Business

People, pups enjoy Bark & Wine event

Maya Fleagle holds Hershey, a 5-year-old Chihuahua-Dachsund mix.

By Bill Moss, Published: January 25, 2013

Hershey, like his brother Reeses, keeps one ear up and one ear down. He's timid and a tad trembly but docile. He has a soft coat.

Nine-year-old Maya Fleagle had taken charge of Hershey, bundling him close to her chest with the sleeves of her brown sweater.
A Chihuahua-Dachsund mix, Hershey, 5, was one of the stars of the Bark and Wine adoption event Saturday at Saint Paul Mountain Vineyards on Chestnut Gap Road. There was plenty of wine but very little barking. Hershey, Sandy, Callie and Bandit behaved.
"They're all really great dogs," said Lauren Weldishofer, the marketing manager for the Animal Compassion Network, which brought five dogs and two cats to the event. "They're all very social. We try not to bring them out if they're going to get too stressed."
The Animal Compassion Network operates Pet Harmony in Asheville, which it bills as "the pet store for rescued pets."
The event led to two adoptions.
"We are processing Callie's adoption as we speak," Weldishofer said. "A couple from Charlotte is adopting her and they will be taking her back to Charlotte with them this afternoon. That was a good happy tale."
Winery marketing manager Jessica Chipriano and her husband, Damian, adopted Hershey. The Bark & Wine event was held in memory of their Chihuahua, Chico, who died last year.
"Hopefully that'll be adoption no. 2, which would be a really successful event for us," Weldishofer said.
The network keeps around 15 dogs and cats at its shelter and saves more rescues than that by sending them to foster homes until they can be adopted. "We pull from people looking to rehome or from shelters and we do our best to find them a good home," she said.