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<p>FRANKLIN TWP. &#8212; Blue Chip Farm Animal Refuge will roll out an Adopt-A-Kennel program in January.</p><p>The initiative is a new way for the public to help fund the no-kill shelter, said Cordie Braun, a volunteer at the refuge.</p><p>&#8220;We have so many people that want to be involved but do not have the time to volunteer,&#8221; Braun said. &#8220;This gives them an opportunity to be involved.&#8221;</p><p>Blue Chip Farm Animal Refuge, located on Lockville Road, is a nonprofit animal shelter that relies on volunteers and donations to care for a variety of homeless pets.</p><p>Currently, 19 dogs and 125 cats are housed at the facility.</p><p>Starting Jan. 1, the Adopt-A-Kennel program will give families or companies the opportunity to adopt one of 13 kennels for $500 or one of four puppy birthing rooms for $1,000, Braun said. The adopter will be assigned to a kennel for a year and have a plaque with their name posted on that kennel.</p><p>The fee is designed to defray the costs of food, supplies, veterinary care, heat and care for the canine or canines who will reside within that kennel throughout the year.</p><p>&#8220;It costs about $20 per day for the average dog,&#8221; Braun said. &#8220;It (Adopt-A-Kennel) does not cover all the costs, but it will help.&#8221;</p><p>Some canines require extra medical care that can range between $175,000 to $200,000, she said.</p><p>These expenses are never recovered through adoption fees.</p><p>Instead, the reward for the volunteers is when the dog finds a forever home.</p><p>&#8220;To adopt a dog is $150,&#8221; Braun said. &#8220;Puppies that are a year old and younger cost $300 each.&#8221;</p><p>Canine adoptions happen frequently, Braun said.</p><p>&#8220;We had over 700 dogs adopted this year,&#8221; said Marge Bart, founder of Blue Chip Farm Animal Refuge.</p><p>Adopt-A-Kennel participants will be informed monthly about the dog housed in their kennel and share in the joy when the dog finds a home, Braun said.</p><p>The program is already gaining interest from area businesses.</p><p>Peter and Judy Steve, owners of Ideaworks Marketing in Wyoming, were the first to adopt a kennel.</p><p>The couple visited the shelter several times, looking to adopt a hypoallergenic dog.</p><p>&#8220;We were impressed with the loving care Blue Chip provides,&#8221; Judy Steve said.</p><p>The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins hockey team also adopted two kennels, Braun said.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Tyler Steve and his mom, Judy, center, visit Ivy, a Coonhound mix, at Blue Chip Farms in Dallas Tuesday. Blue Chip Farms volunteer Cordie Braun is pictured at right. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/web1_bluechipfarms01.jpg</photo0><caption0>Tyler Steve and his mom, Judy, center, visit Ivy, a Coonhound mix, at Blue Chip Farms in Dallas Tuesday. Blue Chip Farms volunteer Cordie Braun is pictured at right. </caption0><photoCredit0>Pete Wilcox | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/web1_bluechipfarms02.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Jahah, a Black Lab mix, plays with a tennis ball in a kennel at Blue Chip Farms in Dallas. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/web1_bluechipfarms02.jpg</photo1><caption1>Jahah, a Black Lab mix, plays with a tennis ball in a kennel at Blue Chip Farms in Dallas. </caption1><photoCredit1>Pete Wilcox | Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/web1_bluechipfarms03.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Blue Chip Farms owner Marge Bart and Ivy, a Coonhound mix. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/web1_bluechipfarms03.jpg</photo2><caption2>Blue Chip Farms owner Marge Bart and Ivy, a Coonhound mix. </caption2><photoCredit2>Pete Wilcox | Times Leader </photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/web1_bluechipfarms04.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Ivy&#8217;s litter of puppies at Blue Chip Farms in Dallas. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/web1_bluechipfarms04.jpg</photo3><caption3>Ivy&#8217;s litter of puppies at Blue Chip Farms in Dallas. </caption3><photoCredit3>Pete Wilcox | Times Leader </photoCredit3></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Eileen Godin</p><p>egodin@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta><p>To Adopt-A-Kennel at Blue Chip Farm</p><p>Animal Refuge visit <a href="http://www.bluechipfarmanimalrefuge.org">www.bluechipfarmanimalrefuge.org</a>.</p></factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Eileen Godin at 570-991-6387 or on Twitter @TLNews.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Adopt-A-Kennel at Blue Chip Farm Animal Refuge offers public an opportunity to help