About Us
The Mission of Sarge’s Animal Rescue Foundation
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. A breed rescue volunteer identified him as a young, healthy, purebred German Shepherd Dog and marked him for rescue. Despite best efforts, Sarge was euthanized just one hour before rescue transport arrived. 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.
What We Do
Sarge’s rescues adoptable animals for adoption or transports them to a no-kill shelter or breed-specific rescue group. Animals rescued from the shelter are spayed/neutered and brought up to date on shots and other medical treatments. They are given a safe haven, either in a foster home or at our Adoption Center, while in search of a loving "forever" home.
Our Story
Thirteen years ago, Sarge was a dog who had been remanded over to the Haywood County Animal Shelter by his owner. A breed rescue volunteer identified him as a young, healthy, purebred German Shepherd and marked him for rescue. Despite best efforts, Sarge was euthanized just one hour before rescue transport arrived. At that time, It was not an isolated event and the county was euthanizing animals at a rate of more than 50 per week. The county’s main purpose was public safety and animal control, not animal welfare. Clearly there was an urgent need for action by other entities focused on animal welfare.
This event in July 2005 was the catalyst for the formation of a non-profit organization dedicated to ending euthanasia in the Haywood County Animal Shelter by rescuing adoptable animals. It was only fitting that the organization should be named after Sarge. Sarge’s Animal Rescue Foundation was incorporated in November, 2005 and received its Non-Profit 501(c)3 status in January, 2006.
Our History
Sometimes a sad event can be the catalyst for huge, positive changes — such was the case with the founding of Sarge’s Animal Rescue Foundation. Read more about why we started Sarge’s Animal Rescue Foundation.
Haywood County Animal Shelter
Our Friends and Partners
Haywood County Animal Shelter, located at 453 Jones Cove Rd., Clyde, NC 28721, is our local county shelter. We receive the overwhelming majority of our pets from here. We support them in their mission to provide a safe place for strays and surrendered pets to be available for adoption and rescue.
Our Team
We believe animals are an integral part of our lives and we enjoy seeing the excitement on our adopters’ faces as they add a new canine or feline family member. We are growing and expanding as an organization currently, but our mission stays the same: increasing the save rate of Haywood County’s homeless pets!
Business Entity
“Sarge’s Animal Adoption Center” is a business entity of Sarge’s Animal Rescue Foundation, Inc. We are a 501(c)3 non-profit organization registered in North Carolina, and all donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law. Our tax id number is 20-3783032.
