Nation's Only Cage-Free, No-Kill Shelter Seeks Help

April 12, 2009 | By Amy Lieberman

The Saint Francis Animal Rescue Center was broken into two weeks ago; it is now asking of the public to help it re-gain some of the losses, which it says are beyond its means. (ZT Pet News Photo Illustration)

ROCK HILL, S.C. -- The country's only cage-free, no-kill animal shelter is finding itself boxed into a difficult situation, with donations dismal and adoptions low.

It's a common story across the country, as many budget-bound animal shelters and rescue groups struggle to find stable footing in a rocky economic setting.

But the Saint Francis Animal Rescue Center, located in Rock Hill, S.C., located around a half-hour south of Charlotte, N.C., is now facing a severe setback after it was broken into last month.

Now, with almost no volunteers and two staff members, the shelter might have to consider permanently closing its bashed-in doors.

"It's just been horrible," said shelter director Charlene Rodriguez. "My assistant and I have been using our own funds, and I don't mean trust funds, but as in paycheck to paycheck.

"It's been extremely difficult."

Two weeks ago, an intoxicated man broke into the facility, smashing its glass doors; there wasn't any money to take, and the man did not kill or injure any of the animals. He did, though, apparently terrorize them, and drove 12 cats to flee the building.

Only seven of the cats were found and the damage has cost the facility more than $1,300.

"It's horrible knowing that those cats are out there and they will probably perish, just starve to death," Rodriguez said.

The remaining cats at the shelter, meanwhile, remain affected by the ordeal.

"If we try to get too close to them, they growl and try to bite," the shelter manager explained. "What that man did, we don't know. But he was acting in such a way where he really terrorized them."

The animals' withdrawal negates the purpose of the no-kill, cage-free facility: to provide animals with an open, relaxed environment. The shelter hosts around 100 cats, who roam free in different rooms, distinguished by their residents' sex, health and condition.

"The advantage of not having them in cages is that the animals are not stressed and are very social," Rodriguez says. "Everyone always comments on how nice they are."

But the hospitable setting has not encouraged more volunteers or pet owners-to-be. Open since 2003, the shelter had its most success three years ago, when it adopted out 100 animals. Now, just getting a few cats out the door a month makes for a good month.

Donations are virtually non-existent. For years, Rodriguez tried to overcome that predicament by donating half of her monthly paycheck to the shelter; her assistant, she says, took a job at a library just to cover shelter fees.

There still wasn't always enough money, though, to give all the animals' their vaccines and perform spay/neuter procedures -- that's where the different rooms for male and female cats came into play.

And now, Rodriguez's work hours at a local university have been slashed in half.

"I can't afford to give back anymore," she said. "There just isn't enough."

The shelter is behind on rent, as well, so trying to front $1,300 of reparation costs is a daunting task.

"We've tried many other avenues, and will continue to do so, but we are appealing to the public because we really, really do need this," Rodriguez explained.

Fundraisers and media publicity have apparently all proved ineffective; Rodriguez credits their struggle to the surrounding community. There are other shelters nearby, she says, but none in White Rock, making the situation even more difficult to fathom.

"It's just the mentality here," she explained. "People get the kids a bunny for Easter, then throw it out when they get tired of it. Animals are expendable here.

"The other part, I believe, is the economy. People aren't making donations and don't want to add on additional costs by getting a pet."

Rodriguez is open to fundraising and marketing suggestions, saying that any advice can't hurt.

"It's hard for us to get volunteers," she said. "We have people who call and show interest and then they don't follow through. I know so many shelters have a ton of volunteers and it's just like, 'Tell me what I am doing wrong, tell me what I should be doing.' "

To donate to the Saint Francis Animal Rescue Center, visit PayPal.com and search for StFrancisAnimalRescue@yahoo.com.

Amy Lieberman is a staff reporter for Zootoo Pet News. She can be reached at alieberman@zootoo.com