Looking for a new fur baby? Look no further than Sarge's

Colleen Casey, The Mountaineer, Waynesville, N.C.
·2 min read

Jul. 6—Sarge's Animal Rescue Foundation will be hosting a huge yard sale and adoption event from 8 a.m. — 4 p.m. Saturday, July 9, at 256 Industrial Park Dr. in Waynesville.

The adoption event takes place at the adoption center and the yard sale will be located across the street from Sarge's at Faith Community Church. Items can be dropped off before the event so they can get sorted beforehand.

Sarge's has been around since 2005. Operations administrator Fred Strohm said Sarge's Animal Rescue Foundation's creation was inspired by a dog at Haywood County Animal Shelter.

"Sarge was a dog who had been remanded over to the Haywood County Animal Shelter in 2005 by his owner," Strohm said.

A breed rescue volunteer identified him as a young, healthy, purebred German Shepherd dog and marked him for rescue.

"Despite his best efforts, Sarge was euthanized just one hour before rescue transport arrived," Strohm explained.

Strohm said a group of volunteers used this event as a catalyst for change, and formed an organization with the mission of preventing the euthanasia of adoptable dogs and cats in the county shelter.

"In the years since, the county shelter has achieved a 'no-kill' status, and it is Sarge's intention to help the shelter maintain that success," he said.

Sarge's has a simple adoption process that starts with an application.

"All applicants are required to fill out an application because we want to find a good fit for the animal and an animal that's a good fit for the home," Strohm said.

Potential owners are asked if their home is owned or rented and follow up with landlords for rentals to make sure they are allowed to have certain animals. Strohm said there was no fencing requirement.

"We don't have a list of available animals," Strohm said. "Our inventory changes at any time, so hopefully none of who we have right now will still be in our care by the time the event gets here."

Anybody is welcome to apply for their animals. The fees vary from $50-200 depending on the age, gender and breed of the animal.