Dog day afternoon

Columbia - David Goode-Cross went out for a pizza last May and found his dream dog — Mickey.

“I fell in love with him immediately,” said Goode-Cross, a 32-year-old doctoral student at MU.

Goode-Cross saw Mickey outside Treats Unleashed, 1400 Forum Blvd., with several other dogs on display from Columbia Second Chance and eventually took the 6-year-old cocker spaniel home.

Goode-Cross brought Mickey to Second Chance Adoption Center’s dog wash, which cost $5 per dog, Saturday afternoon in downtown Columbia. The event, held from noon to 4 p.m., celebrated the opening of the Second Chance Adoption Center, 205 E. Ash St. The center will offer potential pet owners adoption resources such as brochures as well as a chance to meet pets that are up for adoption.

“I am tickled with the number of people that have showed up,” said Carol Utterback, 40, who is on the pet adoption group’s board of directors.

Much of the money raised at Saturday’s event will help Second Chance pets that need veterinary care.

Utterback said Second Chance hopes to hold a similar event each year to celebrate the anniversary of the adoption center’s opening.

Laurelle Sparling holds Shasta, a cocker spaniel up for adoption at Second Chance. Funds were collected for a surgery Shasta needs.   ¦  ALISON HODGSON/Missourian

The new pet adoption center for Columbia Second Chance includes a large room with fenced in areas and crates for dogs. The new facility also has a room just for cats, and plenty of storage for the donated food and supplies. The center plans to be open a few days a week and every Saturday, depending on volunteers' availability to staff.   ¦  ALISON HODGSON/Missourian