The 12^th Annual Blessing of the Pets at Mills River Presbyterian Church, 10 Presbyterian Church Road, Mills River, NC 28759, will take place on Saturday, September 26, 2020, with a  “drive thru” ceremony that offers a safe, socially-distant blessing for their pets.

From 10 am to noon, Rev. Merri Alexander and members of Mills River Presbyterian Church will offer pet readings and blessings as vehicles drive through the one-way pet blessing.

Vehicles coming through the Drive-Thru Pet Blessing will meet with church elders for prayers and readings, get a doggie bag of treats, and then continue through the planned route to receive personalized blessings from Rev. Alexander. At the final stop, people are invited to donate unopened bags and cans of pet foods to representatives of Blue Ridge Humane Society (BRHS). The collected items will be used to fill the Pet Pantry at BRHS that supports the needs of area residents who cannot afford food for their pets.

Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay

The Asheville Humane Thrift Store is holding an "Off the Wall" Art Sale on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 11 and 12. All artwork will be 50 to 75 percent off, with discounts on frames and canvases. 100 percent of all thrift store purchases benefit animals in need!

The Thrift Store is located at 1425 Patton Avenue and is open from 10 AM to 6 PM. Please wear a mask and observe social distancing.

Blue Ridge Humane Society in Hendersonville, NC is suggesting supporters sign up for a do it yourself "Barkyard Party" to be held on September 19, 2020!

Here are the details from the organization:

Your DIY event can be in the format you desire: a sit down formal event, potluck, dessert bar, brunch, themed event, pet-friendly, kid free, kid friendly, etc. Team up with a friend to co-host or use a central location such as your favorite restaurant or community clubhouse.  Then invite your friends to join you in honor of Blue Ridge Humane and raising funds that allow Blue Ridge Humane to continue our work during this strange time.

Who can host? Anyone can host! If you feel comfortable with a small group of people, invite them over to learn more about Blue Ridge Humane and to support our work. You can also sign up as a virtual host and keep your event to a party of one!

How is this a fundraiser? Since large scale events are unsafe at this time and social distancing is the new normal, we ask that hosts share the work that Blue Ridge Humane is doing in the community with their guests in a small group setting, and that guests make a donation in lieu of purchasing a traditional event ticket.

Who can I invite? Anyone you like! Invite your pet loving friends, family, or neighbors to learn about Blue Ridge Humane and support us this year.

Can I team up with someone to host? Of course! You can co-host, use an alternative location, and make your remote event exactly what you are comfortable with!

What is provided for hosts?

• Special host basket with treats and local goodies, acknowledgment in our newsletter and other promotions, entry into our event prize drawings.
• Talking points and facts about Blue Ridge Humane
• Invitation wording templates for use if you choose
• Donation collection materials
• BRHS staff to answer your questions.

Are hosts responsible for the full cost? You can be or you can make it a potluck, have only dessert and wine or coffee, etc. All options are open, depending on your personal preferences.

For more information or to register visit https://www.blueridgehumane.org/calendar/barkyard-party/

The Mills River Valley races feature a 10K, 5K, and 1 Mile Doggy Dash on Sunday, September 13th at the Mills River Community Park and surrounding area with a flat, scenic course. The 1 Mile Doggy Dash can be competitive or just a fun run. It begins at 8:35 AM.

The races are hosted by the Mills River SDA School and benefit the school and Blue Ridge Humane Society. Registration is open and precautions will be taken in the race format to ensure social distancing.

For complete details or to register, visit: https://millsrivervalleyrace.com/

Blue Ridge Humane Society will be offering a free pet food distribution for those in need or affected by COVID-19, on Monday, August 10, from 9 am-1 pm at the Blue Ridge Humane Society Adoption Center located at 88 Centipede Lane in Hendersonville, NC.

Cat and dog food will be distributed first come, first serve, as supplies last. Social distancing and protective measures will be taken by all staff and we ask the public to do the same during the drive-thru pick-up.  Additional resources and supplies will also be available.

If a pet owner is in need of food but unable to attend the pick-up, please call or text the BRHS helpline at (828) 393-5832.

