LAKE PLACID — The Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort, a 165-room hotel situated along the shore of Mirror Lake in Lake Placid, has a soft spot for pet guests. Each year the pet-friendly resort that welcomes dogs, cats and even a pig, donates 10 percent of all pet fees to a local humane society or animal-related charity of their favorite pet-guest’s choice.

Owner and General Manager Jennifer Holderied decided to ask a favorite pet-guest to choose where this year’s percentage, which tallied to $4,412 would be donated. Having just visited the Adirondack Wildlife Refuge in Wilmington, guests Howard and Doreen Faver, who frequently bring their dogs Spikey and Maple to Golden Arrow, suggested the proceeds benefit the sanctuary and rehabilitation center.

On Thursday Nov. 8, Holderied met with Adirondack Wildlife Refuge owners Wendy and Steve Hall to present a check and tour the facility. A pileated woodpecker that had been rehabilitated by the team at the wildlife refuge was released to commemorate the occasion.

“This is an amazing amount of money for our cause,” said Wendy Hall. “We can do so much for our animals.”

“The recipient of the pet fee donation alternates each year,” said Holderied. “One year we pick a local animal nonprofit such as the Tri-Lakes Humane Society and in the alternate year we pick our favorite ‘pet guests’ and allow them to designate the charity of their choice. This is the first time that the guest has chosen a local recipient.

“The Adirondack Wildlife Refuge is such a unique organization, providing both education on the wildlife here and rehabilitation for them. I can’t imagine a more deserving or grass roots organization. I was excited to learn that money will be put towards making their organization more efficient and sustainable. It seems our principles are in alignment with theirs.”

Located at 977 Springfield Road in Wilmington on 50 acres along the West Branch of the AuSable River, the Adirondack Wildlife Refuge is a nonprofit organization dedicated to wildlife rehabilitation and education.