Flooding traps 28 dogs in loft as rain swells Welsh rivers

Twenty-eight dogs were left trapped in the loft of a dog sanctuary after it flooded, as the effects of heavy rain continues to impact parts of Wales.

Alison Clark, at Glanrhyd Dog Sanctuary in Trimsaran, Carmarthenshire, said she "lost everything" when river banks burst on Tuesday, forcing her to keep the animals away from danger in its loft.

A severe flood warning, meaning a danger to life, was issued at the Kiln Caravan Park near the River Ritec in Tenby on Wednesday evening, with Natural Resources Wales saying severe flooding and flooding to property was ongoing.

Other flood warnings were in place in areas in the south-west and north-west, following widespread flooding and disruption.

Ms Clark, 59, said the property was completely cut off, with the road flooded "for the 12th time since July", but added: "The dogs are safe. I kept them alive yesterday."

She told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast on Wednesday she had tried to bring the 37 dogs living at the sanctuary to safety, as water levels rose rapidly on Tuesday, but "every level we went up, the water followed".

She said the fire and rescue service helped nine of the dogs to safety using boats, but the others had to be left behind because "some of [them] are really reactive, and can't share or go elsewhere".

"The rest are just in crates up in the loft - where they've got nowhere to go for their toilet, or any food left," she told the BBC.

"It's just devastating, everything's gone."

Ms Clark said the flood had wiped out almost all of the sanctuary's dog-food supply, with only two bags remaining, and the road "totally flooded [with] no access in and out".

She said she feels "just broken".

"There's no electricity and nothing for the dogs. The bedding is soaking.

"No one, in the 25 years that they've been living here, has ever seen anything like this.

She added she was thankful for the crates in the loft.

"Today is just going to be a battle of trying to find clean bedding, and salvage what food we do have, and doing what I can," she said.

Ms Clark said she now plans to build proper kennels in the loft.

The Met Office had previously issued a yellow warning for rain across much of south Wales until 08:00 GMT on Wednesday.

As of Wednesday evening, Natural Resources Wales still had a number of flood warnings and flood alerts in place - with seven schools in Carmarthenshire and one in Pembrokeshire closed for the day.

Joint Fire Control Centre operators processed more than 450 calls within a 12-hour period on flooding-related incidents, including calls from people who were trapped in their homes and vehicles.

Very high spring tides, caused by a "supermoon", are another factor in the ongoing flooding, particularly in parts of Carmarthenshire.

A supermoon occurs when there is a full moon unusually close to Earth. On Wednesday night, the moon will be the closest to Earth than any other full moon of 2025.

Despite the easing of rain in the forecast for Wednesday, the council has warned that higher than normal tides could lead to coastal flooding until Thursday.

Farms, properties and roads are also expected to be hit by flooding near the river Towy in Carmarthenshire.

Low-lying properties in Ammanford, Llandybie and Aberlash, including Carmarthenshire College, where the river Loughor meets the river Amman, are also likely to be impacted should flooding occur.

In Pembrokeshire, a number of motorists were rescued by the emergency services amid "widespread surface water flooding", with many routes closed.

Flooding also caused the suspension of rail services between Whitland and Carmarthen, with warnings about local services being "cancelled or revised" throughout Wednesday.

Residents of St Davids Avenues in Whitland were also moved to temporary accommodation at a local hotel, while fire services responded to a vehicle being stuck in floodwater near Llangynog, Carmarthenshire.

A "significant landslide" also cut off a section of a cycling route between Tumble and Pontyberem, Camarthenshire, the council said, with members of the public urged to stay away from the area for their own safety.

Speaking in the Senedd on Wednesday afternoon, Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies said "our hearts go out" to those affected by the flooding, thanking emergency services for their efforts.

"The impact on homes and businesses and lives can be devastating," he said.

Irranca-Davies also said he was in touch with schools regarding students missing exams due to the flooding.

"This is an unforeseen eventuality but those things will need to be considered as well," he said.