That evening, her owner phoned the police to come shoot the dog.

Instead, the responding officer called Animal Advocates of Moore County and rescued the mother and her pups.

Veterinarians were unable to save the mother of only four weeks, but Animal Advocates is looking after the four puppies, described as husky mixes. Authorities are considering animal cruelty charges.

The four puppies, who need foster homes, will be at an adoption event -- along with cats and dogs of all breeds and ages -- this Saturday, July 8, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Armory on Morganton Road in Southern Pines.

The Western-themed event, "Happy Tails to You," is sponsored by the Central NC Animal Welfare Coalition and will feature cats and dogs from local animal welfare groups and shelters.

Maureen Burke-Horansky of Animal Advocates believes the event will provide a good opportunity for people in the community to adopt.

"Every rescue group will be there," she said. "I think there'll be a nice collection of dogs (and cats)."

In addition to pets for adoption, the event will feature food, line dancing, pony rides, face painting and demonstrations by Donald Thomas' working border collies.

Al Carter of the Animal Center of Moore County will run a rabies clinic, offering shots for $5, so people can have their pets vaccinated.

While the groups bringing animals have different policies, if the animals up for adoption are not already spayed or neutered, the adoption fee will include the cost of the procedure. Adoption fees vary by group as well.

The Coalition chose to hold the event in the summer because of the high number of animals that go through shelters in the summer months. Carter said the Animal Center has seen a spike in intake numbers.

"We're taking in 40 animals a day this time of year," he said.

The Animal Center, which contracts with the county for Animal Control, is the only shelter in the county that euthanizes animals that it cannot find homes for. The Animal Center will have pets at Saturday's event.

Carter said the increased numbers reflect two factors.

"They're more visible in the summertime, and of course they start having babies in the spring," Carter said.

Corky O'Connor of Moore Humane Society said she experienced similar numbers several years ago when Moore Humane handled Animal Control for the county.

"When we were doing Animal Control," she said, "in June and July -- and it may change from month to month depending on how warm or cold the winter was -- we could take in 1,500 animals when, in an entire year, we'd take in 4,500 to 5,000."

While many groups in the county are working to reduce the number of strays or animals surrendered by their owners through spay/neuter and education programs, shelters emphasize the need to adopt animals.

Not only does adopting a shelter animal provide that animal with a home, O'Connor said, but also it opens up more space in no-kill shelters for animals to be moved from Animal Control.

"In order for us to save more animals, we need more people to adopt," she said.

The groups bringing animals Saturday are Animal Advocates, Carolina Animal Rescue and Adoption, Montgomery Moore Animal Rescue, Moore Humane Society, Sandhills Animal Rescue League Inc., Solutions for Animals Inc., the Animal Center and Friends for Life at The Haven.

Kirsten Beattie, an intern from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, can be reached at (919) 619-4327.