About Our Plans

Animals & Adoption Rules | The Money | Board of Directors | Our First Year |Naming Opportunities

The Sanctuary   

Faithful Friends’ 10.75-acre site is on Grace Church Road in south Salisbury. Architect Jon Palmer has designed an environmental-friendly building. The exterior walls will be composed of Sipex panels; these are considered “green” building materials with an insulation factor of R-30. The cleaning system we plan to utilize uses water treated with ozone, so no chemicals or protective equipment are needed. (www.ecosafesystemsusa.com)  The building is sited to take advantage of solar orientation to block the full summer sun, but to allow the lower winter sun. A solar water heater, photovoltaic array, and occupancy sensors in high-volume areas will increase energy efficiency.

 

Other features will be a fenced park for sanctuary dogs, a covered area where they can play in bad weather, and an off-leash dog park for the public. Walking trails are already present throughout the site. There will be a pet cemetery on the premises, with a memorial garden for other people’s pets. Lyerly Funeral Home offers pet cremations, and is working with us to coordinate services.

 

Faithful Friends has developed a disaster plan for emergency housing and care of cats, dogs, and caged birds at the sanctuary in the event of a natural disaster. This is now is being integrated into the County’s existing plan. We received a grant of $4,000 from the ASPCA to purchase cages and kennels for displaced pets.  A representative of the local Red Cross has contacted us about providing housing for the animals of clients who have had personal disasters. This is a worthy service we hope to be able to offer.

 

The Animals

Will you take in every homeless animal?

There are over 8,000 homeless animals in Rowan County every single year! Our goal is to save as many lives as we can by offering them a place to live until they can be adopted. But until more people get their pets altered, there will not be enough homes for them all. Our shelter must never have more animals than we can safely care for.

 

Where will your animals come from?

We will take abandoned and abused animals from the Rowan County Animal Shelter, and rescues from the public or other local rescue groups. The population of the sanctuary at any one time will be up to 50 cats and 35 to 40 dogs, depending on their size. All animals will be examined  by a veterinarian, and given vaccinations and will be spayed/neutered. They will be quarantined when they first come in to prevent potential spread of diseases.

 

Can pet owners bring their unwanted pets to the sanctuary?

We will not take pets from owners who want to give them up. We will assist owners in resolving problems they are having, but we will not assume their responsibilities as pet owners. Special situations will be decided on a case by case basis.

The primary sources of animals will be pets from the County  Shelter, from other local rescue groups, and animals rescued by the public. The population of the sanctuary at any one time will be up to 50 cats, and 34-50 dogs, depending on their size. All animals will be examined by a veterinarian, given distemper, bordetella, and rabies vaccinations, worming, flea treatment, canine heartworm or feline FIV/leukemia testing, and spay/neuter. They will be quarantined when they first come in to keep from spreading disease to the other animals.

 

We recognize that even the best shelter situation is stressful for these pets. All dogs will be walked and given play time each day. We will strive to give all of our animals as much individual attention as we can to ensure that their psychological needs are met as well as their physical needs.

 

Adoptions
An application will be required for all potential adopters. All adopters will receive a pet care information booklet. We will not adopt to people under the age of 25, because of the likelihood that in the future they will move to a place where pets are not allowed. No dogs will be adopted to homes where they will be on chains. We will offer help in setting up runners for dogs to use while supervised, as long as they are taken in the home or garage at night. We want our dogs to be part of the family, not relegated to a pen in the back yard.

 

Adoption events will take place regularly at various sites in the community, such as pet stores and shopping malls. They can be combined with fundraising events. Publicity of animals will be on the web site, on rescue network emails, and on lists sent out into the community for posting in every possible location. A group of volunteers, Rescue Runners, will take lists of animals up for adoption to their designated locations every week, e.g., post office, restaurants, beauty parlors, grocery store bulletin boards, vet offices. We will network with other rescue groups to advertise and exchange each other’s hard-to- place pets. This internet network is extensive and already in place.

 

The Staff
A director, a veterinary technician, and a dog trainer will be recruited for these positions. Help can also come from scout troops, church groups, and community-service workers.

Paid staff and volunteers will be responsible for these duties:
* Pick up accepted rescues, transport to vets and adoption events
* Feed animals and wash up dishes
* Scoop and dispose of waste
* Clean pet areas and do laundry
* Walk dogs
* Socialize animals
* Do grooming
* Interview adopters
* Participate in fundraisers

 

To ensure the safety of the volunteers and animals, all volunteers will be oriented in general pet health care, the care and handling of the animals, and in the proper use of equipment. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult at all times. All volunteers will sign a waiver of liability form. Job descriptions will be written for key volunteer positions.

 

A veterinarian will be consulted on each animal’s care, for medical or behavioral problems that arise, and for sanctuary sanitation.

Our dog trainer will teach the staff basic training and temperament testing, and will run classes for new owners. We can expect to take in biters, chewers, diggers, barkers and sprayers. Every animal we manage to keep in its home is one we don't have to take back!