'Operation Santa Paws' to be held Saturday at center
By Becky Barclay
Published in News on December 11, 2015 1:46 PM
News-Argus/STEVE HERRING
At left, volunteer Georgina Woodlock and Courtney Frey, who works at the animal shelter, decorate a Christmas tree for Saturday's event.
Dogs and cats at the Wayne County Animal Adoption and Education Center are looking for a very special gift this year -- a forever home of their very own.
Operation Santa Paws is hoping to give that to them.
"This is the first year we've had this event," said shelter director Vicki Falconer. "We wanted to do an open house in the fall, but Bark in the Borough was scheduled for then. Once it got canceled, we started thinking about something we could do. We came up with Operation Santa Paws."
The event will take place Saturday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the animal shelter on Clingman Street. It will be an open house where volunteers will be walking the dogs so visitors can interact with them.
There will also be a rabies clinic. Ms. Falconer will administer one-year rabies vaccines for $10 each to dogs and cats that are at least 4 months old.
Also at the event, homemade and store bought baked goods will be for sale, as well as pizza from Brooklyn Pizzeria.
McGruff the crime dog will be on hand to visit with those stopping by. The Wayne County Sheriff's Office will have a K9 dog and car at the event. Goldsboro Fire Station 3 is bringing a fire truck and EMS will have one of its new ambulances.
For the children, several Disney princesses will be there. For the boys, one of the Star Wars stormtroopers will be making an appearance.
"We will have drawings for a big cat basket that's been donated and a large dog basket that was donated, with beds, treats, toys and food," Ms. Falconer said. "Tickets are $1 each here at the shelter. We'll extend the drawing past the open house Saturday."
There will also be shelter angel trees, one for dogs and another for cats. Each has tags that people can take to purchase an item for a shelter pet.
If you prefer not to take a tag off the angel trees, you can make a donation that day, or any other day, of money, food, blankets, leashes, anything a pet would need.
"Even toys," Ms. Falconer said. "Especially with the holidays, people like to bring treats with the pets being in the kennels for the holidays.
"These guys need to get out of here and find a good home. Or even a home with somebody who's willing to foster them until we can find the right home."
In conjunction with Operation Santa Paws, the shelter is also conducting a fundraising drive with donation boxes at various businesses in the community that will stay there until after the first of year. A complete list of box locations will be available Saturday.
"It's bringing joy to the shelter pets of Wayne County," Ms. Falconer said.