Watch CBS News

Non-Profit Bird Sanctuary Running Low On Funds May Have To Euthanize Animals

SACRAMENTO COUNTY (CBS13) - They're a non-profit animal sanctuary with the mission of rehabilitating and releasing local wildlife. But now the Wildlife Care Association may be forced to euthanize the same animals they've rescued.

The group is located in Sacramento County and takes care of hundreds of birds. Some of the birds are sick and some are injured, but if the association runs out of funding, euthanasia is an option for the animals.

"Euthanasia is the absolute last course of action that any center would take," said Brianna Abeyta, who runs the Wildlife Care Association at McClellan Park.

The association has been around about 30 years.

"I'm here four days a week," said Rodney Cornelius, a volunteer.

For the past six years, Abeyta and a handful of volunteers have helped rescue, re-habilitate, and release thousands of local wildlife. It's their passion.

"I've always wanted to do rehabilitation since I was really young because I was always finding animals and raising them myself and letting them go," said Krystal Tysdale, a college intern.

"There's a lot of stuff to do," said Cornelius.

But it takes about $100,000 a year to keep the facility running.

"And this season we had only about $30,000 to work with," said Abeyta.

So why the difference? Abeyta says sponsorship dollars dropped off, operating costs skyrocketed and there are not enough sanctuaries in Northern California to take in all these animals.

The lack of cash is now putting these already endangered birds in danger of being killed.

"That would be beyond devastating. It would probably hurt a lot of us emotionally and I think it would be hard to have to deal with something like that," said Abeyta.

The organization only has a few weeks to decide what's going to happen next. Organizers hope to raise enough funds to keep it open for next year.

Click here for more information about the organization.

 

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.