Mask made the agreed-upon restitution Thursday at the conclusion of her sentencing hearing, having pleaded guilty in April to a charge of theft.
The shelter lost not only money vital to its operation through Mask’s theft, but also the respect and trust of the community. Without those, and with an unrelenting influx of animals, the shelter has had a tough time meeting its obligations over the last 16 months.
The $17,000 will help relieve ARF’s debt, and the resolution of the trial closes an ugly chapter.
ARF members say it’s time to move on. The entire board has changed over the past year, and the new members are intent on restoring the shelter’s respectability. Of course, the shelter still needs more money and fewer drop-offs, but as ARF Board Vice President Janice Patterson said, “We are not the shelter that was. Please see us for what we are now.”
