Pet adoption event allows closer look

Entering the Tractor Supply Co. on Feb. 9, you might have thought you had walked into a pet store.

Dogs barked, cats meowed and people “awwed” as the store hosted its weekly Adopt-A-Pet event.

The event, a cooperative effort hosted by Tractor Supply Co., brings together Friends for Life Cat Adoptions, Friendly Paws and Cabarrus Trap Neuter and Release to help place rescued pets in homes.

The groups bring approximately 30 cats and 10 dogs each Saturday.

The events started in 1997 at PetSmart but moved to Tractor Supply, 104 Commercial Parks Drive in Concord, the week before Christmas last year. Jan Scere, with Friends for Life Cat Adoptions, said they have placed 60 animals since the move and placed about 300 animals in 2012.

On Saturdays, Scere is joined by a handful of regular volunteers and Linda Brown of Friendly Paws to show the dogs and cats up for adoption. Scere returns with her volunteers on Sundays with only cats.

This past Saturday, among those who were considering adoption was Hilary Aitken, looking at Remi Martin, a male cat Aitken said looked similar to her last cat. Aitken’s cat had died a few months before she and her fiancée, Justin Blackwell, who works at Tractor Supply, came to take a look.

They both liked Remi Martin.

“That is the one that tried to grab my hand as I walked by,” said Aitken as she stroked Remi Martin’s fur, smiling.

They picked up an application to take home and said they would discuss the adoption of Remi Martin, and maybe his brother too.

Others, including Gwendolyn Lebonville, gave the animals some much-needed attention, made donations and signed up to volunteer.

“I have three dogs and a cat I have rescued,” Lebonville said. “I am an animal lover. I would like to volunteer to help on Saturdays and Sundays.”

Lebonville petted Gizmo, a Papillon-mix dog who was sitting on Lebonville’s lap.

The dogs and cats are cared for in foster homes. The events are held 1-5 p.m. on Saturdays, and at the same time Sundays but only for cats.

The organizations require applications so they can check applicants’ backgrounds, to make sure they would be a suitable pet owner. Each animal has been spayed or neutered, de-wormed and given its shots, so there are costs for each adoption.

The cost for adult cats is $125, and kittens and dogs are $150 each, to help defray the costs of veterinary bills and taking care of them until they are adopted.

Once the adoption is complete, there will be follow-up calls and emails. Details: www.adoptapet.com/shelter81220-pets.html or www.petfinder.com/shelters/NC542.html.

Tractor Supply Co. also hosts a low-cost mobile pet vaccine clinic 1-5:30 p.m. the first Saturday of every month. There is no examination fee and no appointment is necessary.