Humane Society selling commemorative bricks for new shelter
By Matthew Whittle
Published in News on December 2, 2007 2:05 AM
Working to raise funds for the new animal adoption and education center, the Wayne County Humane Society has begun selling granite pavers to anyone wishing to memorialize their pets.
The pavers, which feature a brief inscription and a picture, are made of solid, polished, black and gray granite, and are on sale for $125 each.
They will create the pathway leading into the new center.
People interested in purchasing the pavers are invited to come see what they will look like at the Humane Society's annual holiday pet photo shoot fundraiser at Pet Supplies Plus, which is continuing today from 1 until 5 p.m.
The funds raised by the always popular photo shoot will go to the Humane Society, but those through the sale of the pavers will go toward the county's new animal shelter.
"We're just using that venue to launch this," fundraising committee member Barbara Arntsen said. "We've sold a couple already, but this is sort of going to launch this."
But, she added, if people don't make it out Saturday to purchase their pavers, that's not a problem. She expects them to be on sale for the foreseeable future.
"It may be something we continue even after the shelter is built," she said. "And if there's enough interest, then maybe we can even get a memorial garden out there."
Society fundraising chairman Suzi Wharton expects the pavers to be popular items.
"We're hoping so. People want to remember their pets," she said. "I've already bought one for one of my pets."
Credit cards, checks, money orders and cash are all accepted.
Pet owners also can purchase the pavers from the society's new fundraising Web site, www.wchsfundraisers.org.
And, when they purchase a paver, if they would like their pet's picture on it, Wharton added, they can either bring it with them, e-mail it or snail mail it to the society.
Also included on the Web site is information about the society's ongoing Buzz for Bucks shelter fundraiser, which features promises from County Manager Lee Smith, society Vice President Jean Hollowell, society Vice President Barrett Parker and society board member Frances Gooden to shave their heads when each raises $12,500.
Donation sites for that fundraiser are Hollowell & Benton, PA Attorneys, at 130 S. John St. and HealtHabit Natural Foods and Wines, at 606 N. Spence Ave. Checks and money orders should be made payable to the Wayne County Humane Society, which is a non-profit, 501c3, tax-deductible organization. Donations also can be mailed to Wayne County Humane Society, P.O. Box 54, Goldsboro, NC 27533.
Licensed barbers and hairstylists interesting in bidding on the chance to do the shaving should contact Carla Griffin at 734-3747.
The society's goal is to raise $150,000 to help the county offset the $1.8 million cost of the new center, which is being built on Clingman Street.
So far, an additional $350,000 has been raised in pledges and contributions.
The center is expected to be up and running by fall 2008.