Image: Blue Ridge Humane Society

Blue Ridge Humane Society in Hendersonville, NC is suggesting supporters sign up by August 30 for a do it yourself "Barkyard Party" to be held on September 19, 2020! Here are the details from the organization:

Your DIY event can be in the format you desire: a sit down formal event, potluck, dessert bar, brunch, themed event, pet-friendly, kid free, kid friendly, etc. Team up with a friend to co-host or use a central location such as your favorite restaurant or community clubhouse.  Then invite your friends to join you in honor of Blue Ridge Humane and raising funds that allow Blue Ridge Humane to continue our work during this strange time.

Who can host? Anyone can host! If you feel comfortable with a small group of people, invite them over to learn more about Blue Ridge Humane and to support our work. You can also sign up as a virtual host and keep your event to a party of one!

How is this a fundraiser? Since large scale events are unsafe at this time and social distancing is the new normal, we ask that hosts share the work that Blue Ridge Humane is doing in the community with their guests in a small group setting, and that guests make a donation in lieu of purchasing a traditional event ticket.

Who can I invite? Anyone you like! Invite your pet loving friends, family, or neighbors to learn about Blue Ridge Humane and support us this year.

Can I team up with someone to host? Of course! You can co-host, use an alternative location, and make your remote event exactly what you are comfortable with!

What is provided for hosts?

• Special host basket with treats and local goodies, acknowledgment in our newsletter and other promotions, entry into our event prize drawings.
• Talking points and facts about Blue Ridge Humane
• Invitation wording templates for use if you choose
• Donation collection materials
• BRHS staff to answer your questions.

Are hosts responsible for the full cost? You can be or you can make it a potluck, have only dessert and wine or coffee, etc. All options are open, depending on your personal preferences.

For more information or to register by August 30, visit https://www.blueridgehumane.org/calendar/barkyard-party/

From David Stroud, Executive Director, Cashiers Highlands Humane Society:

HOW WE CAN HELP YOU

Our no-kill shelter remains open to the public but in consideration of the guidelines issued by national, state and local authorities, for (what we hope is a brief and yet) the foreseeable future, visits to our shelter will be by appointment only. This will allow us to serve you under the safest possible conditions. For adoptions, donations, and other community outreach programs (see below), we respectfully ask that appointments be made Tuesday-Saturday between 10am-4pm. Please call us at (828)743-5752 to make an appointment.

THE $30 FIX

As we have done for more than 4,000 pets in the past 6 years, CHHS will continue to provide low-cost spay/neuter for your pets for just $30. If that is a hardship, we will fix your pets for free. That's right. For free.

CHHS "MEALS FROM MONTY" PET PANTRY

If you are facing financial hardship and cannot afford to buy pet food, as long as donations continue (please see below) we can provide some food for your pet free of charge. We ask that your pet be spayed/neutered, and if not, we can fix your pet for free. After all, if feeding one animal is a hardship, think of how much it will cost to feed a litter of puppies or kittens!

RABIES VACCINATIONS

There are only 350 Certified Rabies Vaccinators (CRV's) in the state of North Carolina. We have 2 CRV's on staff. Only veterinarians and CRV's can give your pet a rabies vaccination and certificate required by North Carolina law. We always provide rabies vaccinations for just $10. But for now and until we get past this crisis, we will vaccinate your pet to protect against rabies for free. Yes, free.

HOW YOU CAN HELP US

There is no way to sugarcoat this. We need adoptions, we need fosters, and we urgently need donations. Please help if you can.

ADOPT

I realize these are uncertain times, but if you have been thinking of bringing a canine or feline companion into your home, what better way to self-quarantine and social distance than with a shelter pet? Please consider opening your heart and home for the unconditional love of a CHHS shelter pet.

FOSTER

If you love animals but are unable to take on the permanent commitment of lifetime adoption, then foster parenting is the perfect alternative! By temporarily fostering a CHHS shelter pet, you are actually helping us save two lives - the foster pet you are caring for, and the open space that creates in our shelter for us to save another animal in our community. CHHS provides any and all necessary medications, food, arrangements for veterinarian visits and a 24-hour hotline number for emergencies.

