​We’re really proud of the team we have at Abbey Carpet. Not only are they hard workers on the sales floor, many of them have a lot going on “off the field.” For instance, Scott Myers joined the Abbey team in July of 2019. When he’s not selling and managing contract sales and projects, he and his wife Kathy are rescuing animals with the organization The Feral Dogs of Avondale Mill and Friends of Sylacauga Animal Shelter.

​It all started about five years ago when Scott and Kathy noticed several dogs running around the old Avondale textile mill in Sylacauga, AL. They started feeding them and trying to capture them to get them to a rescue. As fate would have it, one day they ran into Carolyn Morse who was doing the same thing, and Feral Dogs of Avondale Mill was born.

​“That’s how it all started,” said Scott. “With just the two of them, me, and Carolyn’s husband tagging along, grabbing animals. We were out grabbing dogs and cats every day. I’ve always been an animal person, but it seemed like that day we were driving by the old mill and saw those dogs, it really grew from there.” In just the first year and half they rescued over 250 dogs, vetted them, and sent them to shelters for adoption.
 
The organization has grown to include a vast network of volunteers and shelters. Feral Dogs became such a big task that they joined forces with Sylacauga Animal Shelter and became a no-kill shelter. Volunteers often rescue animals and keep them in their own homes until space at the shelter becomes available. All animals are given medical attention, nursed back to health, and often placed with foster homes before staff connect with shelters across the country that have people waiting and ready to adopt. Scott estimates that at least a hundred dogs a month fly out in planes, as far north as New York and as far west as Texas.
 
“We really try to get them out of the state,” said Scott. “There are so many dogs that are not taken care of and thrown out on the street. A lot of them are dumped out as puppies. Alabama kind of gets a bad rap. Most of the shelters they’re sent to have a waiting list to adopt dogs. Usually by the time a dog gets to the shelter, they know it’s coming, it’s been advertised, and they’re adopted right away.”

​All animals taken in are obviously homeless. They’re malnourished, covered in fleas and ticks, often have mange, or are even pregnant or have puppies with them. Scott and Kathy recently rescued three beagle puppies on Highway 21. The pups were in bad shape and tested positive for heartworms. “They spent a little over a month in my backyard getting healthy, and then they went to an animal rescue in New Hampshire,” Scott said.

​Scott loves a good rescue story. His favorite is one of the first dogs they rescued from the mill. “It took us about eight months to catch this dog. We had already gotten the parents. We finally ended up chasing him under a house and then had to crawl under and get him. We hung onto him for about eight months before he went to a rescue shelter. We’ve since gotten pictures of him sprawled out on a couch. His name is Hunter.
​
Another time, we rescued a puppy who was just eating garbage in Sylacauga. Several months later we got a picture from the people that adopted her, and she was on her way to being a championship dog in obstacle course racing. She was really good at.”

Scott and his wife Kathy have six dogs and five cats themselves, every one of them with some sort of problem that would likely keep them from getting adopted. Their beagle, for instance, was a rescue and requires twice-daily seizure medication. They found their cat, Mew, abandoned as a kitten in a barn, and they bottle fed her for two months. She’s been with them a year and a half now.
 
“The biggest way for people to cut down on these problems is to spay and neuter,” said Scott. Animal shelters buy bulk spay and neuter certificates that can then be purchased for just $25. The animals are transported to a veterinarian in Birmingham, stay overnight, and then are brought back in the morning. We grab stray cats all the time. Cats aren’t a big commodity, but we’ll take them in, get them spayed and neutered, and then let them go. At least the population is coming down.”
 
If you’d like to help The Feral Dogs of Avondale Mill and Friends of Sylacauga Animal Shelter, they’re always in need of sponsors. Once animals are ready to be shipped for adoption, they usually go out 10-15 at a time. A sponsorship of $25 per animal is all that’s needed to help cover gas, food, and transportation. For more information or to volunteer, contact The Feral Dogs of Avondale Mill and Friends of Sylacauga Animal Shelter on Facebook and friendsofsas.org.

At Abbey carpet, we enjoy giving back to the community. This year during National Police Week (May 12-17, 2019), we served breakfast each day to our area law enforcement officers and also had a drawing to win an iPad. We had a such a great time taking goofy photos and hosting so many wonderful people. It was our privilege to get to know and serve the men and women who serve our city!

Ted’s Abbey Carpet and Floors is an excellent flooring store and so much more. We offer a wide selection of flooring and pride ourselves on professional sales people and installers that work together to give you the best buying and installation experience. Today we are going to take a look at the store through the eyes of Store Manager Kathy Gregerson.
 
What are your responsibilities as store manager?
 
As Store Manager, I not only work in sales, but I also inspect jobs to ensure installations are running smoothly. I also help make sure we are up-to-date on all the latest flooring styles and trends. I also help Ted’s Abbey Carpet and Floor stay involved in the community.
 
What is the main goal you and your coworkers strive to achieve when helping your customers?
 
Our goal at Abbey is for every customer to have a wonderful buying experience with us. We want everyone that comes into Ted's Abbey Carpet and Floor to enjoy their experience and tell everyone they know that Abbey is simply the best. We want everyone to feel confident in their purchase and know we got them the perfect product.
 
What is the product selection like, and what services do you provide for your costumers?
 
We sell and install carpet, vinyl, laminate, hardwood, LVT, WPC, tile and natural stone. The tile and stone we install includes showers, backsplashes and outdoor areas. We also install granite and quartz countertops. We will help you decorate your new home or help you remodel your existing home. We also do commercial work including hospitals, schools, hotels, colleges, apartments, etc.
 
What would you say about the quality of work Ted’s Abbey Carpet and Floors installers provide?
 
We pride ourselves on the group of installers we have working for us. Many of our installers have been with our company for 15+ years. We view them as family, and we know they will do an excellent job! We are so confident in the job they will do for you that we warrant their work for the life of the floor.
 
In your personal opinion, what is one feature of shopping at Ted's Abbey Carpet and Floor that customers most appreciate?
 
I believe one main feature our customers like about Abbey is our commitment to the customer’s experience. If you have an issue with your flooring, we resolve it promptly. We want you to enjoy your new flooring for years to come and tell everyone where you got it.
 
Come experience the Abbey difference for yourself during The Biggest Flooring Sale in History, March 1-3, 2018, from 8am-6pm. We’ll have free food and drinks and the best deals of the year! Whether you’re looking for flooring or you’re ready to remodel your kitchen or bath, we’ve got what you need!