MORGAN COUNTY, Tenn. — The Morgan County community came together to support one of the county's most prominent animal rescue centers after a man was accused of shooting at the building while looking for his dog.
Deputies previously arrested Randy Ray Roberts inside the MoCo Mutts Rescue Center after he had shot a gun outside. The center said his animal was not inside the building.
After the shooting, a group of Morgan County first-graders raised more than $2,500 to support the animal center. Students surprised MoCo Mutts with the money on Tuesday, as part of "Acts of Kindness Week" at Central Elementary School in Wartburg.
Students also brought donations of pet food and other items to help care for animals in the county. The school's principal said it was a way for the students to spread kindness across the community.
"Not only did they get the opportunity to know that they are doing a good thing, but they actually got to meet the people that were receiving that. So, they get to see both sides of that. Our community is wonderful, lots of people that do things for others," said Glenda Scott, the principal of Central Elementary School.
The animal center helps make sure animals are cared for in a county without a formal animal shelter or animal control. It has operated since 2018 and was previously known as the Senior Dog Lodge. Since then, it helped more than 4,000 animals with medical care, housing and adoption.
Anyone who wants to donate to the center can do so online.