DONATE

The cost to care for the homeless animals in our community has skyrocketed. If you can, please consider a donation to help CHHS care for this increased influx of pets with either a financial gift or a donation of food and supplies.

For more information about any of the above, visit https://chhumanesociety.org/

Sarge’s Animal Rescue Foundation, Waynesville, NC, will hold its annual Dog Walk — in a new, safe way. The 15^th Annual Dog Walk event will go virtual, for the safety of Sarge’s supporters and staff.

Get ready for a Special Edition

There will be a week of online Dog Walk events Aug. 15 – 22, to celebrate everyone’s pets and the animals in Sarge’s care.

“We knew we could not socially distance having the traditional Dog Walk in downtown Waynesville, with hundreds of people and their pets, so we got creative and came up with a new idea,” said Fred Strohm, Sarge’s administrator. “This year, the walk will be virtual — which opens up new opportunities.”

Since Sarge’s has many supporters in and outside of Haywood County, the online format allows people to participate wherever they live.

Register by July 19

There is no registration form this year. All participants need to do to register is order the Sarge’s 15th Annual Dog Walk – Special Edition 2020 T-shirt during July 5 – 19. Visit http://bonfire.com/sarges-dogwalk2020 to get your shirt!

Choose a custom-designed Sarge’s 2020 shirt from eight different styles, including long-sleeve T-shirts, sweatshirts, tank top, and youth styles — with several colors for each style.

Everyone is encouraged to donate to Sarge’s and purchase a Dog Walk Special Edition T-shirt – even those who don’t have pets.

Cats are included

Another great addition to the virtual event is that cats (and other pets) can be included. Sarge’s staff is looking forward to seeing a lot of photos of cats with their humans.

Send pics

Once the T-shirts are received in late July, people should take pictures and/or short videos of themselves wearing the shirts with their pet, and post them on social media, using the hashtag #sarges2020. Those who don’t have social media, may email the photo to: info@sargeanimals.org.

Sarge’s will be monitoring the posts to collect the pics and videos through the hashtag.

Contests, too

Those who would like to enter a contest may take a photo or record a video of their pet’s “best trick,” “tail wagging,” or “costume,” plus two new categories, “Sarge’s alumni” and “kids with pets.” Eddie Foxx, morning personality on 99.9 KISS Country, will help judge the contests.

Supporters don’t need to enter a contest — everyone can participate in the festivities by taking a pic of themselves in the Special Edition T-shirt with their pet and posting it with the hashtag #sarges2020.

When posting, please provide the pet’s name, whether it is a contest entrant and whether the pet is a Sarge’s alum.

The Dog Walk week of events also includes a FaceBook live parade of Sarge’s animals.

“Our goal is to have a fun event for Sarge’s supporters, while at the same time making sure everyone stays safe and healthy,” Strohm said.

Sarge’s is grateful for the event sponsorship of The Mountaineer and 99.9 KISS Country’s Eddie Foxx.

Help Sarge’s continue its mission of saving dogs and cats in Haywood County. Join in the tail waggin’ fun and register now through July 19.

Image: Sarge's Animal Foundation

Blue Ridge Humane and the ASPCA are hosting a free pet food giveaway to those in need or affected by COVID-19, on Thursday, June 18, from 9 am-1 pm at the Blue Ridge Humane Society storage facility located at 802 S. Grove Street in Hendersonville, NC.

Cat and dog food will be distributed first come, first serve, as supplies last. Social distancing and protective measures will be taken by all staff and we ask the public to do the same during the drive-thru pick-up.  Additional resources and supplies will also be available.

Image: Blue Ridge Humane Society

Due to COVID-19 Tails and Trails has been rescheduled to Saturday, June 13. All current registrations will be automatically transferred. Registration remains open so bring even more friends with you in June! 

Bring your best human or non-human buddy (better yet, both) with you on Saturday, June 13, 2020 at 10:00 AM, for a charity hike up Bearwallow Mountain (4854 Bearwallow Mountain Road, Hendersonville).  Climb the one mile hike up to the beautiful, bald summit of Bearwallow Mountain with fellow conservation loving pet owners to take in the breathtaking views with your furry buddy.

