BY KIRSTEN BALLARD

Staff Writer

Nobody says dating is easy - especially when the date turns out to be a real dog. The Country Bookshop, in Southern Pines, disagrees and asks the community to prove them right at the shop's first Dog Speed Dating Pet Adoption from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, June 8.

On five-minute "dates," the potential adopters will interact one-on-one with a furry suitor. This time is used to see if chemistry exists between the dog and person.

Event organizer Pam Partis hopes to arrange for eight dogs to attend the event.

The Pet Placement Project (P3) hosts the event. P3 is a volunteer-based group from Animal Center of Moore County that started in March. They focus on facilitating off-site adoption events in an effort to lower the animal euthanasia rate in Moore County.

One of the volunteers learned about speed dating adoption on the nightly news, so P3 decided to give it a try.

"We're just looking for new and different things to give the animals a chance to get out," says Partis.

"Initially we were drawn to this event when Pam brought in a framed picture of a dog needing a foster family," says Kimberly Daniels, bookshop manager. She displayed the photo prominently in the shop front. By the end of the day, the dog had a home.

"Pam is a fantastic customer. She has given her life to helping animals and we try to help our customers," says Daniels.

Representatives will be available to answer questions people have about their furry dates. Wine and appetizers will be provided for the dates.

"We're hoping all eight get adopted so we have a 100 percent success rate," says Partis. Being a young organization, P3 does not have hard statistics to show its success at this point.

If people don't find the dog they are looking for during speed dating, Partis urges them to fill out the "wish-list" on P3's website so volunteers can keep an eye out at the shelter for the perfect match.

The $65 adoption fee includes spay or neutering, rabies vaccination and a microchip.

"[Dog speed dating] will be a lot of fun and a great opportunity," says Daniels.

Contact Kirsten Ballard at kirsten@thepilot.com.