Once again there’s turmoil in the cat advocacy world, this time coming out of North Carolina. The whole situation brings into question as to whether shelters should do background checks on the rescues who pull cats from them. I’ll be as brief as possible, but will list several links following this article so the readers can get more of an idea of the big picture.
On January 16 the Salisbury Post reported two of the rescues who pull from Rowan County were banned on December 31, 2015. County Manager Aaron Church confirmed to the Salisbury Post that Jennifer Frasier, owner of Purfect Purbaby Rescue and her father Craig Gordon, owner of Carolina Sanctuary and Rescue have been banned from Rowan County Animal Shelter in Salisbury.
The ban comes following the arrest of Frasier and Gordon when nearby Iredell County Animal Services brought charges against them for animal abandonment on December 19 stemming from a November incident where more than a dozen cats were left on the side of Short Dog Drive in Statesville. Frasier was charged and booked into the jail on $1,000 bond after being arrested by Salisbury Police Department officers. The Salisbury Post stated at least five of the cats were in Frasier’s possession before being abandoned.
Now for the battle: are Frasier and Gordon guilty? According to Frasier, she had only pulled the cats for another rescue to take possession of them and they were no longer in her care at the time they went missing. Frasier has been advised by her attorney not to speak on the matter. The court date is scheduled for February 1 and Jennifer says she has information that will clear her. One of her supporters (Cindy) says it best as follows:
“Since this trashing has started, we have not only lost Jen but many other rescuers. And why? Because of anonymous calls to the shelters and now they will not let ANYONE rescue. The good rescue world in NC has crumbled because of a few rubber necking gossiping trashing nosy people in Florida and California that get their rocks off on gossip. Not one of these people have ever made an effort to visit the adoption center. So now the cats wait for the dreaded day that they get the needle. Many already have and more will die tomorrow.”
Frasier herself stated in a blog comment
“First of all why would I believe it and care for leg amputation, eye removals, full vaccinations and spay/neuter if my intention was not to make sure that that animal got to a home or place where it can be properly cared for…why would I waste my time which usually added to about 16 hours a day back and forth to Concord and all over the state and others transporting cats, if I did not care about their well being???”
On the other hand, there are a lot of cat advocates who have been asking legitimate questions of where the cats she rescued ended up. A head count of all cats pulled over the past year are so have been requested and not provided. Advocates want to know where each cat ended up, what rescue a cat was passed off to and if a cat has died there should be vet receipts with information on what happened to the cat.
Unfortunately, Frasier recently reported a break-in at the adoption center in Salisbury, where none of the cats were harmed but records were stolen and the building vandalized (see photo above). Photos of the damage, as well as successful adoption stories, can be found on this Facebook page.
The issue of whether background checks needs addressing regarding rescues, since it’s been learned Frasier and Gordon both have criminal records. Manager Church, however, stated the criminal charges are only part of the reason for the ban. Church went on to add the shelter doesn’t conduct background checks on people adopting animals, but believes it may be a necessary policy change for rescues who pull from the shelter.
All we know to date is Salisbury PD Detective Benfield is assigned to the Breaking and Entering case. We also know Dr Norris, who is head of the NC Department of Agriculture Animal Welfare is heading up a related investigation. Iredell County Animal Control is also involved since the original complaints came out of their shelter.
This case should make for an interesting discussion. Those who support Frasier wonder how cat advocates can have her charged and convicted before she’s made even the first plea in court. Others worry about a fate worse than death to the cats she saved from death row. Regardless of how this case ends, it will be yet another blemish on cat rescues, who can’t fight lies and rumors yet don’t provide simple information on the cats they save.
Please feel free to comment on any of this. Just don’t spread rumors that can’t be proven at this time. We have to leave that for the courts to decide. It’s sad, but the Team Frasier supporters are right in assessing more cats will likely die without Frasier there to save them.
Please comment on Facebook as well as it helps spread the word – thanks.
I encourage everyone who donated to keep electronic records of your donation and forward to the appropriate parties if the charges stick; this will potentially help provide proof of financial fraud. It could also help to shut down fraudulent paypal accounts, amazon donation accounts, etc. if these rescues have indeed used funds inappropriately and/or dumped defenseless animals.
Anytime! Thank you for allowing us too. And because we are speaking about cats being dumped outside I need to tell everyone that it is so cold outside right now, my cat is sitting in front of the heater in our sun room. I worry so much about those poor cats being stuck outside in the cold without food or shelter. If you guys can do one thing for me. Just remind people to bring there pets inside during winter months. Thank you!
Thanks Kerry for sharing your thoughts and contributing to the discussion.
Unfortunately, I fear this is just the tip of the iceberg for animals being “rescued” for the sake of the money/pledges being posted on their posts. We need a new system to save them. FB can be a good source of information and it can bring out the worst in people – people who “rescue” animals for the money. Some fosters are begged to take an animal with no prior application, no home check, and when they get the cat, the cat has not been seen by a vet. Sometimes the foster is stuck paying for the vet bills because the so-called “rescue” (scam) does not back up the foster. This Jen Fraiser could have avoided a lot of this speculation if she had just produced the records. Reform of 501c3 reporting requirements and agency oversight are needed. Many wonder why so many of Ms. Frazier’s family and friends all have 501c3s such as Ashley Gordon, Derek’s wife; Regina Rene Cooper Rowland (Funny Farm Kitties); Lora Cheek Wilson, Deana Craig and Jen’s Father (Carolina Sanctuary – now blank page on FB), etc. etc. etc. what is going on there?????? I think it’s happening all over the USA. Let’s hope it all comes out. Most importantly, I hope all the kitties she has saved are safe, happy, warm, healthy, etc.
Thanks for sharing Caroline.
Yes, Jen is innocent until proven guilty but murderers go free everyday. It seems that people have been following her for quite a while and asking her a valid question that she will not answer. Why would someone not answer this unless they are hiding something. And yes the break in after the records we’re asked for again just sounds like something that was done on the inside. And Derek Gordon, your sister may have been an animal lover all her life and have been a good person in front of you, but no one knows what anyway is doing behind closed doors. Have you gone with her to see where the cats are going? I am very much against euthanasia of anything but with the overpopulation that has happened with cats and dogs unfortunately euthanasia is inevitable unless spay and neuter laws are mandatory. I would rather an animal be sent to heaven quickly than die a painful death trying to find food, and shelter in the cold winter.