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An organization which called itself Another Chance Ranch appears to have ceased operations and abandoned animals in its care.
The residence in which it was based at 4100 W. Highway 22 was apparently abandoned, according to information from Sylvia Gordon, one of the original founders of the Humane Society of Navarro County. The end of that effort was confirmed by a former member of the new rescue group.
Gordon, who is a resident of Waxahachie, said she investigated the property on Aug. 13 after seeing four puppies running loose across the highway.
“I had been shopping in Corsicana and I was on my way back to Avalon on Highway 22 and I saw the traffic,” she said. “There were people slamming on their brakes and puppies were running across the road.
“They were nice puppies, very sociable, very happy, but they were starving. They ripped open the bag of food I got them and ate and ate and ate. It looked like they hadn’t had anything to eat for quite some time.”
Upon further investigation, Gordon said she found empty cages and no food or water left out for the puppies. She added that she found a container full of “nasty” water. Following several phone calls, Gordon dropped the puppies off at the Corsicana Animal Shelter.
Marsha McAllister of the Humane Society said she had visited a fundraiser for the organization, based at the same address in July. At the time she described animals in cages but out in the heat. She could find no proof of any non-profit status. Further investigation by the Corsicana Daily Sun revealed no proof of any 501 (c3) status for the organization as was claimed by organization founder, Kayleigh McKeen. McKeen claimed at the time the organization was in the process of applying for the non-profit status.
Another Chance Ranch first emerged in June when the property was leased out. McKeen said at the time it would be a facility for abandoned animals who could recover and be brought back to health. Members also planned for a training ring, a livestock area and sleeping quarters at the 7.5 acre property. McKeen also suggested that once the organization grew it would also expand into providing a women’s shelter.
On July 2, a fundraiser was held by the organization in the hope of encouraging donations.
Morgan McAllister, former secretary for Another Chance Ranch (no relation to Marsha McAllister) said the facility was out of business.
“Unfortunately it closed. We got no funding,” she said. “Our donation party, it failed, no one showed up. All the animals have been adopted out and we have lost the facility. Everyone who works there has had to go their separate ways.”
Morgan McAllister said members of the organization were forced to leave the facility “two or three weeks ago,” around the time the puppies were found.
“I don’t know anything about them. When we left the facility, to my knowledge, all of the animals had been adopted out. We only had three left and they were adopted. The lady who adopted the chicken came and adopted the chicken back.”
Morgan McAllister said that door prizes that were donated by local companies were returned.
A new resident now resides at the property. He said Friday he had been living at the property for about a week.
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Oliver Sheehan may be reached by e-mail at oliver@corsicanadailysun.com. Want to “Soundoff” on this story? E-mail: soundoff@corsicanadailysun.com
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