NORMAN – A local animal shelter is left looking for answers as someone stole vital equipment from the Second Chance Animal Sanctuary.
Board member Christine Cooper, a retired OB/ GYN speaking for the 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization that rescues, coordinates and provides shelter for animals across the Sooner State, told Southwest Ledger that someone had taken their black 26-foot tandem axle trailer from the sanctuary located at 4500 24th Street NW over the weekend. Area businesses, law enforcement officers and others are reviewing video surveillance, she said.
“We talked to the brewery, Victory Church, the jail and spoke with other private citizens in the area,” said Cooper. “The brewery, the church and others are talking to their security companies to go through their footage and will let us know.”
With only fragments of the shattered heavy-duty lock left lying on the parking lot Tuesday morning, Rose Grimm, who became the shelter manager for Second Chance Animal Sanctuary last August, filed a report with Norman police. She believes thieves used a hammer or sledgehammer to break the lock and drove away with the trailer that had been donated to the organization in the past.
The trailer is used for a variety of reasons, from delivering supplies to removing limbs and debris from the sanctuary. The group estimates it will cost approximately $1,500 to replace.
“Ripping off a charitable organization that runs by way of volunteers and a few employees is just ... infuriating,” asserted Cooper.
The theft is not the only issue the shelter faces. Unable to host any fundraisers or adoption events over the past year due to the pandemic, “has jeopardized our ability to stay solvent,” said Cooper.
“With COVID-19, everything has been extremely difficult for most nonprofits,” she said, adding, “We don’t get state or federal funding; we have to raise every dollar ourselves. Both the pandemic and this theft has set us back significantly.”
Grimm added that approximately 100 families have opened their hearts and homes to foster animals until they are adopted into their forever homes. She and Cooper agree that they have a great group of volunteers who help in a variety of ways, however the pandemic “has kept them in short supply”, as a way “to ensure that our staff workers are kept safe and are able to come to work,” said Grimm.
Taking to social media Tuesday, Second Chance’s Facebook post about the theft was shared 354 times in three hours, raising $325 toward the purchase of a new trailer if the old one is not returned.
If the trailer is returned, funds will help with various operating expenses, said Cooper.
For more details, or to donate to Second Chance Animal Sanctuary, visit www. secondchancenorman.com or call 405-321-1915.