Having found homes for hundreds of animals, Wright-Way Rescue is looking for a new place to call home after a school bus driver lost control Wednesday and plowed into their facility in the 7100 block of West Touhy in Niles.
"We are devastated because we have nowhere to go," Assistant Director Sara Anderson said. "We are completely homeless and we're worried."
The staff hopes to secure a temporary facility in Skokie thanks to a donor, but as of Thursday afternoon, it didn't look like the permit would be granted.
Volunteers on Thursday moved equipment and supplies from the damaged brick building as kind-hearted animal lovers pulled over and pulled out their wallets.
"I saw it on the news and when I was coming by I saw this giant hole and thought, 'Give what I can,'" donor Kurt Mass said.
"We're just eternally grateful for all the support but there's so much more in order to build a new adoption center with the ventilation and the plumbing necessary," founder Christy Anderson said. "It took five years to get here and it was destroyed in just a moment."
On Friday the center will receive 75 more animals to care for. "As long as we can move those 75 animals we can rescue another 75 and then 5,000 which is our goal for this year," Sara Anderson said.
All of the animals sheltered during the accident and arriving Friday have foster homes but the center hopes to have an adoption event this weekend to find permanent families for animals like Millie, who just needed a little Help and lots of TLC
"It's been wonderful," said Amy Thier, who adopted Millie. "I would do it. All over again."
They plan to hold the adoption event in the west parking lot from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and Sunday from 11a.m. to 5 p.m.
The shelter is looking for foster families and adoptive families as well as donations to renovate the damaged shelter.
Donation can be made through the website.
