CARA posted this message on Facebook.
CARA friends and supporters, we feel the need to let our extended CARA family know that our shelter, the CARA compound, was broken into and vandalized last Tuesday night during the wee morning hours. We want you to know first and foremost that all of our animals are safe. They broke locks off of the pod and storage trailer, broke into our photo building and our office supply storage building. They also got through the locked exterior door into our cattery, but were not able to compromise the lock on the inside door that leads to the cats. And we are beyond thankful for that. They also broke into our shelter Toyota pickup, stealing the radio system, but were unable to steal the truck. Because of the damage they did trying, that vehicle will likely be totaled. They also cut through our fencing all the way around this 30,000 sq ft building. Most likely, they were attempting to get inside the main building through the dog yards. I can only imagine how intimidating a shelter with 250 barking dogs sounds in the middle of the night from the outside. We feel sure that is the only thing that kept them from going in. However, we were very distraught to get here this morning to find that they have been back. They cut fencing in different yards that was not previously cut, probably still looking for that magic door that they could enter that may be free of dogs.
Our biggest concern is for the safety of these precious animals. That is by far most important. Any material items they take, can be replaced. We are a non-profit and we struggle to even have the things needed to run a shelter of this size. Therefore, a lot of what we have is used, probably not worth much to someone like these thieves. But the lives of these babies are invaluable and we will protect them at all cost. We are in the process of getting quotes from alarm and surveillance companies, as what we have is ancient and really not worth much for protection. We are also getting quotes on fencing. And it's a lot of fencing. Truth is, the fencing we have, other than what is in our dog park, is pieced together and has been for the 10 years that we have been here. We have known for some time that we need new, more secure fencing just for daily use by employees and our dogs. At this point, it doesn't make much sense to try to patch and rig any further. If there is any possible way, we would like to finally get some decent fencing here.
And all of that brings me to this. You guys, we need help. We hate to ask for help and those of you who know us, know that we rarely do ask. I mean, very rarely. It has to be a very desperate situation. And this is a desperate situation. We have got to get in line with other local shelters and the surveillance and alarm systems they have in place to protect their animals. We are still in the dark ages and obviously, we have got to change that. We are going to scrape from every corner we can possibly find to take this on, but we sincerely cannot do this without help from our community. Anyone who feels led to help us move into this direction, please consider donating to our organization. We need your help now more than ever. These animals are top priority, whatever that means to keep them safe. If it means begging, then we have it to do. I apologize that we need to ask for help, but this time, there is no getting around it.
As always, thank you bigger than I can say for your support over the last 16 years. Everything we have been able to do, we've been able to do because of you. And we have never lost sight of that, nor will we ever. Thank you, in advance, for any help you can provide. (VH) Donate here if you want to help.
Saturday, February 18, 2017
CARA vandalized
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18 comments:
There is no limit to the crime a Jackson resident will commit.
@ 12:17 - Non-tax paying residents of Jackson did this!!
Probably someone Kidd or Green just released. This is terrible.
New level of stupid to break into a building with a bunch of barking dogs inside!
Not sure about the latest traffic numbers, but I suspect that if everyone who read this just gave one dollar it would knock a big dent in the problem.
This act of vandalism (?) seems more than ordinary. To return to do more seems to me to be more a deranged perpetrator. There are only two reasons I can imagine anyone breaking into an animal shelter. One is to get animals to sell and the other is to do grave harm to the animals. This was no act of love nor does it seem to be one of boredom. I suggest a Go Fund Me page and some additional publicity. Cameras should be a definite part of repairs and upgrades.
If they weren't anti-common sense and actually let decent families adopt pets they wouldn't have so many in the first place, this lowering costs...
"Wee Hours" indeed. Oh the HIGH DRAMA. This was not vandalism. Think of another term for it. Nobody was trying to harm the animals. Thieves don't give a hoot about harming animals. Hire a damned guard and get security cameras installed.
Agree with 8:16 AM
They are backward troglodytes!
Somehow, putting up a new fence for them to come back and cut seems like the wrong approach. I guess if you have guards hidden to catch them when they return maybe it would be worthwhile. .
For goodness sake, these tree huggers act as though one is trying to adopt a child, not a homeless pet. Get a grip CARA, that's why I stopped donating to you gals. My money is better spent on other animal adoption agencies.
3:53 - my sentiments exactly. I disregard their pleas for more money simply because the have ridiculous requirements for pet adoption and therefore have too many animals. I assure you that kitten would've been much happier at my house than locked up in the cages at CARA, but it didn't get to come home with me because it would have been outside some and "didn't know how to live outside"...it's a kitten; they've existed outside for eons...
Methinks that they might need a new (reasonable) Board of Directors. imho
I agree with 11:25. From the top down, this organization does not understand the concept of a business plan or being good stewards of the monies they are given. A board member actually told me to my face that 'they are not a business'. They stuff the building full of poor animals, many of which will NEVER be adoptable, and think they are doing the community a favor...all while bad-mouthing MARL under their breaths for being realistic about the plight of homeless animals in MS. I feel sorry for the animals who are jailed there, and the many volunteers who come there wanting to make a difference. Unfortunately, they only enable CARA to perpetuate this backward idea that rounding up and caging every stray animal is an actual solution that needs to be supported by huge amounts of donated money. With all due respect to the good intentions these people have, this approach to rescue is unsustainable and needs to go away.
It's sad that anyone gets vandalized and robbed, but the comments about the care of the animals at CARA are accurate. Years - I'm not exaggerating - in a cage with no hope of adoption isn't humane. Ridiculously stringent adoption requirements only serve to exacerbate the problem. This lady is a hoarder and needs to move aside for someone who will actually look out for the animals' best interest.
I hate the plight of the many homeless animals in our state. Until everyone spays & neuters their pets and until Farm Bureau stops their insane battle against anti-cruelty laws, encouraging dog-fighting, among other crimes, it will continue. Our shelters and volunteers do the best they can with this situation. There are arguments for and against kill and no-kill shelters. All have adoption rules, and most are necessary so that irresponsible people don't continue to breed the adopted animals or throw them back on the street once they're not little and cute any longer, or worse, adopt them to use a fighting dogs or bait. Work at any shelter for one day, and you will get it. Very short version of a very deep problem. One thing is for sure, there's a special place in hell for people who rob charities and harm animals. Most likely, one reason for the break-in was to steal animals for fighting bait. And don't start - OF COURSE children come first - that's just not what we're talking about.
No, there was no intention of stealing animals for fighting bait. That's a ridiculous claim. There is zero evidence of any attempt to steal animals. Besides, you can ride the streets and pick up animals all over the metro for that purpose without fear of being arrested for breaking into a business.
Warehousing hundreds of animals in cages in a very high stress environment for many years is rescuing them from... what? They have numerous dogs they took in as cute little puppies that are over 8 years old now!!
What kind of life is that for an animal??
Years ago, after hearing how much trouble they seemed to have placing animals, I sent a friend there who'd lost his beloved elderly dog. What he shared about their adoption process left little doubt as to why they continue to accumulate more and more animals. He finally gave up in disgust.
The symptoms of hoarding are classic. I support several local rescues... but not this one. They need to take a long hard look in the mirror - and at the animals suffering in their facility. Food and water is not enough.
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