A revolution is happening in the world of animal welfare, and the residents in Madison County will forever be able to say "It happened here first."
Felines & Canines Rescue Center has planted it's roots in Owens Cross Roads as the very first animal rescue facility of it's kind. It's designed to temporarily house dogs and cats who are at risk of euthanasia at local animal control facilities in order to prepare them for biweekly relocation to adoption centers in the Midwest. The model is a simple one: provide immediate refuge and safe transportation for friendly dogs and cats who are in communities that lack the necessary volume of adopters, and relocate them to communities where there are more adopters than there are pets. The program aims to drastically lower the euthanasia of family pets at shelters across Northern Alabama, with long-term goals of replicating the facility in areas of need throughout the country. It is projected that more than 2,500 dogs and cats will be saved annually through the Rescue Center.
The Rescue Center recently made a plea to the community to help raise the remaining funds needed to finish renovations and start operations. Madison County residents have stepped up to show their support in a big way. Huntsville locals Candy and Charles Stephenson, and their family, made the top tier donation in order to secure exterior naming rights to memorialize their beloved son, Hunter Stephenson, who passed away at the age of sixteen. Upon opening, Felines & Canines will call the facility "The Hunter Stephenson Rescue Center."
Additionally, local residents and businesses have rallied behind the program in an effort to get the doors open and lives saved before the massive influx of animals that pour into the already over-crowded shelters during the summer months. The Rescue Center is only $48,000 away from fulfilling their fundraising goals.
With the community's continued support, the Rescue Center will be able to complete renovations by the end of May 2018 and is preparing for a June 2 official ribbon cutting.
Exact details will be shared in the upcoming weeks. To learn more about the Rescue Center and how you can donate visit: www.FCRescueCenter.org