After spending time with Animal Control in Delphi, a local woman has begun her journey to establish a shelter in Carroll County with the help of local businesses, law enforcement and neighboring rescues.
– Photos courtesy of Erica’s Rescues
Erica Draper, founder of Erica’s Rescues, has begun her journey to help serve the animals and strays in Carroll County who need help. On March 11, Draper received exciting news that a local business was helping the rescue expand with another kennel to take in more strays in need of shelter as they await adoption.
According to Draper, she received a call from a local officer asking if Erica’s Rescues could take in a stray, and she utilized her one open kennel to house the stray before the Sheriff called and asked if the rescue could take in another stray.
Draper stated that while she did not have space for the second stray in a kennel, she would find a means to help the her. When the stray was brought to the rescue, she was placed in a large wire crate for holding while Draper figured out a new place for her to be held with more room, but her worries would soon be solved as the owners of El Riconcito reached out and offered to sponsor the kennel needed to hold the second stray.
“They sponsored the whole kennel for the county to have a place to put strays when they come in,” Draper wrote. “I was shocked, excited and very thankful.”
Draper expressed that while the additional kennel does not expand the rescue to the capacity of a shelter, the addition has helped push the project forward.
“Yes, it’s only one kennel right now, but it is a start,” Draper wrote. “This is the first time I know of that a kennel has been sponsored solely for county strays. I’m taking this as the first step to hopefully fulfilling my vision of having a shelter here in Carroll County.”
Draper stated that the additional kennel has already seen some additional use as another male, named Euchre, was placed in the kennel after Draper received a call from Carroll County Animal Control.
Euchre quickly became a favorite resident for Draper as he spurred up antics while maintaining a smile on his face, such as jumping out of the kennel and escaping from a wire crate to roam the area before meeting Draper face to face.
”Both times he met me at the door with a big smile on his face,” Draper wrote. “I couldn’t help but laugh.”
After problem solving with her brother, Euchre was able to be contained without further incident, and he began living happily in the additional kennel for the time he spent with Erica’s Rescues.
Draper continued to iterate how she has a passion for creating a shelter for the strays of Carroll County, but the need for additional kennels has only been increasing.
“An hour later, there was another stray, but I was out of kennel room,” Draper wrote. “I really hope to be able to have an actual kennel here in Carroll County sometime.”
Draper has shared numerous stories already through the rescue, such as caring for a sick puppy and receiving financial and material donations from other rescues across the region, such as donations from Natalie’s Second Chance Dog Shelter in Lafayette, Pawswap of Greater Lafayette, 4 Precious Paws Low Cost Spay & Neuter Clinic and Unchained Souls Canine Rescue.
Draper stated that she plans to move forward with establishing Erica’s Rescues as a non-profit once funds are available for the filing.
For more information and stories of the strays helped by Erica’s Rescues in Delphi and Carroll County, visit Erica’s Rescues on Facebook, email ericasrescues@gmail.com or call Draper at 765-490-8185.