Gone To The Dogs

Thrift store helps support abandoned, lost pets

Abandoned and surrendered pets in Carroll County benefit from the Good Shepherd Doggie Thrift Store in Eureka Springs. It’s open this weekend for the citywide Yards & Yards of Yard Sales.
Abandoned and surrendered pets in Carroll County benefit from the Good Shepherd Doggie Thrift Store in Eureka Springs. It’s open this weekend for the citywide Yards & Yards of Yard Sales.

Twice a year, collectors flock to Eureka Springs for Yards & Yards of Yard Sales, a time when the wacky, weird and wild art and artifacts of the community go on sale in carports and on front lawns. This year, 50 vendors were signed up as of Wednesday.

Collectors might not know, however, there's a year-round source for Eureka's best second-hand clothes, shoes, china, glass and collectibles, and proceeds always go to a good cause.

FAQ

Yards & Yards

of Yard Sales

WHEN — 8 a.m. today-5 p.m. Saturday

WHERE — Throughout Eureka Springs

COST — Admission is free

INFO — 253-8737

BONUS — The Doggie Thrift Store is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. today & Saturday.

The Good Shepherd Doggie Thrift Store, located at 124 W. Van Buren St., helps fund the needs of Carroll County's no-kill animal shelter. Because the shelter operates entirely on donations and grants, the thrift store -- and the companion shop in Berryville -- make a big difference, says Donieal Fletcher, office manager. This year, for instance, proceeds have helped pay for new perimeter fencing at the shelter, painting, landscaping and a new meet-and-greet building, and plans are under way to replace some of the kennels.

The shelter houses around 60 cats and 50 dogs at capacity, Fletcher says.

The thrift store, which has been in business since 1974, is always at capacity, both with donations and with volunteers.

Like most people, Janet Corley started as a volunteer nine years ago to help support the animals, she says. But she also found it a way to get involved in the community of Eureka Springs. And she says there's always something wonderful to see -- or buy -- particularly artwork, because artists often donate.

Fletcher says regular donors come not just from Eureka Springs but around the area.

"We even have quite a few donors from out of state who don't live here, but this is their vacation spot," Fletcher says. "And we get their really nice donations."

-- Becca Martin-Brown

[email protected]

NAN What's Up on 08/05/2016

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