Forty homeless, whimpering, tail-wagging dogs hoping for a holiday miracle will have to wait a few more weeks for their shot at adoption.
Earlier this week someone stole 40 dog crates from Park Pet Haven Rescue in Dunwoody. Without the crates, the rescue organization cannot show the dogs at the Dunwoody PetSmart. Without the shows, the dogs can’t find their new families.
“I did six adoptions last week and got those six dogs out of a high kill shelter,” said Dorease Shairrick, the volunteer director of the rescue group. “I don’t know if I would have done six this week, but I would have done some.”
Park Pet Haven Rescue keeps its cages behind a 9-foot-tall chain-link fence in back of the PetSmart in Dunwoody.
Shairrick suspects someone or multiple someones were Dumpster diving in the back of the PetSmart when they noticed the fence and scrambled over to see if there was anything worth stealing. The grinches then threw the crates over the fence.
The robbery may have occurred Christmas morning, Shairrick said.
The black folding crates are all in used condition — some a little chewed up by the dogs. The word “rescue” is spray-painted on them.
“I don’t know who would want them, but it does cost us a lot to replace them,” Shairrick said. “I mean, it’s a charity. Can you imagine?”
The crates will cost about $5,000 to replace, Shairrick said. The thieves also stole four banners valued at $120 and dog bedding that will cost $175 to replace.
“For a rescue group that’s living hand to mouth this will be hard for us to make up,” she said. “Anytime we have extra money we usually buy heart worm medicine.”
The rescue is accepting donations at its Facebook page to pay for new crates. Donations can also be made by calling 770-414-7275.
“It doesn’t have to be monetary though,” said Joyelle Jones, a volunteer with the rescue group. “We’d accept wire crates as well.”
Shairrick hopes to have 20 crates by Saturday. She would like to hold at least a limited adoption show.
Park Pet Haven Rescue is considering adding a roof and other security measures to make it more difficult for crooks to steal the cages in the future.
Shairrick never thought she would have to beef up security. In the seven years she has been volunteering with the rescue group, this is the first time any crates have been stolen.
Park Pet Haven Rescue conducts adoption shows every Saturday at the PetSmart in Dunwoody. The rescue facilitates about 200 dog and cat adoptions a year, mainly dogs.
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