TUNICA, Miss. — It’s not just humans sweating it out in this heat — animals have to deal with the harsh temperatures too.
Some have it worse than others.
Animal Rescue Corps saved 100 animals Wednesday in Union County where they were living in dangerous conditions.
They are now safe at a makeshift shelter in Tunica.
“They were in terrible conditions yesterday. We were burning up, and we don’t wear a fur coat like they do, so I know they were miserable,” said Pat Plunk, one of the dozens of volunteers for Animal Rescue Corps.
Inside the walls of the shelter, they have made sure dogs and cats are treated properly.
They now have clean water, food and medical care, and they’re out of the harsh elements and in an air-conditioned building.
“That gives them a chance to acclimate,” said Michael Cunningham, who is also a part of the rescue group. “We don’t bring them into a cold environment — we have to do it slowly. They’re not used to being in a cool environment.”
Cunningham said 100 animals, including horses, donkeys, cats and dogs, were rescued from two properties in Union County, Mississippi, in what was called Operation Mississippi Blues.
A local vet tipped off the Sheriff’s Office who then contacted Animal Rescue Corps.
“They discovered a large number of animals in dire need of help,” Cunningham said. “They were in extreme neglectful conditions, animals living outside, basically covered in ticks.”
The animals were then brought to Tunica.
Cunningham said the area is known to have a lot of people willing to volunteer.
For the next seven to 10 days Animal Rescue Corps will be caring for the animals while they figure out where they will go next.
They are looking for volunteers like Plunk to help them out.
She said seeing the animals out of pain is what makes it all worthwhile.
“So calm, so relaxed and so content. It brings me a lot of happiness,” Plunk said with a smile.
To help you can go to the website animalrescuecorps.org or you can email volunteer@animalrescuecorps.org and put “Operation Mississippi Blues” in the title.
There are two shifts available: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.