OCTOBER 1, 2009 ISSUE
October is National Adopt-A-Shelter Dog Month
5 year-old Roxanne is available for adoption
at the Avery County Humane Society.Every year, more than 10 million animals end up in America’s sheltering system: five to nine million of those are killed annually via euthanasia. The ASPCA started the national month of observation known as Adopt-A-Shelter Dog Month as a way to shine a spotlight on the homeless dog situation in this country—June is National Adopt-A-Shelter Cat Month.
In the High Country, many homeless dogs are waiting for their forever homes. Local shelter workers and volunteers encourage people who are thinking about adding a canine companion to their families, to consider adopting a shelter dog during the month of October. Profiles for some of the pets waiting to find a home and depicted below represent a small portion of the dogs available for adoption in the High Country.
Watauga County Animal Care and Control
Bruno Mazzerati: Energetic and an enthusiastic leash-walker, Bruno Mazzerati is a young, large, neutered male German Shepherd mix. Bruno is up to date on vaccines. Pet ID number is 73.
Elvis: He ain’t nothin’ but a hounddog—a black and tan and blue tick coonhound cross, to be more precise. This boy is a young, medium-sized neutered male. Pet ID number is 070909.
Jody: An older gent, Jody is a gentle and sweet beagle, a small neutered male who already knows how to be a companion. Pet ID number is 7410.
To adopt one of the dogs or for more information, call 828-262-1672.
Watauga Humane Society
Gabby: Small, cream and light butterscotch color, Gabby is a spayed, female fiest. She has been in foster care for a while and would love a quiet home with adults. Contact Joanne at 828-297-1344 to adopt Gabby.
Betsy: Small, sweet and docile, this beagle girl is spayed and likes people and other dogs.
Cascade: A two-year-old collie mix, Cascade was found starving, filthy and frightened. She is now clean, healthy and loves going for walks and spending time outside.
To adopt one of the dogs or for more information, call 828-264-1865.
High Country Friends for Life
Harvey: A black and white English Pointer mix, Harvey loves to ride in the car. This energetic boy would make a good walking or jogging companion, according to his foster family. He is two years old, neutered, housebroken and docile.
Chavez: Picked up in the Meat Camp area of Todd, Chavez, a brindle-colored bull terrier mix, is sweet and happy. He is now coming out of his shell, is playful and fun.
Bronco Billy: Billy is a Labrador retriever, German Shepherd mix. Billy is a big, black, beautiful neutered male.
To adopt one of the dogs, call 828-964-8828 or stop by Lowe’s Hardware between
11:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. to visit the pet fair, held every Saturday.
Avery County Humane Society
Roxanne: A small, black fiest mix, Roxanne is five years old and would be a wonderful companion for an older couple as she walks slowly, gently and is very sweet.
Bella: Mostly tan in color, Bella is a four-year-old spayed female shepherd mix. In the words of an Avery Humane Society spokesperson, “She is one of the best dogs I have ever had the privilege of taking care of.”
To adopt one of the dogs or for more information, call 828-733-6312.
Have Your Pet Blessed!
Whether or not you have had a trusted family pet for years, or have just adopted one as a new family member, you can have your pet blessed at the annual Blessing of the Animals. This event is held to honor the life of St. Francis of Assisi, patron Saint to animals. St. Francis wrote in his poem, Canticle of the Creatures, “All praise to you, Oh Lord, for all these brother and sister creatures.”
Legend has it that on his deathbed, St. Francis thanked his donkey for carrying and helping him through his life and his donkey wept.
His feast day is October 4.
On Saturday, October 3, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church will host a Blessing of the Animals at 3:00 p.m. during their fall festival. All pets are invited, not just dogs, but they must be in a carrier or on a leash, or otherwise properly contained. St. Luke’s is located on Councill Street, behind Earth Fare in Boone.
On Sunday, October 4, beginning at 2:00 p.m., St. Mary of the Hills Episcopal Church in Blowing Rock will conduct a Blessing of the Animals ceremony on the Church grounds; all pets are welcome and also should be properly restrained or contained. St. Mary’s is located at 140 Chestnut Street in Blowing Rock.
For more information, call 828-295-7323.
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