100-plus animals evacuated from Riverside County’s Banning animal shelter due to storm

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County animal services workers evacuated the Banning Animal Shelter today, removing more than 100 animals, including seven horses and three goats, because of anticipated flooding.

Riverside County Department of Animal Services Director Robert Miller ordered the evacuation this afternoon. ‘The Banning Animal Shelter’s drainage capacity is not adequate to provide a safe or healthy environment in light of the onslaught of heavy rains expected,’ Miller said.

Animals will be transferred to the county’s Coachella Valley Animal Campus, 72-050 Pet Land Place, Thousand Palms, said spokesman John Welsh.

A few animals were sent to the Coachella campus Tuesday when some kennel runs were flooded by rains, Welsh said.

‘Everyone is reporting that these will be some of the most severe storms in quite some time,’ Miller said.

‘It’s our job to make sure we care for our stray and homeless pets the best we can. That’s why we needed to make this unusual decision.’

The Banning Shelter will be closed until further notice, Welsh said.

Related:
Complete coverage of Southland storms

-- Associated Press