CLEVELAND — A Cleveland kidnapping survivor is celebrating her 10th anniversary of freedom by rescuing animals.
Michelle Knight, now known as Lily Lee, started the nonprofit Unleashed Animal Rescue last year. She’s currently caring for about 30 animals.
Sunday night, about 100 people attended a fundraiser supporting her efforts.
Laura Cowan said she believes in Lee’s new purpose in life, after Lee gave her a conure nearly two years ago. It’s now her support animal.
“She’s found her niche, I can say that,” Cowan said. “She’s found her niche. So, God bless her. I’ll support her all the way.”
Cowan said she was never a “bird person” before receiving her pet, Precious. Now, she can’t picture life without her.
“I talk to her, she squeaks back,” Cowan said with a laugh. “I don’t know, we’re family now. We’re joined to the hip.”
Those connections are what Lee said she’s trying to foster with her animal rescue.
“I’m really ecstatic for each and every one of these people to stand with me and be united,” she said. “And fight for a cause that’s really important.”
Lee said animals provided a source of comfort and support to her during difficult times in her life. Right now, she’s caring for about 30 animals, but plans are moving forward to grow additional facilities to build habitats for more animals. She said she also wants to eventually provide pets as support animals for therapy.
Called Tragedy to Triumph, the event raised about $20,000 for Unleashed Animal Rescue. Lee said money will go toward food, shelter, medical and other necessities for animals in her care.
She said she’s excited to turn the page to this new chapter with this support.
“It’s definitely a fresh start, a new beginning, my new journey,” she said. “And all these beautiful amazing people. God bless you.”
Jim Taylor said he’s known Lee since shortly after her rescue. He said the crowd in the room is a small sample of the people on her side worldwide.
“There’s so many people from other cities, states and countries that wrote her and told her they would love to be here, but because of the distance they couldn’t,” he said.
He said Lee hasn’t seen much support throughout her life, and these messages show she’s having an impact.
“Hopefully tonight that will give her an indication of truly how much she is loved and cared for,” he said.
Lee said she’s thankful for the support she’s just now starting to see.
“I’m crying right now, but it’s tears of joy,” she said. “And I want to let them know that everything that you are doing right now for me and these animals means the world to me.”
If you’d like to get involved with Unleashed Animal Rescue, connect on Facebook.
