an animal, visit the location at 725 N. 15th Street in East St. Louis, call an adoption specialist at 618-433-3145 or send them an email at placement@gatewaypets.org.