As it raises money for an animal shelter expansion, a local animal-shelter-focused nonprofit received a holiday gift this month from Salisbury-based Wallace Realty.

Shelter Guardians has received use of a building on Statesville Boulevard in Salisbury for adoption events. Wallace Realty will allow Shelter Guardians to use the building until the company finds a tenant for the building or the nonprofit raises enough money for its second shelter expansion.

Shelter Guardians’ first expansion in November wrapped up its fundraising phase. The expansion would build an intake room and already has an initial approval from Rowan County commissioners. Next up, Shelter Guardians plans a dog wing that would likely cost more than $1 million and be a much larger project than the intake room. Shelter Guardians Chairwoman Nina Dix said the expansions, once complete, would allow the shelter to host special adoption events.

For now, there’s simply not enough space at the shelter for adoption events, Dix said. The lack of room means families and individuals can’t play with dogs before adoptions.

“There’s no one place you can go to let that dog off of a leash and actually get to know it or get to know its personality,” Dix said. “It’s already hard enough for someone to take a chance on a rescue.”

The space from Wallace Realty — on the 2100 block of Statesville Boulevard — is a former veterinary clinic. It contains individual rooms where future owners can play with animals.

Victor Wallace, of Wallace Realty, said the building already contains floors suitable for dogs and animals because of its prior use.

“It’s one of those things where we had space available and thought we could help a good cause,” Wallace said. “The long-term idea is to find a permanent tenant for the building. In the meantime, they’re welcome to use it for free.”

Dix said Shelter Guardians plans to host multiple events per month at the space.

To contact Dix, email ndix@shelterguardians.org or donate to Shelter Guardians by visiting ShelterGuardians.org

Contact reporter Josh Bergeron at 704-797-4246.