More than 220 dogs and 50 cats are dead after Hurricane Dorian floodwaters struck animal shelter

More than 220 dogs and 50 cats have died after floodwaters from Hurricane Dorian struck an animal rescue shelter in the Bahamas.

The slow-moving Category 5 storm hit The Humane Society of Grand Bahama killing animals as well as destroying medical supplies, food and vehicles. 

The shelter thought they would be safe during the high waters due to being fitted with elevated foundations in 2008 and never suffering a flood before.

But this time it did not prove enough when the massive storm washed over the island and high rising water poured inside 

Staff members desperately tried to save the animals, working tirelessly to life elevate crates as high as possible to the point of putting their lives on the line, CNN wrote. 

Staff put their own lives at risk trying to save the animals by moving their crates higher and keeping them out of the water. Eventually Telfort and had to flee to the attic, only accessible through a manhole cover to save their own lives

The shelter was built with elevated foundations to prevent flooding and hoped they would be safe prior to the slow-moving storm that accompanied Category 5 Hurricane Dorian

But when the waters rose above their chest, they were forced to save themselves. 

In the end, six workers had to help each other up into the attic through a manhole where they listened to the howling of animals below until there was silence. 

Felicia Telfort, the shelter supervisor, said: ‘We were making sure that everything would put up safe to try and put it up high.

‘We went up in the manhole because the water started to come up so high

‘The kennel dogs were still howling and crying we experienced all of that until they were not even crying any more.’

Around 75 dogs and 50 cats survived according to the shelter who are now focusing on taking care of their remaining animals.

‘It wasn’t about us being heroes it was about us caring about the animals just as much as we cared about ourselves,’ Telfort added. 

Elizabeth Burrows, executive director of the humane society, added: ‘My heart is broken for the shelter animals that we lost.

‘I feel so bad for the people who entrusted their animals to us and ultimately we couldn’t protect them.

‘We couldn’t have predicted this but I still feel responsible.’

Elizabeth Burrows (right), the executive director of the Humane Society, said her heart was broken over the cats and dogs who lost their lives. The slow-moving floodwaters accompanied Hurricane Dorian, a category 5 storm (left)

The six workers at the shelter who tried to save the animals in water up to their chests were eventually forced to flee into the attic, only accessible through a manhole (above)

An online fundraiser has been launched to replace all of the damaged medical supplies, food and vehicles lost in the storm (left). So far several supplies have been sent to the shelter but much more is needed (right) 

A statement from an online fundraiser stated that floodwaters rising ‘was our biggest fear.’   

They say much of their equipment and day-to-day basics were ruined. 

To help combat this, a fundraising page has been launched with a target of $250,000.

Currently the overall figure is just under $160,000 and an anonymous donor has pledged to match any donations to the site, according to a post.

One entry on the page thank the public for their ‘outpouring of support and well wishes from everyone.’

‘I am not quite ready to speak at length about our horrific losses but please know we are all heartbroken and traumatized and your love and concern is so appreciated.’