Chatham County Animal Services has received a grant to purchase equipment to assist in animal cruelty cases, the organization announced Wednesday.

The grant is funded by the ASPCA and totals $5,735. A release says Animal Services requested the funds to purchase foundational veterinary forensic equipment to assist in evidence collecting in animal cruelty cases.

Animal Services director Leigh Anne Garrard said in a statement, “We are extremely grateful to the ASPCA for their support of agencies like ours in the fight against animal cruelty. Having the support of a national partner like the ASPCA is imperative to continuing our efforts of positive growth in the Animal Services division. I know the staff will utilize the new tools for the best possible outcomes in our cruelty cases.”

The funds will be used to purchase two SLR cameras, two lenses, two external flash drives, four memory cards, two cases, four wildlife cameras, one ammonia reader, one passport for chain of custody and one locker for evidence, according to the agency.

Nearly 200 animals were rescued from a Chatham County home earlier this year. Officials say that was the largest animal rescue in Chatham County history. Those animals were then sent to shelters across the country.

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