ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL
Operation MoveOut
February 2008
All Creatures Great and Small in Hendersonville, North Carolina described itself as a no-kill shelter. In reality, it was a "slow kill" shelter that warehoused hundreds of animals in unsanitary conditions, without adequate exercise, food, water, or veterinary care. Dogs were often left outdoors in the freezing cold, rain, and blistering heat. It was the type of hoarding facility that hides its cruelty behind claims of being a sanctuary.
In August, 2001 the facility failed an inspection by the state and was ordered to close because of severe overcrowding, unsanitary conditions, and other violations of North Carolina's Animal Welfare Act.
Despite the judicial order, the facility did not close. It continued operating without a license and made no efforts to improve conditions. The state took them to court; All Creatures appealed the court ruling to shut down. The case languished in the court system for years. And for years, various animal advocacy groups filed complaints about and publicized the harm, pain, suffering and death occurring at the facility.
In 2008, the pressure from the advocacy groups and the state resulted in an agreement that allowed the state to seize the facility and find homes for the animals. To accomplish the shutdown, Operation MoveOut was set in motion. A Chrissie's Fund board member was instrumental in the legal victory. Now he would become instrumental in the success of Operation MoveOut.
The operation involved coordinating the efforts of animal rescue groups from around the country. Before the animals could be released, the rescue groups had to work with the state to take possession of the unsafe and crumbling facility and provide the animals with medical care and assessments for adoption. Chrissie's Fund provided the financial backing to enable this to happen.
At 9:00 a.m. on Friday, February 1, 2008 Operation MoveOut took control of the facility. By 11:00 a.m., the national coalition had launched the massive operation of preparing more than 150 animals for adoption. Over the weekend all of the animals were assessed, vaccinated, medically treated, bathed, and microchipped.
On Tuesday, February 5, the facility was opened to the public for adoptions. And the public came; often waiting in long lines to adopt a new family member. Also in those lines were rescuers from distant places. On Wednesday, volunteers from the Humane Society of Broward County in Florida loaded more than 50 dogs in donated kennels into a horse trailer. In hours they would be put up for adoption in a 35,000 square foot indoor air-conditioned facility with on-site veterinary care. A vet tech at the facility reported "The only things the animals don't have are TV's and microwaves."
On Wednesday, February 6, at 5:00 p.m., all of the animals were gone. And so was the living nightmare, All Creatures Great and Small. Chrissie's Fund salutes the professionalism, energy and compassion of Operation MoveOut and is proud to have played a part.