Metro East shelter worries for dog safety as storm gathers; IDOT prepping for busy days ahead

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) – It’s set to be the first big snowstorm of the season, and in Illinois, animal shelters are giving folks hay bails to insulate doghouses while IDOT preps for the first big snowplow operations of 2025.

Members of the Gateway Pet Guardians have been working hard this Friday to search for stray dogs that may be in severe danger from the cold and to provide free hay bales to the Metro East to help insulate doghouses.

Meanwhile, the Illinois Department of Transportation is prepping it’s equipment for the coming snow. They’ve been closely watching forecasts, and are evaluating next steps in the nine-plus counties under Region 8. Drivers have been prepped, generators checked and roads and bridges pretreated.

Examples of the multiple preparations across the river as the storm makes its way into the region:

GATEWAY PET GUARDIANS

Gateway Pet Guardians is the largest pet resource center, according to staff. It serves East St. Louis and the surrounding area with resources focused on helping people keep their pets in their homes.

GPG will be open again tomorrow, Jan. 4, from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. They hope to offer more hay bales.

During their visiting hours tomorrow, they hope that volunteers will foster an adult dog. Guardians will provide all food and necessities for this temporary foster situation and also provide support from the volunteers and staff of the shelter.

“Many people in our community live in poverty and the reality is that many people may not have heat in their homes and are scrambling to ensure their personal safety when the temperatures dip this low,” says Jill Henke, the operations director of the group. “And we want to be there to provide that reminder to them to think about their pets and offer resources to ensure the safety of their pets as well.”

She told First Alert 4 that there are currently 12 stray dogs they’re trying to rescue before the storm — but they’re worried they will not have room for them — unless foster homes are found.

“With no open kennels, we’re relying on the community to temporarily foster dogs or cats,” she says.

IDOT PREPS FOR STORM

IDOT is in full swing for snow preparations. Joseph Monroe, Engineer of Operations for Region 8, says they’ve been looking through equipment during the last few weeks of calm before the storm.

The department has already looked at different plans for handling the snow as it comes in — including plans for removing fallen tree branches or debris from roadways — if the storm reaches that intensity.

“Hands down, freezing rain is our biggest concern, especially if it’s significant,” Monroe told First Alert 4.

IDOT has already pre-treated a number of bridges and roads — especially in the areas consistently marked for snow in the forecast. He says that today, crews have been doing emergency repair work across the region to try and make sure roads are ready for the storm.

Crews could continue pretreating tomorrow — maybe even expand operations — but only time and the storm forecast will tell.

IDOT advises all drivers to keep blankets, food, water and other needed items in your car — especially if it’s before the storm.

They also advise checking your windshield wiper fluid, filling air in your tires and checking the radiator before it’s too late.

The biggest tip though — don’t risk trying to pass a snowplow. Monroe says an accident with a snow plow risks “taking that plow out of action — that not only puts you on the sideline — but now every other plow has to cover that route.”

Avery Martinez covers water, ag & the environment for First Alert 4. He is also a Report for America corps member, as well as a member of the Mississippi River Basin Ag & Water Desk. His coverage goes from corn farms to hunting concerns, and local water rates to buffalo health.

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