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Kimmy's Safe Haven Rescue said its property on South Bremen Avenue in Egg Harbor City has seen its worst flooding after rain in early April. The sanctuary created a GoFundMe page that has raised more than $6,300 from at least 117 donations as of Monday, Apr. 15.
The rescue's founder Kim Brown posted a Facebook video on Friday, Apr. 5 showing the damage. Nearly a foot of water flooded many of the animals' pens.
In an emotional plea, Brown said she was worried she may have to give up her dream after 10 years of rescuing pets and farm animals.
"I'm to the point now where I just feel so helpless," Brown said while fighting back tears. "I feel so done. I don't know what to do. I don't want to close my rescue. I really don't but I think that I'm at the end now. I think that this is just too much for me. I'm out here all by myself."
Brown said the biggest needs are building supplies and new enclosures to relocate the animals to higher elevations.
"We received a quote for $8,500 for materials and installation of fencing only," Brown wrote on the GoFundMe page. "This is just the start for [what] our project needed. We will need to rebuild barns for housing the animals from the weather conditions which is not included in the quote. Our project is not something we can do without help."
According to its website, the rescue cares for about 80 animals, ranging from stray or feral cats to abandoned dogs, goats, and pigs. Some animals also need extra attention because of health issues or special needs.
The recent flooding issues began for Brown's rescue in early March. Updates on the GoFundMe page showed floodwaters in pens as far back as Friday, Mar. 8.
Brown has been able to get some help already in fighting the flooding. She was able to buy a trash pump to remove a lot of the standing water.
Volunteers also helped spread gravel, lay fresh woodchips for the farm animals, and begin the process of raising the ground to avoid more flooding.
"With your continued support and volunteers, our pigs are starting to feel happier because they can start to lay in a safe and comfortable barn again," Brown wrote in a GoFundMe update on Saturday, Apr. 13. "We are working on one barn at a time."
Brown also said the rescue is looking to build a drainage trench to redirect rainfall.
You can click here to see the GoFundMe page for Kimmy's Safe Haven Rescue.
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