Woman Stole $4,800 From Pet Rescue Group: Police

SANDY SPRINGS, GA -- A Fayette County woman has been charged by Sandy Springs police with taking nearly $5,000 from the bank account of a pet rescue organization in metro Atlanta.

A warrant has been issued for Amy Ervin, 38, of Peachtree City, who is being held at the Gwinnett County Jail on unrelated charges, Sandy Springs police said Thursday. Sandy Springs detectives have charged Ervin with one count of felony forgery in the first degree.

The charge against Ervin stems from the agency on April 6 receiving a call from an associate with Paws Atlanta, which runs a no-kill animal shelter in DeKalb County.

The reporting party told police she is a signer on the business account for the organization and while she was reviewing Paws Atlanta's most recent bank statement, she found that $4,800 had been withdrawn on March 24 at SunTrust Bank at 5550 Northside Drive in Sandy Springs, according to an incident report released by Sandy Springs police.

The woman said the bank informed her that a "fraudulent withdrawal ticket was filled out" and a driver's license and date of birth that didn't belong to her was used to obtained the funds.

The no-kill shelter at 5287 Covington Highway in Decatur also offers various services related to pet ownership, including low-cost spay and neutering, pet wellness clinics, full-time veterinary services, pet behavioral training and a pet food bank.

Photo: Amy Ervin. Credit: Sandy Springs Police Department