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Publisher Brian Foster brian@lowcountrydog.com Chief Canine Officer Peanut peanut@lowcountrydog.com Copy Editor Chelsea Salerno chelsea@lowcountrydog.com Social Media Manager Alyssa Helms alyssa@lowcountrydog.com Canine Correspondent Lovey Staff Writers Hali Selert Fern Wooden Jeanne Taylor Photographers Southern Vintage Photography Jeanne Taylor Photography Web and Design Consultant Laura Olsen Contributing Writers Elora Paskoski Liza Martin
For advertising and media inquiries please email contact@lowcountrydog.com
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Cover and above photo by Jeanne Taylor Photography
We believe that our dogs are our best friends, and that’s why we need a reliable source to turn to for information on all things “dog” in our community. Our mission is to be the number one Charleston area resource for dog owners regarding regional dog-centric and dog-welcoming events, health & wellness information, dog training, trends, and local news. We also strive to be a mouthpiece to the public for various Lowcountry-based pet nonprofits, and we promote pet adoption and other responsible pet care practices. Founded in Charleston, South Carolina in 2005 as a print magazine, we re-launched in 2015 as “Charleston’s Digital Dog Magazine.” We continue our mission to be the best dog friendly resource in the Lowcountry.
the lowcountry’s dog magazine since 2005!
In this issue
6 12 16 bumpy start on the road to 22 aforever 30 32 34 38
SIT, STAY... BEHAVE: It’s ‘Crate’ to be Trained HEALTH & WELLNESS: Heartworm Disease: A First-Hand Experience FEATURE STORY: Better Insured Than Sorry
LOCAL DOG EVENTS
IN THE NEWS
Rescue Spotlight: Eunoia Rescue GO GREEN: Adopt A Recycled Dog!
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Fe ral , Fo ster, Forever ! ! !
Peanut 's P O I N T
O F
V I E W
It sounds crazy to say, but we have officially added another family member to the Lowcountry Dog Pack! Our awesome Social Media Manager and staff writer, and probably my favorite person in the whole world has finally gone from a foster mom to a dog mom! Isn’t a foster fail the sweetest thing ever? I remember when my dad did that back in 2010 with my sister, Calliope. Oh how time flies. I wanted to tell the readers about Lovey, our new Canine Correspondent in training, about her background, and how she won everyone’s heart. Lovey was born July 5th, 2021 and made her way to Lancaster SPCA at the beginning of November and to Alyssa and her roommate, Jerrell - who also loves me and wishes I could stay at their place all the time - on December 1st, 2021 after Carolina Haven Rescue pulled her a few days before. That was the best day of her life and she didn’t even know. But that leaves a five month gap as a stray for the first five months of her puppy life. Who knows what that wild child was doing, but she has been fearful of all people since day one so something traumatizing for sure.
knew I was foster-failing when I couldn’t imagine her starting over with anyone else.” She’s always been spoiled as Alyssa and Jerrell’s foster pup, and she has gained a lot of trust with them in the last 4 months! She’s almost fully potty trained and knows how to sit, and is working on “come” and “lay down”, she walks well on the leash and is even good off-leash around her mom. She loves to play with dogs and run at the dog park, bully sticks, treats, and destroying toys. Alyssa says she gets her name for a reason. Personally, I’m still trying to figure that out. I go find one of my hiding spots when she visits LCD Headquarters. She always steals my bed and is a little rowdy if I’m being honest. She just wants to play and plays like a big dog. Did we mention she’s in training?
So here’s a recap: I’m not sure how I feel about Alyssa says, “She was so little and cute and very her, she’s scared of: people, public, dumpsters, popular when I took her places, but we knew she cars, and any loud noise or fast, big movements, would be one of the harder to get adopted fosters she barks or practically screams at everyone who we’ve had. I also wanted to keep her after one comes up the stairs or anywhere near her mom’s week. We changed her name from Lili to Lovey very condo, Lovey now thinks she owns the condo, and quickly, too. She was timid, and still is because of has turned it into an obstacle course, but we love her past, and it’s been a very slow process, but I her. ■ 5 www.lowcountrydog.com
T R A I N I N G
It’s “Crate” to be Trained Proper Crate Training is Beneficial When Done Correctly WRITTEN BY: LIZA MARTIN, Contributing Writer
Destroyed plush toys. Gnawed blankets. Chewed furniture. Fear, anxiety, stress. Sam Parker and her fiancé James Montgomery of West Ashley were unsure how to help their rescue dog Sawyer, a six-year-old lab mix, so they bought a crate for their 60-pound furry friend that they have had for nine months. “He has some destructive tendencies and a bit of separation disorder. The crate definitely helps,” Parker said, before adding that Sawyer’s destructive habits may have been linked to the fact he’s a rescue animal and the couple wasn’t sure how or if he had been trained. Sawyer could destroy anything inside his crate — even the crate itself. Parker and Montgomery realized quickly something needed to change. The couple removed all bedding and other distractions except a solid toy.
