HAWA, Sarge's deal a one-two punch
by Jennifer Allen
Special to The Mountaineer

Fully endorsed by Haywood Animal Welfare Association, Inc. (HAWA), Sarge's Animal Rescue Foundation is now handling adoption and foster care programs while HAWA focuses on animal welfare education and low cost spay/neuter programs. HAWA leadership hope that, with the two efforts, they can diminish Haywood County's serious pet overpopulation problem.

"According to the Humane Association, there are 10 puppies and kittens born for each newborn human. If you do the math, it's obvious that there just aren't enough homes for all of them. That's why it is urgent that every pet owner be responsible and spay or neuter their pet," said HAWA president-elect Penny Wallace. "There simply aren't enough food homes for the dogs and cats we have, because people continue to let their pets go unaltered."

"Our goal is to build an adoption center for animals," said Sarge's President Doyle Teague. "For now Sarge's is a 'shelter without walls.' We are saving about 25 animals a month from the Haywood County Animal Control Facility. This is done through our breed rescue program and our foster care and adoption program. More foster homes are needed to increase the number of animals that can be saved."

HAWA's mission is to promote a community in which animals are valued, properly cared for and provided with a safe place to live. "So many people have volunteered their time to help achieve the mission," Wallace said. "Every single volunteer brings their own unique talents and ideas to the table. Programs have been driven based on the volunteer pool. The common bond is that each of us has the desire to help animals".

Sarge's Animal Rescue Foundation is a prime example of volunteerism driving improvement. Formed last year, its core members started out as hands-on HAWA volunteers who recognized a need. Working regular shifts at the shelter and at outside adoption events, the group decided they could save more animals by extending the scope of foster care.

Sarge's immediate mission is to save healthy, adoptable animals in the Haywood County Animal Control Facility. Their long-term goal is to build a foster care center where select shelter animals can be housed in a healthy environment while awaiting adoption.

"The Haywood County Animal Shelter took in almost 3,600 animals last year and euthanized 2,213. That cost the taxpayers more than $17,000. Sadly, the animals that weren't claimed or adopted paid with their lives," Wallace said. Both HAWA and Sarge's are 501(c)(3) qualified charitable nonprofit organizations; donations are tax-deductible. HAWA is currently looking for volunteers to answer phones, assist with fundraising and appear at area events to promote their efforts. For more information, call 452-1329 or visit hawapets.com. To volunteer with Sarge's, call 508-3300 or log onto www.sargeandfriends.org to learn more.

Reprinted with permission from the Mountaineer.