BOISE -- Monday's storm has still not given complete relief to some Idaho Power customers. As of Wednesday evening, 1,400 customers still did not have power, and Idaho Power officials report it could be as late as Thursday evening before all power is restored throughout SW Idaho.
However, electricity is not the only trouble still lingering from the storm earlier this week. Some Idaho pet owners are suffering in a different way after losing their furry friends in Monday's storm.
According to the Idaho Humane Society, the fallout from the storm has overwhelmed the society's shelter with lost pets coming into the facility with no identification collar and no micro chips.
"The staff is just overwhelmed with the number of animals," said Hannah Parpart, with the Idaho Humane Society.
Parpart said 40 cats and 19 dogs came to the shelter on Tuesday, doubling what IHS typically sees on a normal day at the shelter. Parpart said by Wednesday, nine dogs had been reunited with their owners while only one cat went home. That's why Parpart says local cat owners who haven't seen their beloved animal since Monday should head to the humane society to double check.
"I think that a lot of times cat owners wait awhile, and say 'Oh the cat will come home,' when it's especially vital that they look for cats here at the shelter because we are always really full, and we don’t have a holding period for stray cats unless they have an identification on,'" said Parpart.
If a cat or dog doesn’t have an identification tag, that fact makes it harder for the shelter to match them with owners. According to policy, the pet will be processed within 24 hours, and if the pet does not have an ID tag, the shelter will wait three days for the owner to claim their pet.
After that, the pet is destroyed.
On Wednesday, Heather Rapoza was at the Idaho Humane Society looking for her cat, who was lost in the storm. "I understand there are quite a few cats and dogs missing because of this storm," said Rapoza.
She plastered posters in her neighborhood; but with no luck, came to the shelter as a last hope. However, Rapoza had no luck finding her cat even here. "I hope he is okay and I hope he makes his way home," she said.
Monday's storm ripped through the Treasure Valley, bringing with it 60 m.p.h. winds, thunder, and lightning. Large trees were uprooted and power lines came down.
In Jasmine Duvall's yard her trampoline was blown over. "We had to clean up the yard before everything got blown away," said Duvall.
her dog Lady stayed closed by her side. Duvall said she her dog is very calm and she taught her to stay calm during a storm.
"Usually when a dog starts to freak out, send them to their spot," explained Duvall.
Duvall believes her dog Lady would not run away in a storm; however she says losing her is always possible.
"We licensed her because we don’t want to lose her,"” she said.
"Take every precaution that you can and try to keep your pet safe," warned Duvall.
Parpart encourages every pet owner to micro chip their animal and put an identification tag on it.
"You know the collar and tag is so important because if your neighbor finds the collar and pet they are going to have a number they can call you right away." she said.
Parpart also said this storm is a good indicator of what a pet owner should do as the 4th of July approaches. Since, often times animals are scared of fireworks, she advises pet owners to keep their cats and dogs inside.
