Published: June 18, 2008 05:56 pm      

Storm collapses animal refuge, pets in need of homes

By Tommy Mann Jr.

The Orange Leader



VIDOR — Dozens of pets which have found a safe haven at an animal refuge are in need of help once again.

According to Jack Houseman, owner of Have a Heart Refuge in north Vidor, a structure which has been used to shelter approximately 80 dogs and puppies, plus a variety of other animals, partially collapsed Wednesday and is now a danger to those animals it once protected.

“I’m begging for someone to come in and save these animals,” Houseman said in a telephone interview. “I’ll give people kennels, auto-feeders, watering units and even dog houses, if they can just take some of these animals to a safer place.”

Houseman said he suspects the aged structure, which measures 25-feet by 80-feet, finally collapsed as a result of Tuesday’s line of thunderstorms and rain which swept across Orange County.

He also said a contractor visited the refuge on Wednesday afternoon to inspect the structure and said it was beyond repair.

“The contractor told me there is no fixing this building,” Houseman said. “So things are very desperate over here. I need someone who can pull these animals out before they die. They just can’t be left in these conditions.”

Houseman operates the Have a Heart Refuge from his property in north Vidor near the Jasper County line.

He has frequently cared for abandoned and injured animals and nurtured many back to health. He spends his own money in an attempt to care for the multitude of animals, including an exotic Japanese Wolf which he claims is “as gentle as a lamb.”

In a previous interview, Houseman said he does a lot of reading and research on holistic treatments on animals and humans, and he uses such treatments on the animals at his refuge.

Call Houseman at 409-786-4350 for more information or to offer help.



Reach this reporter at 409-883-3571, Ext. 2619 or tmann@orangeleader.com