TOPPING OFF? NO...THAT'S NOT A BEER HEAD!

Monday I attended the One of a Kind Pet Rescue “topping off” ceremony for their new 9000 square foot, state of the art adoption center and retail outlet. For the past 5 years, One of a Kind Pets has operated it’s adoption and retail center out of one half of a gas station on West Market Street in Akron. The “new” adoption center will replace the former Fairlawn Bowling Lanes located in West Akron. The old bowling alley was razed and new construction began in the Spring of this year.

“We will be operational in the fall of this year” says Director of Organizational Development, Georjette Thomas. “What was an eye-sore for numerous years in West Akron / Summit County is in the process of being transformed into a 9000 square foot state-of-the-art ‘destination location’ for animal welfare and pet related retail.”


Monday’s ceremony drew a crowd of dedicated donors, supporters and volunteers of One of a Kind Pets. The attendees all had an opportunity to sign the beam before it was lifted by crane and set into place atop the skeletal structure that will soon house up to 150 adoptable dog and cats. Plans allow for more family friendly adoption situations, allowing potential adoptee families to spend one-on-one time with a dog or cat at the center before committing to an adoption.

The retail store carries pet related gifts, toys, and grooming supplies. 100% of the retail sales will support the 501c3 non-profit organization and will be applied to continued animal rescue efforts.

In 2009, OOAKP adopted out 953 to families in Summit County. These are animals that were abandoned, abused, neglected, orphaned, or were unwanted domestic pets rescued by OOAKP. Every animal is given full medical care once they reach the shelter in preparation for adoption, including spay and neutering.

One of a Kind Pets also runs a very busy clinic located on West Exchange Street near the intersection of Exchange, Hawkins and Market. The clinic operates low-cost vaccine clinics on the 1st Saturday of each month in an effort to reduce animal diseases on the streets.

My favorite program is their low cost spay & neuter clinic. Every day there are 7 to 8 times more cats and dogs born than there are human babies. The numbers tell us that there is simply no way for all of these animals to find homes. Many are feral, or will become so as they grow up and the majority will continue to produce puppies and kittens if left unvetted.


OOAKP provides not only low cost spay & neuter services, but some completely subsidized as well when there are funds available. Their goal is to dramatically reduce the number of unwanted cats and dogs simply by reducing the breeding capacity of feral and wild animals. They have spayed & neutered over 16,000 animals since opening the clinic just 2 ½ years ago which is run by a staff of 20 employees plus two dedicated veterinarians.