NW suburban animal shelter evacuating after flooding from water main break, seeking donations and care for dogs, cats

Workers at Heartland Animal Shelter in northwest suburban Wheeling announced early Wednesday morning that it would be closed for the day after an overnight water main break flooded the facility. “We experienced a flood of two feet of water overnight,” read an email from the shelter. “All of the animals are safe but we are currently evacuating the shelter.” A water main break is blamed for the flooding, but no further information was immediately available about that. It was also not immediately clear how many animals were impacted, the full extent of the flooding and when the shelter expects to reopen. Shelter workers made a broad appeal to the public to consider fostering a dog or cat as Heartland deals with the emergency. “If you can’t foster, please consider making a donation,” they asked. In addition to donations of pop up cages, cat carriers, plastic bins, and dog and cat food, monetary contributions were also requested.