Huntington shares four-legged love
“Who of us haven’t had our lives transformed by our pets? When you look at these four-legged animals, my wife said it best: ‘if only people could be as loving and forgiving as these animals are.’”
More stories from Sofie Wachtmeister
Advocates for Saving Adoptable Pets (ASAP) sponsored the second Love is a Four Legged Word adoption celebration Saturday at Big Sandy Superstore Arena.
The animals were brought from the Huntington Cabell Wayne Animal Shelter.
The four-hour event allowed visitors to play with dogs, puppies, kittens and cats in hopes that someone would take them home.
The regular $95 adoption fee was lowered to $50, which included a voucher for the first veterinarian visit as well as spaying or neutering.
Martha Cummings, volunteer coordinator at the Cabell Wayne Shelter and president of ASAP, said she is pleased with the outcome of the event.
“We’ve had great support,” Cummings said. “We have so many volunteers keeping track of the animals. It’s been a great experience. Our goal is to surpass last year’s record of 30 animals adopted in one day.”
Diana Canterbury has been a volunteer at Cabell Wayne Shelter for a year and helps with adoption fairs.
“It’s important for people to rescue shelter animals because you will have the most loyal pet ever,” Canterbury said. “It’s amazing how they adapt to a new home, it’s unbelievable.”
It’s a failure to all of us when we have to put one down. These events give us the opportunity to save them. They capture our hearts.
— Mayor Steve Williams
Huntington Mayor Steve Williams was in attendance, showing appreciation for animals that need a place to call home.
“When I start to think about it I get a little emotional,” Williams said. “Who of us haven’t had our lives transformed by our pets? When you look at these four-legged animals, my wife said it best: ‘if only people could be as loving and forgiving as these animals are.’”
Williams has two rescue dogs at home, and he said he believes these events are vital to raising awareness.
“All they want is to be loved,” Williams said. “That’s why it’s important to have these events. It’s a failure to all of us when we have to put one down. These events give us the opportunity to save them. They capture our hearts.”
At least 40 animals were brought to the event. Halfway through the event, a van was sent back to the shelter to get more animals to bring to the adoption celebration.
Sofie Wachtmeister can be contacted at [email protected].
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