In a race against time to find new homes for more than a hundred cats and dog Chances Animal Rescue in Appleton came out successful today. You’ll recall they were given just seven days to place the animals after their lease ran out earlier this week. On Friday with only two-days remaining until the building has to be vacated, the shelter says it's shocked by the community's response.
Chances Animal Rescue was absolutely slammed this afternoon. It's without question the busiest day they have ever had on record and at this hour they're just amazed that they are just looking for a few more people to adopt their pets.
The parking lot is packed at Chances Animal Rescue. It’s something they have never experienced to this degree here before.
"I'm here to take a look at some of the beautiful dogs they have up for adoption," says Hollie Brannon of Appleton who is looking for a new addition to her family.
By o'clock the lobby was still full, even though they were closed at that hour normally. Full of unpaid volunteers and of course dozens of animal lovers.
As people patiently waited, some of them for hours, it became apparent to staffers they might find a home for most of their pets for the holidays.
"There are still people coming in and we have limited dogs," says Deb Josephs a volunteer at the shelter.
Nearly every one of the pups and cats, some of them who have been waiting for years to be adopted, are in line to be going to a new home.
"To come in now with all these empty kennels is just fantastic," adds Josephs.
"What happened today was an amazing outpouring of public support," adds Dave Vicksta of Appleton who has volunteered at the shelter for years.
What seemed unlikely just 48 hours ago, to place 100 plus dogs and cats with new owners, is close to reality this evening.
"We were all crying. It was horrible. We did not think that we were going to be able to pull this off," adds Vicksta.
"I hope that Juniper will be able to come home with me soon because no one else has put out an application for him. I think we bonded pretty well so I'm hoping he gets to come home with me," adds Brannon.
A number of adoptions that typically take six months to accomplish just happened in a matter of days for this shelter. Tonight volunteers are sharing a very special thank you for everyone who helped make the amazing feat possible.
Reports have surfaced this evening that the State Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection is investigating Chances Animal Rescue for operating with a license that expired in 2015. NBC26 did speak with the owner and she tells us the 125 dollar license fee never went through at the state level, adding that her non-profit has applied for a new license since then. She also indicated that they do have plans to move to a new facility in the near future and that the expired license and the investigation had nothing to do with their closing of the shelter.
