Urgent: Local Animal Rescue Targeted in Break-In Attempt

URGENT UPDATE: A local animal rescue in Hamburg, NY is in distress after an alleged break-in attempt was caught on surveillance camera early Saturday morning. The Ten Lives Club, dedicated to cat rescue and adoption, is calling on the community for assistance.

Founder and executive director Marie Edwards was out of town when her phone alerted her to alarming activity captured by her Blink Camera. “I was appalled,” she stated. “It was very scary to see the camera and the people—I believe they were 18 to 20 years old—starting to walk over to our property.”

The footage shows a group of four individuals, some masked and others hooded, attempting to breach the rescue’s building. They also targeted a neighboring vacant property that the rescue hopes to acquire to expand its services. “We’re in negotiations to purchase it right now,” Edwards emphasized. “We don’t need any damage or anything broken, or our animals hurt.”

Fortunately, the intruders were unsuccessful in entering the buildings but did manage to vandalize two security cameras. Edwards reported, “They reached up to one of the cameras and tried to take it down. They got some footage of their faces, so hopefully the police can work with that.”

The incident has left the rescue staff shaken. Community development manager Kelly Sinclair expressed their distress, saying, “The fact that someone, or multiple people, would try to break in and possibly jeopardize the well-being of our cats is just disappointing and heartbreaking.”

In response to the attempted break-in, Ten Lives Club is enhancing security measures. “We have someone putting up boards on all of the windows,” Edwards confirmed. “We’re going to be extra vigilant here at our building.” The rescue is also seeking donations to upgrade their camera system to better protect the cats.

Anyone with information about the incident or the individuals in the surveillance footage is urged to contact the Hamburg Police Department at 716-364-2035. This developing situation raises urgent concerns about the safety of vulnerable animals in the community.

The Ten Lives Club is appealing for community support, not only in terms of information but also through donations to strengthen their security measures. Your help is crucial in ensuring the safety of the animals they protect.