Mitchell County Animal Rescue (MCAR) offers low cost spay/neuter for your pet. The cost for male cats is $43, for female cats and all dogs the price is $60. MCAR may have special assistance available for low-income families through their Community Care Spay/Neuter Fund. Ask them about it.

Call or stop by the MCAR shelter during business hours to make arrangements. The shelter is located at 2492 US Highway 19E, Spruce Pine, NC  28777. It is open Mon., Tues., Thurs. and Fri. from 10 AM to 4:30 PM, Wed. from 10 AM to 12 PM and Sat. from 10 AM to 2 PM.

If you have proof of vaccinations for your pet please bring them for MCAR to copy. There will be a $10 charge for rabies vaccination if needed. Distemper booster shots are available for $10. Pets must travel in a hard shell plastic carrier. If you need to rent one the cost is $5. All arrangements and payment must be made in advance. Your pet's appointment will be another date. The MCAR veterinarian can spay or neuter puppies and kittens at age 12 weeks and 2.5 lbs.

For more information visit https://www.mitchellcountyanimalrescue.org/services

Check out all the animals available for adoption too!

Get ready for the Battle of the Barktender on Wednesday, June 26 from 6 to 8:30 PM at the Casual Pint, 1863 Hendersonville Rd. in South Asheville!

Blue Ridge Humane and the Council on Aging will each supply a bartender for the night and see who raises the most tips! All funds raised will go towards the joint PetPals program which provides food, health and wellness checks, and more for pet owners in the Meals on Wheels program in Henderson County. Bring your friends, your tips, and get ready for a fun night supporting TWO awesome non-profits!

Did you know the Animal Care Campus in Asheville is one of the country's leading examples of a private-public partnership in animal welfare? Asheville Humane Society and Buncombe County work in close collaboration to take in, care for, re-home, and adopt out thousands of domestic animals each year. Their collective goal is to save every adoptable animal's life and make each animal's life worth living.

Now you have the opportunity to see first-hand why the Animal Care Campus is a national model. Asheville Humane Society is hosting a guided behind-the-scenes tour of the society's Adoption Center (14 Forever Friend Lane) and the Buncombe County Animal Shelter (16 Forever Friend Lane) on Saturday, June 22, from 1:30 to 3:00 PM. The tour is free and open to the public. No reservation required.

The Animal Care Campus is located on Forever Friend Lane, off Pond Road and Brevard Road, near the WNC Farmers Market. For more information, call (828) 761-2001.

Hiking Hounds is one of the most popular Asheville Humane Society volunteer activities. Each month, volunteers take shelter dogs on hikes as part of the enrichment programming. You'll spend a few hours in Bent Creek hiking the trails with dogs who will love you for it.

The next hike with the Hiking Hounds group is Sunday, June 23.  Start time is 9 AM for repeat hikers and 8:30 AM for new hikers. Hikes are typically 3-5 miles at a brisk pace with elevation changes and provide vigorous exercise for our volunteer hikers as well. They do not cancel hikes because of rain, as our pups don’t mind getting wet. Hikers generally return to the shelter at 16 Forever Friend Lane, Asheville around 11:30 AM to 12 PM.

Note: New and repeat hikers alike are required to sign up in advance. If you'd like to sign up for this hike, email ahshikinghounds@outlook.com. Hikers are signed up on a "first come-first serve basis" and you must have a confirmed reservation to attend a hike. If you don’t get an email from Hiking Hounds, assume they didn’t get yours! Please be sure you can actually make the hike; if we have late cancellations, a dog gets left behind without a hike.

For more information visit the Hiking Hounds Facebook page.

It's "Senior Prom" at Asheville Humane Society and they're celebrating with $6 adoption fees for all animals age 6 and up! Stop by from Wednesday through Saturday, June 12 - 15.

Their ladies and gents have donned their finest prom attire and are ready to pose for their "Going Home" prom photos with adopters at a sparkly photo booth. Don't worry about bringing a corsage or a boutonniere... Asheville Humane's pets just want a forever home!

Asheville Humane's "Senior Prom" is not only celebrating senior pets, but the wonderful seniors of our community. Asheville Humane is partnering with Buncombe County Health & Human Services to attend the World Elder Abuse Awareness Day Walk on Thursday, June 13 at Carrier Park!

Although the love of a pet is priceless, all of the following are still included when you adopt! Each adoption fee includes spay/neuter, all up-to-date vaccines, behavioral training when appropriate, microchip and free 1-year registration, a free starter bag of food, and a free wellness visit with a participating veterinarian. 

To see available animals, visit www.ashevillehumane.org. The Adoption Center is located at 14 Forever Friend Lane, Asheville (off Brevard and Pond Roads, near the WNC Farmers Market). It is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 AM to 6 PM (Tuesdays until 7 PM). The dog and cat rooms are closed daily for naptime from 1 to 2 PM, giving animals a much-needed break. The lobby remains open where you can speak with staff, enjoy refreshments, read or watch videos!