Proceeds benefit Conserving Carolina & Blue Ridge Humane Society. Registration for this event is $20 and includes a t-shirt when registered by March 8. There is no registration cut off.

The hike will start at 10 am at the trail head. All participants–humans and their furry friends–must check in prior to the start of the hike. Proceeds benefit Conserving Carolina & Blue Ridge Humane Society. The registration is $20. Once you register, please check your email for more details as we get closer to the event.

If you have questions, contact Laura at lrice@blueridgehumane.org or 828-692-2639.

Note: Originally a live event, the Angel Pets Expo will now be held online on Saturday, May 2 from 10 AM to 4 PM. For details, visit https://angelpetsexpo.com/ or  https://www.facebook.com/Angel-Pets-Expo-2020-107132260835473/.

Angel Pets Expo has a holistic focus and prides itself on inclusion of all things pet and all stages of pet life and relationship including Young pet care, Adult pet, Senior Pet Care, end-of-life care and healing from pet loss. The Angel Pets Expo is…ALL THINGS PET! There will be vendors and presentations.

For more information and to buy tickets, visit: https://angelpetsexpo.com/

FREE PET FOOD for BUNCOMBE COUNTY RESIDENTS: 

Asheville Humane Society is partnering with the ASPCA to offer FREE cat and dog food for residents impacted by COVID-19. Distribution is by appointment ONLY, so please call the ASPCA hotline at 800-738-9437 to get started.

The following information is reprinted from the828.com as a public service.

Blue Ridge Humane Society is helping pet owners facing hospitalization and financial troubles ensure their companions are cared for, by offering several community resources.

Pet Helpline: You can reach the BRHS Pet Helpline at 828-393-5832. Leave a message and a staffer will be in touch. You can call with concerns about keeping your pet, vet assistance, litter box problems, housing issues, dog training tips, stray neighborhood cats, suspected abuse/neglect, and other issues. You can also submit behavior questions online, and get help from the Training and Behavior Manager.

• Re-Homing: For owners that have found themselves in the unfortunate situation of having to find a new home for their pet, the Humane Society urges them to try re-homing. This takes the load off the local animal shelter and keeps the animal out of a shelter environment, allowing limited resources to be used for other animals like stays or abuse cases. BRHS has partnered with Adopt-a-Pet.com to provide a courtesy re-homing listing for those who would like to find a loving home for a pet without surrendering them to an animal shelter. If you are considering adopting, check the Re-Homing listing as well as your local shelter.
• Community Pet Food Assistance: Blue Ridge Humane Society has partnered with local food banks, helping them to supply  litter, pet food or treats to their clients. By making pet food more accessible, it is our hope that members of our community will no longer have to worry about feeding their furry family members. To find a list of participating banks, click here.
  
  
• Emergency Vet Assistance: Though us not able to assist with existing medical bills, BRHS offers Emergency Veterinary Assistance in times of economic distress. It can provide medical vouchers to assist with emergency veterinary visits prior to your visit.  If you would like more information or to find out if you qualify, call 828-393-5832. You can find a listing of additional assistance groups online as well.
  
  
• BRHS Lost and Found Pet Facebook Group: Join the BRHS Lost and Found Pet Facebook group. This group allows you to not only post if your pet is lost but also help reunite any pets you may find that have become separated from their families and keep pets in temporary loving home while waiting to be reunited with their owner.
  
  
• Spay/Neuter Incentive Program: With support from the City of Hendersonville and with support and collaboration from Henderson County, Blue Ridge Humane Society is able to offer low cost spay-neuter as part of our Spay-Neuter Incentive Program or SNIP. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, you cannot schedule an appointment at this time, but you can complete a request for an appointment on our website. The SNIP Coordinator will be in touch when normal scheduling resumes.  Pet owners must be residents of Henderson County in order to get their animals spayed or neutered through the program. SNIP. To learn more or submit an appointment click here.

If you don’t need any pet assistance, the Blue Ridge Humane Society is requesting you share this information with someone who might. You can also help by signing up to volunteer, or by making a donation online, or by calling 828-692-2639.

