Letter to the community | Abandoning animals at humane society after hours is unfair, illegal

This week, two dogs were abandoned at our shelter. They were found tied to a tree with their leashes, and the individual leaving them appeared to deliberately avoid being seen. Fortunately, our surveillance footage has been provided to the authorities to help identify the person responsible. This is not okay. It’s not fair to the communities of Auburn and Opelika, who rely on CARE Humane Society to handle animal intakes through our municipal contract. When animals are abandoned after hours, without paperwork or communication, we face serious risks. We don’t know their medical history, vaccination status, or bite history. Bringing an unknown animal into our care without permission not only puts our staff and other animals at risk — it’s also breaking the law. When surrounding shelters close