By Frank DeLoache
Salisbury Post
9Lives cat food company has pledged $10,000 toward a local group’s campaign to build a no-kill animal shelter.
The gift is one of several pieces of good news that have boosted the efforts of Faithful Friends to open a new shelter.
Besides the 9Lives’ gift:
– The Internal Revenue Service has granted Faithful Friends Inc. status as a tax-exempt, nonprofit organization, according to group President Anne Ingram.
The 501(c)3 status means any donations to Faithful Friends can be counted as a tax-deductible contribution.
– Morris, the star of 9Lives’ commercials, will visit Salisbury Friday in an interactive bus.
Morris is making a national tour as part of the company’s Million Cat Rescue initiative.
The public is invited to see Morris and his bus between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Friday at Food Lion’s headquarters, 2110 Executive Drive.
There’s no charge, and visitors can check out the interactive bus and even adopt a cat at the mobile adoption unit. Morris also will be available for pictures and “pawtographs.”
The 9Lives bus will make only two other appearances in the area ó Thursday, from 2 to 6 p.m., at the Food Lion at 3207 Eastway Drive, Charlotte, and Saturday, from 1 to 5 p.m., at the Food Lion at 10120 Johnston Road, Charlotte.
The cat food company also is working with a new shelter/cat-owner networking site, www.catster.com to reach out to the online cat-loving community.
– The Sept. 15 Paws in the Park event in Salisbury will also raise money and support for Faithful Friends, as well as the LandTrust for Central North Carolina.
Paws in the Park is an event that invites pet owners to walk with their animal friends (leashes no longer than 6 feet for all dogs) on the Salisbury Greenway, starting at Knox Middle School, 1625 W. Park Road, Salisbury.
A 9Lives representative will present a $10,000 check to Faithful Friends at the event.
Registration and check-in begin at 9 a.m., and the walk starts at 10. Registration for adults is $15 and includes a T-shirt.
Paws in the Park is sponsored by the LandTrust, Rowan Surge, Lazy 5 Ranch Veterinary Services and Miller Davis.
In addition, Ingram, the Faithful Friends president, said another supporter has pledged another $10,000 gift this month.
The group also is looking for a gift of land ó which would also be tax deductible ó where it can build its shelter.
“We’re consulting with local builders about helping and hoping to do a Habitat for Humanity-type process,” Ingram said Friday. “This is going to be a community building, and we want the community to come help us.”
The eight-member Faithful Friends board has set a goal “soliciting land by the end of September, and at that time, if we still don’t have the donation, we’ll decide then whether to buy the land,” Ingram said.
Besides Ingram, other officers for the group are Gina Dinse, vice president; Irene Beyer, secretary; and Jim Flynn, treasurer. Other board members are Bob Bailey, Jeanne Dennis,Mary Ann Pool and Brenda Wood.
Nancy Stanback serves as adviser to the board, and Tom Caddell is legal adviser.
The group is trying to work with other animal groups or organizations in the area. The Rowan County Animal Shelter “is referring people to us,” Ingram said. “And we’re cooperating with the Humane Society as well.
“… We’re all the same team.”
The Faithful Friends membership fee starts at $1, Ingram added.
“We want to include everybody, but we’ll be glad to take more,” she said.For more information on the group, send an e-mail to info@faithfulfriendsnc.com or call 704-433-8169.