Due to the coronavirus outbreak, Asheville Humane Society's Dine to be Kind and Drink to be Kind events are indefinitely postponed. This is Asheville Humane's most important fundraiser of the year. Please consider making a donation at this time. To donate online, visit: https://ashevillehumane.org/donate

Note: Check with the organization to confirm the date of this event.

Join Greenville Humane Society (Greenville, SC) on Saturday, April 25th at 8:30 AM for the 9th Annual Mutt Strut presented by Papa John's! Participants will enjoy a 2-mile walk/run through beautiful Downtown Greenville. Following immediately after, the Mutt Market festival and after party will take place on South Main Street! The streets will be lined with entertainment including live music, free pizza from our presenting sponsor Papa John's, caricature artists, face painters and sponsor tents with plenty of awesome giveaways! Participants over the age of 6 will also receive a swag bag filled with goodies and a race t-shirt. All proceeds from the Mutt Strut go to benefit the animals of the Greenville Humane Society.

For details and to register, visit: http://www.ghsmuttstrut.com/ 

"Strut your mutt" on Saturday, May 2 beginning at 8 AM!

The 3rd Annual Strut Your Mutt: A Casual 5K hosted by Blue Ridge Humane Society, and WTZQ Radio  is a human and pet friendly 5K and 1 Mile walk benefiting Blue Ridge Humane Society. Presented by: Hunter Subaru

Run or walk a section of the beautiful Oklawaha Greenway Trail starting and finishing at the Tails in Town pet festival at the Historic Depot on Maple Street in Downtown Hendersonville’s 7th Avenue District.

Further details and registration at: https://www.blueridgehumane.org/calendar/strut-your-mutt-2020/

Bring your best human or non-human buddy (better yet, both) with you on Saturday, April 4, 2020 at 10:00 AM, for a charity hike up Bearwallow Mountain.  Climb the one mile hike up to the beautiful, bald summit of Bearwallow Mountain with fellow conservation loving pet owners to take in the breathtaking views with your furry buddy.

Proceeds benefit Conserving Carolina and Blue Ridge Humane Society. Registration for this event is $25 and includes your choice of a t-shirt or tote bag, and there is no registration cut off.

The hike will start at 10 AM at the trail head. All participants–humans and their furry friends–must check in prior to the start of the hike. Proceeds benefit Conserving Carolina & Blue Ridge Humane Society. The registration is $25 and includes an event shirt if registered by early cut-off. Once you register, please check your email for more details as we get closer to the event.

Additional details at: https://www.blueridgehumane.org/calendar/tails-and-trails-2020/

If you have questions, contact Laura at lrice@blueridgehumane.org or 828-692-2639.

The Asheville Humane Society Thrift Store at 1425 Patton Avenue, Asheville, will hold a Grand Opening Event on Tuesday, March 10. Items will be discounted during the day and all proceeds go to benefit the animals in Asheville Humane's care.

Join Blue Ridge Humane Society at the Champion Hills Clubhouse in Hendersonville, NC on Tuesday, March 24 from 12 to 2 PM. This Benefit Luncheon will feature special guest speaker Adam LeGrand of K9s for Warriors. The event will celebrate the positive impact of animal rescue not just in Henderson County but in the lives of veterans across the nation. Adam will speak directly to the profound effect that a service animal has had in his life, after Molly was rescued from a Henderson County shelter and became a part of the K9s for Warriors Program. Tickets are $75 per person. For more information, visit: https://www.blueridgehumane.org/calendar/benefit-luncheon/

Asheville Humane Society and Paws & Effect are working collaboratively to establish a Shelter to Service program in our community. Shelter dogs selected to participate in this effort will be supported and trained to determine their suitability to become therapy, facility and service dogs. We are seeking foster homes to commit to approximately a six month period, which will include weekly classes and regular meetings.

Join Asheville Humane Society to learn more about this exciting opportunity on the following dates:

Wed., Feb. 5 - 6:30 PM

Sat., Feb. 15 - 2:30 PM

Info sessions will be held at Asheville Humane Society, 14 Forever Friend Lane, Asheville.

Please direct any questions to Nicole Shumate at nicoleshumate@paws-effect.org

Image: Asheville Humane Society