“Sawyer loves (his crate) now because I put a Kong toy in there, so he thinks it’s a treat to go in,” she explained. “Then it becomes his safe space.” Jillian Lungrin, a 10-year professional certified trainer and owner of Canine Coastal Academy stated that, “A dog is a responsibility, and should be cared for and maintained. All dogs should be crate trained.” In addition to being a safe and secure space for your dog, their crate will assist with stress, travel, sickness, emergencies, and messes. There are various approaches, options, and opinions as to how to properly crate train within the training field. Certified trainer Lungrin suggests a toy, food, or bedding can be beneficial in creating a safe, comfortable haven for your dog, and should never be used as a punishment. She also recommended the dog have access to proper exercise, exploring the outdoors, and any other outlet that gives them a sense of purpose. “Whatever the dog needs to be comfortable will help them better with crate training,” Lungrin said. “It all comes down to responsibility…and knowing your dog.” However, Samantha Ashby, a professional and national canine certified trainer with Fathom K9, suggests omitting anything from the crate such as toys, bedding, or other objects that could potentially harm your dog. Ashby suggests beginning training immediately after you bring home your new addition. She suggests not leaving a puppy in its crate for more than a few hours at first. “It must be a safe space emotionally but also physically,” the 10-year trainer said. Ashby explained for some dogs — especially ones that enjoy chewing on objects or bedding — these seemingly benign additions can cause choking
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T R A I N I N G
“Your animal should only be able to stand, sit, and turn around” or if ingested, digestive issues, some that can be life-threatening or even deadly. The crate should only be used for security, she explained, reiterating that it should never be used as punishment. “To be comfortable in its appropriate-sized crate, your animal should only be able to stand, sit, and turn around to avoid potential messes.” Ashby added. Ashby says “you’ve got to know your dog” so you can acknowledge when it can be safely free of its crate, especially at night and typically when the dog is fully potty trained. “It’s all about patience,” Ashby said. “And consistency, and putting in the time. It’s worth it for you and your dog.” If you or any dog owner have questions or issues regarding safe, secure, and comfortable crate training, contact a local and certified professional trainer. ■
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H E A L T H
&
W E L L N E S S
Heartworm Disease: A First-Hand Experience
WRIT TEN BY ELORA PASKOSKI, LV T, E a s t C o o p e r A n i m a l H o s p i t a l Contributing Writer
If you’re from the south and own a dog, then you have likely heard of heartworm disease. Veterinarians stress the importance of prevention at every visit, but until you have experienced this first-hand, you may not truly understand the severity. April is National Heartworm Prevention Awareness Month, and in honor of preventing this fatal diagnosis, I’d like to share my own experience.
given deep in the epaxial muscle (ouch!), and we monitor them closely for adverse reactions. The injection, melarsomine,contains arsenic and has a very narrow margin of safety. Possible side effects include everything from vomiting and diarrhea to anaphylaxis, pulmonary thromboembolism and even death.
As a Vet Tech in South Carolina, the amount of cases I have seen are unimaginable, but some of the hardest cases I’ve ever experienced were with my own dogs. I had 4 heartworm positive dogs at the same time, all pulled from local shelters. Three of my dogs went through the American Heartworm Society’s treatment protocol but one was too unwell to even go through the recommended treatment. The treatment began with an antibiotic for 30 days and a dose of heartworm prevention. The antibiotic kills the Wolbachia bacteria which then reduces inflammation and worm mass. The heartworm prevention eliminates juvenile stages of heartworms to prevent them from maturing into adult heartworms. This was the easiest part of heartworm treatment for us.
