The Big Lake Humane Society in Muskegon is grappling with a severe water crisis after the breakdown of their well system, leaving approximately 75 dogs and cats without access to clean drinking water. According to FOX 17, the shelter's Shelter Manager Velvet Lyght revealed the predicament arose when a leak was discovered in one of the water pumps, compounded by an overstrained system reaching the brink of operational failure. "The water is welling up through all of the dirt and sand. And it's also that dirt and sand is getting into the water main line, going into our water, making it so that the water is contaminated," Lyght explained to FOX 17.
To manage the crisis, the Big Lake Humane Society reached out to the community for donations of potable water and monetary support to undertake the necessary $12,000 repair. As per a WOODTV report, the shelter, a small private entity without government or national affiliations, had its last functioning pump fail last weekend. "We are a small private shelter, without government or national affiliations or contracts, so this is a very big expense for us to keep operations going," the shelter stated.
A temporary solution has been implemented, allowing the shelter access to non-drinking water for purposes such as cleaning and laundry. Nevertheless, the water remains unfit for animal consumption, intensifying the necessity for bottled water donations. Echoing the sentiment of community solidarity, the shelter expressed their gratitude in a statement obtained by WOODTV, "We are truly grateful for and very touched by the outpouring of support from our community so far. Every gallon of water dropped off is being used."
As the shelter strives to collect the remaining funds for its water system overhaul, they have reached the halfway mark towards their goal. "We are overwhelmed by the generosity thus far that we have seen from our supporters," Lyght told WZZM 13. "So we are just about at $6,000 we have about another $6,000 to go. If we do get any over that $12,000 goal, it will be put towards additional plumbing problems that we happen to have in our aging facility." With renovations expected to last for two weeks, the society is also seeking foster homes to help alleviate space as certain areas remain unusable for the animals.
