ACUSHNET – “We have to find a place for all these animals. We’re pretty vital to the community,” said Ruth Marshman, President of CARE, Southcoast, about the news the animal shelter has to relocate before the end of summer.
CARE, Southcoast is an all-volunteer, no-kill animal shelter. With its network of around 40 volunteers who regularly foster care at home, as well as tend to animals staying at the shelter, the non-profit organization puts a greater focus than other groups on cats and dogs that normally wouldn’t do well in traditional shelters, whether because of behavioral issues, medical needs, or age.
“The organization takes animals no one else would help. For instance, one of my guys was a blind, diabetic foster dumped at a shelter with a warm bottle of insulin. CARE was called as a last resort before euthanasia, said Laurie Barham, a volunteer for CARE, Southcoast.
Despite the 111 Main St. building being on the market for over a year, Marshman said she was “blindsided” by the news of the sale. Founded in 2009 on Hathaway Rd. in New Bedford, CARE, Southcoast has been operating in Acushnet since 2014.
Kelly Westgate, volunteer and follower of CARE, said, “They have taken in those whom would not have survived if an organization such as CARE did not take them in."
Westgate herself fostered dogs from CARE and has seen many saved. "I have adopted one of my fosters from CARE and love him dearly," she said. "The adoption fees do not even cover the medical expenses they incur. The animals are well taken care of and loved, whatever their predicament may be. If we lose CARE, it would be such a huge loss for these animals.”
The new owner said he doesn’t see how this sale was all of a sudden for CARE.
“They’ve known for almost a year about this. For them to say they were stunned, that’s nonsense,” said Anthony Caton, who plans on using the space for a salon and one other renter.
Caton first approached the real estate agent 9 months ago about the purchase, as well as established communication with CARE about his intentions.
He said that earlier this year his bank put a halt on approving a loan due to old site plans showing an oil tank underneath the property. A soil test and further investigation was needed in order to show that the tank was no longer present and the soil wasn’t contaminated. This was paramount considering the property’s adjacent proximity to a gas station.
Caton also said that both he and the agent approached CARE between 4 and 5 months ago and explained that he was finalizing the sale, but the process would take longer than expected because of the needed soil analysis. “I told them they could take their time finding a new space. Nobody told them it wasn’t selling,” said Caton.
Marshman explained that she believed the deal had been canceled after not getting any updates from involved parties. She said she learned of the finalizing of the sale earlier this week when Caton showed up and started measuring windows outside the building.
Like every animal shelter, the pandemic hasn’t made things easy for CARE over the last few months. Fundraising events had to be canceled because of the restrictions. According to Marshman, access had to be restricted to the shelter and reduced to a skeleton crew in order to avoid the risk of contamination between volunteers.
CARE continued to do as much online as possible, including remote communication with interested adopters, as well as showing videos of the animals to applicants. Donations of food and supplies were accepted only through curbside drop-off.
Though Marshman said she did look here and there last year for a new location for CARE, her idea that the sale had not gone through, as well as the state shutdown for the COVID-19 crisis, put further searching on hold. “We thought we had more time,” she said.
According to both parties the building space isn’t big enough for them to share. “I’m not kicking them out,” Caton said, adding that he’s giving the shelter until the end of August to find a new place. “If they need extra time, I’ll allow for it. We’ll work something out.”
Marshman is looking for a new place at least 1200 sq. ft. in size, and wants to keep CARE as close to the current area as possible, ideally in Acushnet, Fairhaven, Freetown, or the North End of New Bedford. “That’s where our volunteer base is.”
Followers of CARE, Southcoast believe losing the shelter would be a detriment to the community.
“I have two cats that I adopted from CARE. I love that even 2 years later, CARE still loves receiving pictures and messages about how my fur-babies are doing. The workers and volunteers for CARE are so kind and truly love each and every one of the animals they take in” said Debra Ann Perry, through Facebook.
“The volunteers are truly top notch and dedicated to every animal that passes through their doors,” said Heather Sylvia, director of Acushnet’s Council on Aging, which has coordinated events with CARE in the past.
Sylvia further said that Marshman “dedicates 110% in every area from fundraising, to keeping the shelter doors open, to being in the trenches of animal rescue, which as we all know can sometimes be a heart-breaking venture.”
Over the last couple of days, followers on social media have posted numerous tips about available properties and building space in the region, and the contact information of real estate agents looking to find CARE a new home.
Marshman said she is overwhelmed with the response. “A lot of people have reached out. We’re getting a lot of support, and that’s wonderful.”