Fairytale Farm, which operates an animal rescue sanctuary in Winston-Salem, is expanding its services to Kernersville with a new “adoption shop” on Cherry Street.
Executive Director Kimberly Dunckel spoke to Scope News ahead of the location’s grand opening Thursday morning.
“We are opening the shop as a gathering place for the community to learn about different types of animals and support animal rescue as well as to help more rabbits and small animals get adopted into great homes,” she said.
While many other rescue efforts underway in the area focus on cats and dogs, Dunckel explained that rabbits have often been overlooked.
“Rabbits are the third most common pet to be abandoned or in need of rescue, but most shelters and rescues are not set up to care for them,” she added. “In the past two months, we have taken in over 30 rabbits that were dumped or abandoned in Triad-area neighborhoods.”
By opening the adoption shop in Kernersville, she said Fairytale Farm will be in a position “to help more animals while also educating people about how to slow the problem of abandoned animals.”
Dunckel, who grew up in Kernersville, said that opening the new location is a big step for the facility.
“We especially love that we were able to find a space in the downtown area that is convenient for anyone visiting for events or other downtown businesses,” she said.
The local facility will include a playroom for kids, a space for parties and events, and an area designed for visitors to engage with the rabbits ready to be adopted. Additional features include a gift shop, snacks, and animal supplies.
“The animal care side includes a six-kennel stainless steel system that provides a clean and safe place for rabbits to decompress and for volunteers to make sure all the animals are cared for,” Dunckel explained, noting that the area is designed to resemble an “enchanted woodland forest” so the rescued animals will feel more at home.
The shop, located at 116 South Cherry Street, Suite B, will be open from 8:00 a.m. to noon on Thursday for a grand opening celebration.
“The grand opening will be a unique opportunity to tour the full facility and see both the animal care side that will normally only be available to staff and volunteers, and the public facing side,” Dunckel added.
She noted that the shop is designed to provide visitors with educational fun while supporting Fairytale Farm’s mission, concluding: “Every single purchase, visit or rental goes directly to support the animal rescue efforts.”
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