NATCHEZ — The humane society and sheriff’s office are keeping their eye on the Miss-Lou’s four-legged community as the Mississippi River rises.

Along with the Natchez-Adams Humane Society, the Adams County Sheriff’s Office worked Friday to clear a warehouse at 507 North Wall St., the former Waste Management building, to be used as a temporary shelter for pets of potential flood victims, Sheriff Chuck Mayfield said.

The sheriff’s office inmates worked to clean out the 60-by-40 foot warehouse to prepare it for an influx of cats, dogs and other pets, whose owners might be forced to evacuate to less animal-friendly hotels or houses of friends and family in coming weeks.

“It’s a transformation,” Garrison said after one day of cleaning. “The inmates are doing a great job.”

The shelter should be ready to open its doors to displaced pets Wednesday.

Garrison said after Katrina, small shelters popped up all over Adams County to house a number of displaced pets.

“This will be like a clearing house,” she said.

Volunteers and an 18-wheeler filled with 200 kennels, food and supplies courtesy of the Humane Society of the United States should arrive in Natchez Monday to set up shop.

The temporary shelter will also include a 40-by-20 brick garage area.

By Wednesday, Garrison said the shelter should be ready for animals.

Mayfield said the HSUS is providing the supplies and volunteers at no cost to the city or county.

After three weeks, local humane society volunteers will step in to man the shelter in place of HSUS volunteers.

The HSUS requires all animals at the shelter to have a health certificate and proof of rabies shots to be boarded, Mayfield said.

Mayfield said Concordia Parish pet owners planning to evacuate can easily acquire the documents from their family veterinarian, or visit a veterinarian in Adams County to get the proper documentation.

Garrison said the City of Natchez was quick to provide power to the shelter, which was turned on Friday. She expects the city to turn on the water soon, as well.

Garrison said parish residents planning to evacuate to Adams County can board their dogs at the Wall Street shelter and come by during the day to walk their dog or take it with them for the day.

She said she hopes the availability of the shelter will help those at risk of flooding in making evacuation plans.

“So many (people) in Katrina would not leave because they didn’t want to leave their pets,” Garrison said.

Garrison said stray animals will continue to be transported at the humane society’s Liberty Road location. Mayfield said the sheriff’s office has been in contact with veterinarians and boarding services in Concordia and will be prepared to shelter those animals, if necessary.

In addition, Mayfield said river flooding brings about other, less domesticated animal and livestock issues.

Farm and wild animals can get confused when their riverbank stomping grounds shrink due to rising water levels, Mayfield said.

The sheriff’s office is communicating with Mississippi Wildlife Fisheries and Parks to address problems that come up when bears, alligators or bobcats surface in residents’ backyards or too close to private properties, Mayfield said.

Residences with issues of unwanted animals can report the incident to the sheriff’s office at 601-442-2752.