Westin Charlotte partners with the Humane Society to roll out the red carpet for rescue dogs

The Take Me Home Tonight shelter dog adoption program kicked off yesterday with a red carpet welcome for Wink, a 10-year-old chihuahua looking for a home and available for adoption through the Humane Society.

Westin staff members were there to greet Wink with his own bed, bowls and a collar. Many of them will also be volunteering for dog watch shifts to keep an eye on the four-legged guest around the hotel until he’s adopted.

Wink seemed overwhelmed by the welcome but is in for an exciting adventure. He’ll be allowed to go anywhere in the hotel except the restaurant, but the goal is to get him in front of guests who will hopefully adopt him. His kennel will be set up at the check-in so he can greet guests as they arrive and he’ll even be available for overnight visits.

While it’s entirely possible Wink will land a home with one of the local Westin Charlotte employees, he is also cleared for take off and could fly to a new faraway home with an out of town guest (pending adoption application approval).

According to Humane Society of Charlotte CEO Shelly Moore, once Wink is adopted another dog will come in to take his place. This cycle and partnership with the hotel will continue indefinitely. “We are grateful to the Westin for taking the lead in this innovative way to find new homes for shelter animals and help one of their guests find a new best friend,” she said.

According to a press release from the Humane Society, the Take Me Home Tonight program was modeled after a similar initiative at the Aloft Hotel downtown Asheville, a Westin property.

The Humane Society of Charlotte rehomes an average 52 animals per week. In 2013, 2,715 dogs and cats found new homes and another 11,000+ were spayed or neutered to prevent overpopulation and more animals on the streets without homes. The Take Me Home Tonight partnership with the Westin is an innovative way to draw attention to the important work they do.