Adopt an Angel non-profit group finds homes for pets

On any given weekend you may see a group of people outside of the Petco in Wilmington trying to sell dogs and cats. Those people are volunteers. They spend their free time and money to try and save animals from being put down at the local animal control. They make up the local non-profit pet rescue group called "Adopt an Angel."

The Dallmer family came to the "Adopt an Angel" adoption fair just to take a peak at the puppies, but fell in love with one almost instantly. The puppy they found was rescued from the Brunswick County Animal Control by 'Adopt an Angel' volunteers.

Program volunteer, Marlo Hitriz says the group goes into animal control and rescues some animals before they get euthanized. She says, “obviously you can't rescue them all. After we buy them, then we take them to the vet and we get them their shots and get them spayed or neutered and then we hold these adoption fairs on the weekend so that they can get a final loving home."

The ‘Adopt an Angel’ program was started by local volunteers four years ago and is funded by donations. Volunteers say all the money goes toward buying the dogs and cats from animal control, spaying and neutering the animals and paying their vet bills.

Program volunteer, Hitriz says, "We have one dog right now that has two different bullet holes because his owner used him as target practice. We do a lot of rescues that way. Some of the animals we saved were left chained to a tree where their owner vacated the house. Our goal is to make the animals happy in a good safe home, where they'll be loved."

The "Adopt an Angel" volunteers save about 800 animals from being euthanized each year. If you're interested in giving a dog or cat a good home you can stop by the Petco in Wilmington on any Saturday or Sunday. For more information on the "Adopt an Angel" program visit adoptanangel.net.