AVONDALE ESTATES, Ga. — Thieves may have unknowingly crippled an animal rescue operation in Avondale Estates when they stole their transport vehicle.
The LifeLine Animal Project is struggling to recover.
"Those thieves literally stole from homeless cats," spokesperson Therra Gwyn said.
She said the emergency transport van that doubles as a mobile office was stolen overnight Saturday from a residence in East Point.
It disappeared sometime between 11 p.m. Saturday and 6 a.m. Sunday, she said.
"It means we're crippled in some areas of the community, and some areas of our outreach and in some areas of what we're able to do for the pets that we serve," Gwyn said.
LifeLine serves about 100 abused and abandoned animals on a daily basis and pet owners in need.
"It will affect us being able to take animals to adoptions, being able to pick up animals that were confiscated from hoarders, being able to transport animals in emergencies," Gwyn said. "We will not be able to get supplies to the (Metro Atlanta) community to pet owners who need them."
The blue 2000 Dodge Caravan was filled with supplies and kennels that now have to be replaced.
Sunday, a Decatur Junior Girl Scout Troop donated supplies, but Gwyn says nothing can replace the stolen medical records and adoption records that are vital to this operation.
Gwyn just hopes to recover those records and the van soon.
"I don't think they realize how many lives human and animal it will affect, or maybe they don't even care," she said.
If the records were dumped, Gwyn asks that someone let them know where.
Workers said insurance will not replace the stolen van.
They ask that anyone who would like to help or donate a vehicle give them a call at (404) 292-8800.
WSBTV
