Vinello races to save pet facility hit by wind damage | ksdk.com

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EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. — A Metro East nonprofit is asking for the public's help after high winds ripped the roof off of its building.

“We are super busy all of the time,” Gateway Pet Guardians executive director Alisha Vinello said. “We always have a lot of animals who need us.”

Vinello is focused on providing everything a four-legged friend needs to live healthy, happy lives.

“This area is a resource desert,” Vinello said “There’s a real lack of pet support in the area. We provide a retail store with pet supplies, a grooming spa, vet clinic and a pet food pantry. We’re a one stop shop for pet owners.”

Since 2020, Gateway Pet Guardians has called all 54,000-square-feet of the former Miles Davis Elementary School home, but Vinello said the largest pet resource center in the area has its own set of challenges.

“It’s an aging building that needs a lot of work,” Vinello said. “We just spent over $7,000 fixing some patches on the roof. I just got back from vacation and found out the roof was like flying off in one part.”

After high winds ripped off a 40-foot section over the adoption floor, contractors discovered the wood beneath the roof was rotten, leading to repair estimates as high as $11,000.

“We have insurance, but unfortunately the deductible is incredibly high,” Vinello said. “Getting a new roof is out of the question.”

That’s why Vinello is working to drum up donations.

“It’s really hard because every dollar that we have to spend on the building is less money that we can spend on animals,” Vinello said.

In the meantime, she’s searching for fosters for the animals that are temporarily displaced.

“All your pet food and litter is covered,” Vinello said. “We provide the medical care and the supplies are covered. You don’t need any foster experience.”

Visit https://gatewaypets.org/donate/ to make a donation to the organization.