Ask Brandon Boyd about his favorite things to talk about, and chances are good that two of them are cars and Ruin Creek Animal Protection Society – not necessarily in that order.

And it’s exactly those two things that will take center stage at this Saturday’s Ruin Creek Cruise-In event at the former Charles Boyd car dealership on U.S. Hwy 158 bypass.

The Cruise-In is being sponsored this year by the Vance County Tourism Authority and Boyd told John C. Rose on Town Talk Tuesday that he’s looking forward to a safe, fun family event – complete with food, live music, and – of course – classic and collector vehicles from near and far. Collectors may begin registering their classic cars and finding their parking spot at 1 p.m.; the event is from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

It’s a way to say “thank you” to all those who help to work tirelessly to fulfill the RCAPS mission of reducing the number of unwanted pets in Vance County.

In the past six years, through a close collaboration with RCAPS, the local shelter has almost cut in half the number of pets that end up at the animal shelter – from more than 3,000 to between 1,700 or 1,800.

“It feels great,” Boyd said of the achievement. “But as we all talk about, there’s still work to be done.” Animal services staff, under the direction of Chief Frankie Nobles, and dedicated shelter and RCAPS volunteers spend untold hours finding rescues who can hopefully find foster homes or adoptive homes for the animals, mostly dogs, Boyd said.

And the animals who do come into the shelter are spayed and neutered before they take that Friday evening “Freedom Ride” to what everyone hopes is a loving home.

Over the last month or 45 days, though, Boyd said the shelter has been “packed full.” Rescue and adoption partners are working around the clock to place the animals in homes and get them out of the shelter.

Boyd said plans are underway to convert the former animal shelter on Vance Academy Road into a low-cost spay and neuter clinic for the community. Although there is not a hard and fast timeline for completion right now, he said that they’re pricing medical equipment now and recruiting veterinary staff to come in to perform the procedures.

“It is in the works and is going to happen,” he said, adding that the clinic will be a tremendous asset for the community to gain the upper hand in the battle to further reduce the demand on the animal shelter and its resources.

“This takes everybody,” Boyd said. He’s proud of the presence RCAPS has in the community – and beyond = and of the efforts to raise awareness of reducing the unwanted pet population. Thanks to social media, RCAPS has received donations from all 50 states in the U.S. and from 13 foreign countries.

RCAPS is not only working to change the lives of animals, but it also is promoting the power of positivity in the community, he said. “That’s the mission and the movement,” he said. “And that’s what we want Saturday to be about. – we’re doing our part to make this a better place.”

 

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