VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT

Denise Cross goes the extra mile to care for canines

Denise Cross and her dog Joe Boy.

WHITE LAKE — Denise Cross is an angel to dogs who can only speak through the sadness in their eyes or the happiness in the wagging of their tails. 

Cross is a volunteer with A Shelter Friend, she is a member of the Bladen County Animal Control board and now she and her business, The Barking Lot, have joined with the Bladen County Chapter of the American Cancer Society to hold an event in October, —Bark for Life—, a canine event to fight cancer. All the money raised from this event will go towards the Bladen County Relay for Life.    

But more than anything she understands the health needs of dogs. She makes sure each of the ‘babies’ (as she likes to call them) are treated with the up most care to the dog’s health. Cross said, “it is not about making money it’s about the care of the animal and understanding the environmental impact on the babie. People should want to be educated with the knowledge necessary to care for their pets. Dogs can become stressed from heat as well as cold, they should give their pet the same care they would to their children.”

“All this began the year Johnathan (her son) went off to college. I realized it wouldn’t be long before me and Ray would become empty-nesters,” Cross said. 

Then her husband suggested she take a dog-grooming class at Bladen Community College stating, “I think you will enjoy it, especially as much as you love these animals.” Cross not only took the pet-grooming class she enrolled in a 36-week Bible class at the Elizabethtown Presbyterian Church with strong faith that this transition in life would be filled. Her volunteer work had began, in the garage of her White Lake home. 

When she first started grooming friends and neighbor’s dogs they attempted to pay her, and she would have no part of it. She asked them to purchase a large bag of dog food and she would make sure it went to where it was needed. 

As I interviewed her she was at her desk and, lying on a sofa next to her was Joe Boy, a mixed-breed dog she had gotten from the shelter three years ago. She and Joe Boy took me on the guided tour of her business with Joe Boy throwing the latch on every gate, and opening every door — if only dogs could talk. 

Cross was also taken by surprise with my interview, she had gotten only a few hours sleep the night before because she and other volunteers had rescued a pet from a neglected environment. Cross stated, “People call me all the time in need of advice on how to approach someone who is crewel to a dog or a neighborhood animal that is being mistreated.”

Cross and her family, (Dr. Ray Cross, their sons Johnathan and Josh) only, have 18 babies at their home and many more throughout the extended family.  

“We are the lucky ones, to show these animals they don’t have to be treated badly.” Cross said with tears welting up in her eyes, “they just need to be shown a caring and loving environment. I like to do for the animals, but I don’t want any recognition, it’s about making the community better.”

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by Jenny Hayes- Carroll, jenny@bladenjournal.com