A brick and mortar rescue group called All About Animals in Macon, Georgia suffered a tragedy this month. On the night of October 16, some person or persons apparently went into the no kill shelter and opened the doors on the pet cages. When volunteers arrived at the shelter the next morning, they found forty loose dogs who had been fighting overnight – two dogs were dead, a third died shortly afterward and fifteen other dogs were injured, many severely.
Since the tragic incident, misinformation has been circulating including that the dogs were released in order to fight other dogs who were brought into the facility by the perpetrators. An allegation that the dogs were cut is attributed to PETA. The Macon police department has offered clarifications:
In a statement released Tuesday night, Macon police spokeswoman Jami Gaudet stated there was no evidence that dog fighting was a motive. Police do not believe any other dogs were brought to the shelter to induce the fighting.
“Investigators have found no evidence of dogs being injured by sharp objects,” Gaudet stated. “It appears that all injuries to the dogs were caused by other dogs.”
The public has rallied around the shelter:
Mary Crawford, director of the no-kill shelter, said Tuesday she’s been overwhelmed by the flood of local support. A community vigil last Sunday drew more than 100 people, including Mayor Robert Reichert, to the shelter to remember the three dogs killed — Jack, Butler and Flapjack.
Besides donations of a security system, cash, blankets, dog toys and medical supplies, All About Animals has a stack of dozens of applications from people who want to volunteer with the group.
“We’re getting support like never ever before,” Crawford said.
And there’s more, courtesy of the so-called irresponsible public:
Meanwhile, several Macon-area security companies stepped up to offer a free security system for the facility, which had no surveillance in place when the break-in happened. In addition, two people volunteered to each pay for a year of the monthly security bills.
Others helped out Friday by washing and walking the dogs, which [volunteer Carolyn] Yager said was “extremely helpful.”
Crawford said the rescue group has received at least $2,000 in cash donations, as well as offers to pay for the dogs’ medical bills and boarding. Some people have donated new locks for the facility, she said.
HSUS has given All About Animals a $2500 crisis grant to help with vet bills and renovations.
PETA, an organization opposed to no kill shelters, HSUS and the Atlanta Humane Society have each offered $5000 rewards for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the break-in. This money is in addition to $3000 contributed by local citizens bringing the current reward total to $18,000.
Anyone with information is asked to call Macon Regional CrimeStoppers at 877-68-CRIME.
(Thanks Clarice for sending me this story.)
This is low life at it’s peak! I will never understand this mentality! I hope these jerks, who find the need to be anonymous will be found and prosecuted to the full extent of the law!
Somebody knows something and, though I would hope they would just do the right thing because it’s the right thing, $18 grand might be the incentive they need.
On Mon, Oct 28, 2013 at 10:53 AM, YesBiscuit!
Unbelievable. Some kind of stupid prank gone wrong? And yet, here is the irresponsible public stepping up once again to help out when needed.
I hope the money helps bring the perpetrators to justice.
Before the internet, word about anti-pet activities traveled by mouth and was seldom verified. But I can recall being told many times that people calling themselves activists would go into anyplace where animals were in cages and “set them free”. I don’t know how widespread the practice actually may have been (or still be?) but it was definitely a hot item on the rumor mill. This story made me think of that.
On Mon, Oct 28, 2013 at 11:34 AM, YesBiscuit!
Hmm, I could see that if they propped a door open…
I heard these rumors too, but while I saw some stories involving labs, fur farms and battery chickens verified by news reports, the ones involving shelters and rescues all seemed to turn out to be ordinary vandals – usually, teens or drunks – or, in one memorable case in the UK some years back, one of the dogs. That’s just what I remember, though.
Several years ago A shelter called Noah’s Ark was broken into and animals were killed in their cages. Don’t remember the exact number but it was dozens. If I remember correctly they were all the kitties.
This was in 1997, at Noah’s Ark in Fairfield, Iowa. Their website includes a brief synopsis:
http://www.noahsark.org/about/ourstory.htm
This stands out in my memory not only because it was an exceptionally bloody crime, but also because it was the first time I saw animal advocates turn to the Internet as the primary tool for communication.
Damn that irresponsible public!
I’m sick to death of this! What the hell business did they have breaking into that shelter?
I don’t understand their sick purpose for doing this!