Locals offer helping hand after Tbilisi dog shelter flood

Hundreds of volunteers have been helping to clean up the shelter for the past few days.

Agenda.ge, 07 Jun 2015 - 14:32, Tbilisi,Georgia

Local citizens are coming together to offer help and support for one local organisation that was severely affected by the storms that ravaged Georgia this week.

More than a dozen dogs drowned at the Tamaz Elizbarashvili Dog Shelter this week after it flooded due to bad weather and heavy rain. The facility, owned by a millionaire animal lover, was one of many homes and businesses affected by the weather.

It's been several days since the bad weather passed however some parts of central Tbilisi remain flooded.

Dozens of dogs were swept away in the flood. Photo from the shelter's official Facebook page.

Overnight on June 4, at least 13 dogs drowned and 60 were swept away by flooded water in the shelter, which was home to about 500 dogs, several brown bears, and a jackal.

The following morning the shelter called for volunteers to help staff clean the shelter, which was filled with mud and debris. Their call was answered and many animal lovers stepped up to offer a helping hand.

Photo from the shelter's official Facebook page.

The first floor of the shelter was completely destroyed in Thursday night's storm. Since then hundreds of volunteers have worked tirelessly to help clean up the shelter.

"Even petting is a relief for them now,” said one of the volunteers on Facebook, and encouraged others to join in.

Photo from the shelter's official Facebook page.

Today the Shelter Administration said the place was already clean and rebuilding works would soon start.

"You showed an unimaginable support, people, and we are so thankful,” the Shelter wrote on its official Facebook page and added although volunteers were no longer needed, people continued to come to the shelter to help.

Meanwhile, Tbilisi was not the only place affected by the severe weather. Hail and rain destroyed crops, killed poultry and livestock and flooded houses in several other parts of Georgia.