As the Mississippi River continues creeping out of its banks, work is underway at the Vicksburg Animal Shelter in anticipation of potentially relocating the animals.

The shelter is located in the Waltersville area off U.S. 61 North near the Vicksburg Housing Authority’s Waltersville development. The area is north of Ford Subdivision, which is presently taking floodwater from the Yazoo Diversion Canal.

Right now, Shelter manager Kacie Lindsey said Monday, the shelter is accessible.

“We should be OK; I know they have the crest at 51.5 feet, but at 52 is when we need to start getting out,” she said. “If they go up any more, then I think we have to start worrying about it. I think the crest is going to go up.”

“We have a plan in place,” she said. “We have the (shelter) trucks we can use and our volunteers who come down and walk the dogs all the time said they would come help us if we need them to.”

She said she is working with rescue shelters to take some animals if the need arises before potentially having to take the animals to be housed at Vicksburg Animal Hospital at a cost of $12 per day per animal.

“Right now, I have 13 big dogs, 12 cats and 16 puppies,” she said. “If someone wishes to adopt a pet, this is a good time.”

Lindsey said the shelter is not euthanizing animals in case the shelter has to be evacuated, contrary to a rumor that appeared on social media.

“I don’t know where that came from,” she said. “We’re reaching out to all rescues we can. We’ve already had one adoption today and there should be two more coming today.”