Animal lover travels from Satellite Beach to help care for dogs rescued from massive dogfighting ring
September 25, 2013 – Satellite Beach resident and RedRover® volunteer Shannon Ricker is traveling this week to an undisclosed location in the southern United States to help care for hundreds of dogs rescued from the second largest dogfighting ring in United State history.
Shannon, who grew up around livestock and dogs, works in the veterinary field and also has experience as a zookeeper. As a volunteer with California-based RedRover, she travels around the country at her own expense when abused and neglected animals need help. Shannon will be cleaning and assembling cages, preparing meals and caring for the dogfighting victims. This will be Shannon’s second deployment with RedRover.
Shannon completed her emergency sheltering training and became a RedRover Responders volunteer in 2005. Characteristic of many volunteers, Shannon has extensive experience that enables RedRover Responders to provide top-notch care to rescued animals. Shannon said, “I feel blessed to be a part of helping these “little” guys out!”
Like a typical RedRover Responders volunteer, Shannon is taking time away from her work, family and friends to travel and take care of these animals at her own cost.
“We are especially fortunate to send such an experienced and diverse group of volunteers on this deployment,” said RedRover CEO and President Nicole Forsyth. “Such a large and sensitive case calls for volunteers with excellent skills and experience, and we are confident that Shannon and this group of RedRover Responders volunteers will go above and beyond for these dogs.”
The multi-state dogfighting raid took place after a three-year investigation initiated by the Auburn Police Department in Alabama, in conjunction with the United States Attorney’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The ASPCA and The Humane Society of the United States rescued and transported a total of 367 dogs to an ASPCA temporary shelter location, which remains confidential due to the criminal nature of the seizure.
At the request of the ASPCA, RedRover will be deploying a team of volunteers to provide daily care for the canines seized in the case. The rescued dogs will receive ongoing care during the duration of the legal proceedings, and then placed appropriately with various animal welfare agencies and rescue groups once the court determines the custody of the dogs.