Three years ago, Janessa Baar became inspired to save animals on the island of Roatan, Honduras. So, she formed Roatan Rescue, an organization that saves and rehabilitates animals in need on the island. Thanks to the kind hearts of staff members and volunteers, the stray dog problem on the island has dramatically decreased.
Sadly, despite saving the lives of thousands of animals, not everyone is happy with their efforts. A group of people is attempting to shut the rescue down, which could put 600 animals at risk of death and ruin the hard work Baar’s team has accomplished. The rescue is unsure how many days it has left, but Baar is hopeful that animal lovers will come through to save the organization.
Rescue Fights To Stay Open
2022 is off to a rough start for the Roatan Rescue. They recently turned to social media to post a frantic message, begging supporters to help them stay open. They’ve been preparing their permits for months, but a group of people keeps fighting back and trying to get them to close. This pushback is causing problems that could shut down the organization for good.
“There’s a permit we need to keep the rescue operating. We were told we were okay. Today we’ve received the news we’re NOT. There’s a small group of people who have been working to close the rescue,” Roatan Rescue wrote.
If this rescue shuts down, about 600 animals would have nowhere to go, and many would likely die. Many local people also rely on the organization for meals that they can’t afford otherwise. So, losing this rescue would take a huge toll on the island.
Baar says that the group fighting against Roatan Rescue is led by the president of another animal rescue. However, she doesn’t want to give out personal information because many other people at that rescue are doing amazing things for animals in need.
How Can You Help?
Roatan Rescue is pursuing legal action, but they continue to be harassed by individuals trying to shut the shelter down. They can’t afford lawyers or private security, so they fear what could happen to the animals if things don’t work out for them.
“Stand up against bullies. Stand up against people wanting to close down the rescue. Stand up against anyone wanting to hurt the animals,” wrote Baar.
If you want to help save this organization, please spread the word about their predicament. Roatan Rescue is 100% donation-based, so any amount you give can help them stay in business. Click here to donate to save the 600 at-risk animals. Rescues shouldn’t have to fight so hard just to operate.
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