Animal Shelter Robbed, Struggles To Stay Open
Nearly $1,000 Taken In Theft
Email
Print
WAREHAM, Mass. -- Nearly $1,000 was stolen early Sunday morning in a break-in at A Helping Paw, an animal shelter in East Wareham.
Watch Report“They took all of our receipts, all of our donations, adoption payments, everything,” said Jennifer Lussier, a shelter volunteer.The thief got into the shelter by breaking into a room that houses 20 cats. The cats were not harmed and the burglar shut the door on the way out so the cats would not escape.Volunteers who arrived Sunday morning discovered that the money had been stolen."I am distraught. I am heart-broken. I am angry.” said shelter manager Lauren Biagiotti.“The big, huge donation jar was here and this is what's left,” Biagiotti said as she pointed to a counter with just a few coins scattered on it.Biagiotti said she suspects someone looking for money for drugs is responsible for the theft.The shelter, which was already struggling to raise $30,000 to stay open, now has no money for basic services."I had 10 vet appointments set up for this week. I had to cancel all 10 of them. We have no money. We are really strapped and this is a major blow for us,” said Biagiotti.The theft has been reported to Wareham police.People who wish to help may send donations to Box 387, Buzzards Bay MA, 02532.
Watch Report“They took all of our receipts, all of our donations, adoption payments, everything,” said Jennifer Lussier, a shelter volunteer.The thief got into the shelter by breaking into a room that houses 20 cats. The cats were not harmed and the burglar shut the door on the way out so the cats would not escape.Volunteers who arrived Sunday morning discovered that the money had been stolen."I am distraught. I am heart-broken. I am angry.” said shelter manager Lauren Biagiotti.“The big, huge donation jar was here and this is what's left,” Biagiotti said as she pointed to a counter with just a few coins scattered on it.Biagiotti said she suspects someone looking for money for drugs is responsible for the theft.The shelter, which was already struggling to raise $30,000 to stay open, now has no money for basic services."I had 10 vet appointments set up for this week. I had to cancel all 10 of them. We have no money. We are really strapped and this is a major blow for us,” said Biagiotti.The theft has been reported to Wareham police.People who wish to help may send donations to Box 387, Buzzards Bay MA, 02532. Copyright 2009 by TheBostonChannel.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
