Animal Abuse happens around the world, including in our region. One local animal sanctuary is helping this situation. Willow Run Sanctuary in Brookville is doing their best to help animals in need and advocate against animal abuse and neglect. Willow Run Sanctuary in Brookville was started in 2009 by Margo Stefanic. Currently, she houses more than a dozen cats, rabbits and dogs, most of which she says were abused or neglected by their past owners.
Stefanic’s work also helped get a Humane Officer in Jefferson County in 2013. Stefanic saying: “Creating awareness with people and where resources are. You know what you can do if you think you’re getting into trouble. You know, maybe you can’t pay your electric bills. So how are you feeding your dog? There is not an excuse in this county. You can feed your dog in this county because we weren’t going to give you food.”
In October, dozens of animals were found in Brockway, including horses, dogs and cats, most of which she says were severely underweight. Stefanic adding: “These horses are extremely thin, if not emaciated, with hip bones. You can see, you know, a spine here and even here on this one.”
Stefanic took some of these animals to her sanctuary, including two German shepherds who she says are in a lot better shape now. Stefanic saying: “That’s our Mr. Big. Can you imagine that beautiful, that beautiful dog.” She was present on Monday for the start of the trial against the defendant. In that case, 55-year-old Kelly Jo Wright, who is facing a felony charge of aggravated cruelty to animals, along with dozens of misdemeanor counts of neglect. Stefanic adding: “This horse, we know as Sherice, and Sherice did not make it. Regretfully, she was humanely euthanized. So this is the felony charge for today’s court hearing.”
Stefanic says the Judge waived Monday’s hearing and now they will wait for the next date to be announced. She also says that many Humane Societies and Sanctuaries are already overcrowded and suggest that people work together to take care of these animals. Stefanic adding: “We are a society that is intelligent, we hope, okay, you know, nobody has the answer for everything. You just can’t keep putting wings on to your place, you know, for the animals. But there surely is enough of an overpopulation of the people to take care of the overpopulate portion of the animals. Anybody can be an animal rescue. There’s enough homeless animals for everyone. Regretfully.”
Now for more information about how you can help out at Willow Run Sanctuary, click here.
