More than 450 dogs, cats and other animals have been found unattended in the aftermath of the massive May 22 tornado that ravaged Joplin, Iolans Kylee Classen and Hannah Barclay reported.
Classen and Barclay, both officers with the Iola High School FFA chapter, collected pet food and supplies to take to Joplin on Friday. They wound up handing over hundreds of pounds of food, more than $100 in cash and other essentials, such as leashes, collars and a pet carrier.
The Joplin Humane Society’s most pressing need, Classen and Barclay said, is disposable bedding — pet pads — or cash.
A website, petango.com, has been set up with a database of all animals in the Joplin area reported found or missing.
After unloading their supplies, Classen and Barclay toured the most devastated areas of Joplin.
Classen returned with other volunteers to Joplin Saturday to help a family with its cleanup effort. She met the family of Rob and Jenny Bassett, whose home was destroyed.
A family of six, along with their pets, sought shelter in and next to a bathtub.
They escaped relatively unharmed — a young boy suffered a separated shoulder — despite the destruction of the house around them.
The girls offered thanks to several others who contributed to the effort.
Nu-Way Industries, Inc., Orscheln Farm & Home, Dr. Richard Knewtson of Iola Animal Clinic and several others contributed food, money or supplies. Twin Motors Ford supplied Classen and Barclay with a pickup to transport the items to Joplin.
Classen and Barclay both will enter their senior years at IHS in the fall. Classen is the FFA chapter president; Barclay is the sentinel.
Pets in need, too
