Cameron Village gets boost of cuteness with animal adoption center

“Instead of having the adopters come to the pets, we want to bring the pets to the shoppers ... and we thought, you know, Cameron Village is the best place to do that,” said Darci VanderSlik, marketing and social media manager for the SPCA of Wake County.

The satellite adoption center on Daniels Street will open at 8 a.m. on Black Friday. After that, it will be open Thursdays through Sundays during the holiday season. Cameron Village donated the space.

Three doors down, Betsy Viall's family owns the Thompson Lynch Company. She has a rescue cat at home.

“I think it's nice. People go in, they see them," Viall said. “If I didn't already have one, I probably would've adopted one.”

Shopper Andy Fowler said she thinks it's a great idea, too, though she hopes it doesn't encourage people to adopt a new pet on the spur of the moment.

“It's a commitment. It's not like a toy that you can buy. But I think it is a good idea, and maybe it will interest more people who wouldn't normally go to the shelters,” Fowler said.

VanderSlik says the SPCA does not recommend impulse adoptions or surprising anyone with a new pet. They do offer adoption gift certificates.

“This is also something you can put under a tree, buy a little stuffed animal and attach the gift certificate around the neck. And then come in later on after the holiday season and pick out your pet,” VanderSlik said.