Faithful Friends Sanctuary now has architect

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, December 2, 2009

By Kathy Chaffin
kchaffin@salisburypost.com
Faithful Friends has hired an architect for its animal sanctuary for abused and abandoned cats and dogs.
The animal rescue group chose Jon E. Palmer last week to design the 5,000-square-foot, no-kill animal shelter planned for 10.7 acres of land on Grace Church Road. Previously an architect for KKA Architecture in Salisbury, Palmer opened his own firm, JP+A Architect, PLLC in July.
He received his degree at the Rhode Island School of Design and has 14 years of experience in projects ranging from educational and medical facilities to churches, office buildings, historic renovation and custom residential.
Anne Ingram, president of Faithful Friends, said the Building Committee was impressed by Palmer’s enthusiasm when he approached members about the project.
“He’s so excited about this,” she said. “He’s an animal lover, and he and his wife (artist Cara Reische) have both been volunteers for us.”
Ingram said Faithful Friends members hope to be able to break ground on the shelter, which will feature an environmentally-friendly design, sometime in the spring.
David Clark donated 10.1 acres for the shelter in memory of his late wife, Connie Mitchell Clark, and Faithful Friends bought an adjacent .6 acre from him. “There’s an old cement block house on that property,” Ingram said, “and we think we’ll be able to use it.”
Faithful Friends has raised around $273,000 for the shelter, including a $100,000 donation from Nancy and Bill Stanback. “We are still bringing in money,” Ingram said.
Members are grateful for all the donations and everything people have done to help with the project, she said. “We get donations of food and supplies all the time.”
Mary Ann Pool heads up the Building Committee. The shelter will be named The Connie Mitchell Clark Building.
Anyone interested in donating supplies for the no-kill shelter or helping with construction can contact Pool at clar451@live. com or Ingram at 704-433-8169.