By Steve Huffman
Salisbury Post
A pet adoption event scheduled Saturday will benefit two local animal welfare organizations.
The event will be held from noon to 4 p.m. at City Park Center at 316 Lake Drive. Admission is $1 for Salisbury residents and $2 for nonresidents.
The event is sponsored by the Salisbury Parks and Recreation Department. Animals to be adopted are being cared for by volunteers with Faithful Friends Animal Sanctuary and the Humane Society of Rowan County.
One of the animals up for adoption has an interesting history. Hope was found lying in the median of Interstate 85 near the Innes Street exit.
Volunteers who helped rescue the dog figure she probably fell off the back of a pickup truck. Members of Rowan County Animal Control helped rescue the dog, which had two broken hips and a serious injury to her mouth.
Vets initially weren’t sure if Hope would survive, but she’s managed better than her rescuers had worried. After being treated at Salisbury Animal Hospital, Hope has been cared for by Anne Ingram, president of Faithful Friends.
The dog isn’t likely to win any races, but Ingram and others involved with Faithful Friends said Hope has a wonderful disposition.
Saturday’s event will offer more than just an adoption fair. Pet owners are encouraged to bring their animals to City Park Center for the chance to mingle with other pets.
The Salisbury Police Department’s K-9 unit will also put on demonstrations at 1 and 3 p.m.
Ingram said plans for the Faithful Friends shelter are progressing well, with almost $200,000 collected since last August. She said a number of grant applications have been made.
“We’re hoping to hear about a land donation soon,” Ingram said. “And we’re still working hard to raise money.”
The Faithful Friends animal shelter will be a no-kill one, with animals housed as long as it takes to find them homes.
Until that shelter is built, animals like Hope are cared for in foster homes that are manned by volunteers from Faithful Friends and the Humane Society.
Contact Steve Huffman at 704-797-4222 or shuffman@salisburypost.com.