New London — A fundraiser sponsored by the Waterford Lions is nearing its goal of $15,000 for the purchase of surveillance cameras to keep watch over the city’s animal shelter.

The recently expanded facility, which serves the city of New London and the towns of Waterford and East Lyme, is located at Bates Woods Park where unknown people shot off an array of fireworks on the Fourth of July. Animal control officers arrived the morning after to find debris in and around the kennel where 12 dogs were housed.

Waterford and East Lyme Animal Control Officer Bob Yuchniuk had described the scene as a “war zone,” and worried about the safety of the animals, though none was injured.

In the wake of the event, Yuchniuk and others reached out to town and city officials for permission to install the cameras.

“They’re all on board,” Yuchniuk said of municipal leaders. “The City of New London is going to handle the installation of the system in conjunction with the existing system.”

Yuchniuk said he was pleased with the response to the fundraiser, organized by Waterford Lions Club member Sharon Kanaby. The fundraiser, through GoFundMe, had raised $11,600 of the $15,000 goal as of Wednesday. The money comes mostly through small-dollar donations, but includes a $1,500 donation from New London-based Cross Sound Ferry Services Inc.

“I’m very thankful we have a great citizenry that cares about animals and steps up,” Yuchniuk said.

In addition to preventing vandalism, Yuchniuk said he hopes the cameras deter people from illegally dumping animals at the shelter, something that occasionally happens in all municipalities. He said there was a case a few months back where a dog was dropped off in a crate, chewed his way out and was found running on Route 85.

New London police Chief Brian Wright said he was heartened by news of the fundraiser and said the new cameras would be integrated into a public safety camera system now being installed.

“It’s remarkable. The generosity, the concern and the outpouring of support has been absolutely tremendous,” Wright said.

Wright said the new cameras, when they are purchased, would be installed and connected to a new camera system. In January, the City Council approved spending $366,423 for a contract with Cross Camera Controls of Massachusetts to install a series of cameras across the city that are linked to the department and accessible to emergency dispatchers and select police personnel. The city used federal emergency pandemic funds to pay for the system. Cross Camera Controls previously installed cameras along the city’s waterfront and maintains cameras at police headquarters.

Wright has said the cameras would not be monitored at all times but could be accessed live depending on the situation. Stored footage can be used to collect evidence during criminal investigations and motor vehicle accidents.

Prior to the City Council’s approval of the surveillance cameras, police provided the council a list of 34 locations for installation of the cameras. Most are located at intersections and include Truman and Blackhall streets, Broad and Colman, Bank and Tilley and Shaw and Howard. Cameras also were expected to be installed at Riverside, Bartlett, Bates Woods and Ocean Beach parks.

Wright said installation of the new system, which supplements existing cameras in the city, is about a quarter of the way completed. The new cameras, city documents show, include pan, tilt and zoom capable cameras, vandal-proof dome cameras and license plate reader cameras.

There has never been a camera at the animal shelter and Wright said the idea hadn’t come up until after the Fourth of July incident.

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