ASHLAND, Va. -- Strangeways Brewing hosted a viewing party Saturday as Animal Planet's "Pet Nation Renovation" reveals its overhaul of Ashland-based Bandit's Adoption and Rescue of K-9s (BARK) facility.
"You voted and helped Ashland's BARK shelter win a renovation, now it's time to see the results LIVE," a Facebook post for the event reads. "Join us as we live stream the brand new digs of the Bandit's Adoption and Rescue of K-9s (BARK) facility. See what your votes and $180,000 in the Pet Nation Renovation Contest has gotten the rescue dogs."
Doors opened at the brewery at 2277 Dabney Road in Richmond at 9 p.m. and the show premieres at 10 p.m.
Thousands of locals voted for BARK to win the Animal Planet Pet Nation Shelter Renovation contest. The agency is named in honor of Bandit, a neglected dog rescued in 1987.
The contest afforded BARK some desperately needed renovations at the kennels, which is a safe haven for abused and neglected dogs rescued in the Richmond-metro area. Many dogs that arrive at BARK are within 12 hours of euthanization.
A picture of BARK, who has been saving local dogs since 1987, before the renovations.
As a result of rescuing more than 4,500 dogs in 10 years, the shelter had a lot of wear and tear.
"We were astounded," said Claire Tetrick, BARK board member. "One, that we had so much support from the community and also that we came out as the winners of it!"
"It is definitely a once in a lifetime opportunity," she said. “I’m not sure we could have ever raised that amount of money.”
After four weeks of renovation by the PET NATION team, BARK is now outfitted with state-of-the-art kennels, an agility dog park and several cost-saving improvements were made.
The makeover was made possible by Ace Hardware and Delta Faucet, sponsors of the special who provided more than $100,000 for the renovation through fiscal, product and labor donations.
The inside of the facility, which helps about 300 dogs a year, before the renovations.
The renovation culminates in an on-site adoption event to find the dogs forever homes. Celebrity dog groomer Jorge Bendersky and ANIMAL adoption expert Jill Rappaport will be in the episode, helping to make sure the dogs look their best and when matched with the perfect family.
Tetrick extended "a huge thank you to everyone in the community who supported us and voted for us in the process."
The shelter renovations will air in a two-part series.
Animal Planet is on Verizon as ANIMAL130, ANIMAL1565, APHD630.
Animal Planet is on Comcast on ANIMAL48, APHD241, APHD868.
The entry video the group submitted is below:
