Mutt Rescue Inc. had received $25,000 from the state in January.
Reminder Publishing file photo
CHICOPEE — Mutt Rescue, located at 102 Grove St., recently hosted a final dog adoption event on April 27 after learning it would permanently have to shut its doors.
Mutt Rescue, Inc. Founder and owner Lori Jerusik stated that every dog was adopted in what she called, “the best adoption event ever.”
She had to host a final dog adoption after she found out her license was not getting renewed.
Jerusik said that Thomas J O’Connor Animal Control and Adoption Center did not renew her license, but when Reminder Publishing reached out, TJO said they are not the governing body that issues or revokes kennel licenses. TJO does annual kennel inspections as requested by the municipalities it serves in accordance with Mass General Law, according to a statement sent to Reminder Publishing.
Nevertheless, Jerusik called the decision “wrong” and admitted she had a few “glitches” that were rectified, but claimed everything was verbal and there was no written warning from anyone.
“There were a few mishaps that were corrected and paid for, but they should not have shut me down. Mutt Rescue was set up for failure. [There] were a couple other rescues set up for failure and heavily fined and another was forced out of Chicopee, but they are thriving elsewhere,” Jerusik said.
She acknowledged that Rainbow Rescue used to be in Chicopee before being forced to move and Homeless Cat Project was fined $1,000.
Jerusik did receive a letter dated April 8 from the Chicopee Board of Health requesting her appearance at a hearing to discuss their concerns with her exceeding number of dogs allowed on the premises and allegedly failing to provide medical care for some of the dogs.
According to Jerusik, over the last five weeks, members from TJO have also visited to see the status of the dogs and building.
Mutt Rescue is only allowed to have 30 dogs, and she acknowledged that a transport came in putting her total over 30 dogs for the weekend and was fined $600, $200 per day.
“Then [TJO] comes later on Sunday and I said, ‘look on Monday they get released and I have 15 people coming to take away and adopt 15 dogs, they’re under deposit’ and nope, [TJO] came in the morning. How can I adopt dogs in the middle of the night? That’s not fair, that was just greedy,” Jerusik said.
In total, Mutt Rescue received four tickets totaling $1,000 that Jerusik said she paid. The Board of Health meeting took place on April 22 and Jerusik said it was less of a hearing and more of an announcement of her license not being renewed.
“Chicopee’s Board of Health would not look at any of my paperwork that I brought to the meeting, not any of it. They would not give the seven or eight of us a chance to talk,” she said.
Jerusik claimed she had all the paperwork for the dogs that were under medical care and has since got the receipt for paying off her fines for proof.
She was not given a chance to appeal.
Mutt Rescue was started by Jerusik eight years ago and built the building using her own money and has rescued 5,000 dogs over that span.
She explained that most of the dogs are rescued from the south, mainly Arkansas, where Jerusik has friends down there who run shelters and save them, treat them and inoculate them. Jerusik sends a transport down once they are ready and brings them to Mutt Rescue where they start their mandatory isolation.
After their isolation period is up, Jerusik’s veterinarian examines them to release them and be ready for the two adoption events that were hosted each month.
In a statement posted to her Facebook page, Jerusik said, “I will say that I am a very stubborn girl, and I am not letting this go. You will see me again, very soon.”
The Facebook post was filled with over 200 positive comments of dog owners posting their pet that they received from Mutt Rescue, how they loved the adoption process and the dedication of Jerusik.
Reminder Publishing reached out to the Chicopee Board of Health, but they did not respond by press time.
