News Summary
Friends of Strays, an animal rescue nonprofit in St. Petersburg, is raising $35,000 after their transport van crashed on the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. Fortunately, no major injuries were sustained, but the van was declared a total loss. The organization aims to replace it with a larger vehicle to enhance its operational capacity for rescuing animals in need.
St. Petersburg, FL – Friends of Strays, an animal rescue nonprofit based in St. Petersburg, is seeking to raise at least $35,000 in donations following a significant crash involving their transport van on the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. This incident occurred on Wednesday afternoon as two employees, Krista Loveless and Destiny Moye, were returning from an animal shelter in Clewiston.
The crash was triggered when one of the van’s tires blew out, causing the vehicle to spin and ultimately stop facing south on the northbound lanes of the bridge. Fortunately, Loveless was able to skillfully maneuver the van to minimize additional damage, and at the time of the blowout, no other vehicles were nearby.
The situation led to the Sunshine Skyway Bridge being shut down for several hours. Emergency services responded, with Loveless being transported to a nearby hospital by ambulance. Moye stayed at the scene to ensure the safety of the animals they were transporting, which included a carrier filled with kittens. During the incident, Moye was able to hold onto a feisty kitten for safety. After care and evaluation, Moye was also later taken to the emergency room. Both employees ultimately suffered no major injuries but experienced bruising and soreness due to seatbelts.
Among the animals in the van, one puppy sustained a broken paw and is scheduled to see a specialist for treatment on Monday. The transport van itself has been declared a total loss, and it is anticipated that insurance will only reimburse nearly $14,000, falling well short of the amount needed for a replacement.
To meet their urgent needs, Friends of Strays is focused on raising sufficient funds to purchase a larger cargo van that will enhance their operational capacity. The organization has recently shifted its efforts to rescuing animals on euthanasia lists from low-resource shelters across Florida.
The director of Friends of Strays, Dara Worthington, highlighted the commitment of the staff during these challenging times. This incident has been particularly taxing on the organization as they previously lost a colleague in a separate traffic accident earlier in the year.
For those looking to contribute, donations can be made directly through the Friends of Strays website or their Facebook page. The community’s support will be crucial as the nonprofit seeks to recover from this setback and continue their vital work in animal rescue.
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Additional Resources
- Patch: Animal Rescue Transport Van Accident
- Wikipedia: Animal Rescue
- The Gabber: Adoptable Pets in St. Pete – July 25
- Google Search: Adoptable Pets in St. Petersburg
- The Gabber: Adoptable Pets in St. Pete – August 1
- Google Scholar: Animal Rescue Nonprofit
- Fox 13 News: New No-Kill Shelter Opens
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Animal Shelter
- The Gabber: Adoptable Pets in St. Pete – August 8
Author: STAFF HERE PETERSBURG WRITER
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