They began a short dose of pain medication to help with the inevitable discomfort of the treatment plus a steroid to reduce inflammation. If you’ve ever had a dog on steroids, you know how taxing it can be. Steroids can cause increased thirst and urination, a ravenous appetite, and behavioral changes in pets. I had extremely hungry dogs, an exorbitant amount of potty breaks and accidents to clean up, and a very challenging time keeping everyone as calm as possible. Keeping dogs calm during heartworm treatment is imperative to their treatment outcome. We had to ensure their heart rates stayed low, when decomposing worms could be in their bloodstream, so they didn’t face any grave complications. At this point all of the dogs were on strict crate rest and even needed additional anti-anxiety medications. They had to be crated and leash walked for 30 days after their first injection. And after 30 days, we had to do it all again.
After the antibiotic was given for 30 days, they were hospitalized for the day to receive their first of three adulticide injections. The injection is
During the second visit, we had to give one injection and follow up with a second injection 24 hours later. They restarted their pain medication and
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Prednisone for another 30 days. That meant 30 more days of crate rest and leash walks, 30 more days of additional potty breaks and accidents to clean up, and 30 more days of ravenous, moody dogs. It was a lot to handle but the worst part was knowing that they didn’t know why this was happening to them. They didn’t understand why they were in pain, why they had to be crated all the time, and that we were trying to help them. It was absolutely heartbreaking for us to witness and handle emotionally. Not every heartworm treatment will have complex side effects, but every heartworm treatment takes a hefty toll on the pets and their owners. Every heartworm treatment is costly, every heartworm treatment is time consuming, but every heartworm treatment is preventable. Heartworm prevention should be given every month to keep your dogs safe and healthy. I share my story not to scare you, but to help prevent any other owner or pet from having to go through the same thing (or worse). So please, in honor of Heartworm Prevention Awareness Month, make sure your furbaby is on heartworm prevention year round and tested yearly. Heartworm disease is terrible but prevention is simple! ■
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H E A L T H
&
W E L L N E S S
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F E A T U R E
S T O R Y
Better Insured Than Sorry
WRIT TEN BY: JEANNE TAYLOR, Staff Writer
We all dread the unknown when it comes to our pets, but the reality is things happen that are out of our control. Maybe Fluffy escapes your yard and loses in an altercation with a neighbor dog, or worse, meets with the front-end of a vehicle on your street. Maybe there is a challenging diagnosis that comes out of nowhere during a routine vet visit. These unknowns are hard enough to consider – but what about the costs of emergency care or specialty services when our pets need them? On average, a car strike case can run into the thousands for the initial critical care and hospital stay time and medications, as well as the followup veterinary visits, cast changes, x-rays and other diagnostics if there were internal injuries, for example. Emergency surgery to clear an obstruction can cost several thousands of dollars as well. A surprise diagnosis of cancer in a young pet especially can create a huge financial hardship and in some cases will force pet guardians to make a decision about what they can and are willing to afford. In 2021, pet cancer treatment and therapies averaged several thousand dollars, according to Care Credit. It can be a staggering expense for the un- or underprepared.
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I have never personally met a veterinarian who became an animal healer to make money, but they do have expenses that must be covered to be able to keep caring for our pets – staffing, clinic or hospital space, utilities, insurance, diagnostic equipment and supplies, medications and preparations, continuing education, taxes, and license fees – the list goes on, as it does with every business. Yet we somehow expect our veterinarians to shoulder the expense burdens to give us lower rates. It simply doesn’t work that way. So, what’s the solution? PET INSURANCE! Unless you are prepared to create and maintain a substantial and ongoing savings account throughout your pet’s life, this is a solid option for ensuring if and when you need extensive – and expensive – care, you will be positioned to afford it. While we have had pet insurance through one carrier since 2015 and were always satisfied with the company and the turnaround on claims (which were limited, thankfully), a recent and unsubstantiated spike in premiums caused me to research options. It was, at times, a frustrating and confusing process trying to assemble comparison items and decide which plan is right for our pets and our situation. There are several plan types to review – wellness plans with add-ons, accident and illness coverage and more. I would suggest first asking yourself what is your main concern? Is it that your senior has a pre-existing condition? Are you more interested in just a wellness plan with a chain provider where you can have your annual preventive expenses at least mostly covered? Is it both? Do you prefer a higher deductible and a lower monthly premium? Is it all of the above? So many things to think about! I did switch providers this year and in doing so, reduced our premium slightly, decreased our deductible considerably for each dog, and DOUBLED our annual maximum cap while keeping the reimbursement percentage the same. Since our main concern would be a catastrophic event, this is the plan composition we found works well for us. Our new carrier is Lemonade and in
addition to favorable policy terms and rates, what I appreciate also is they DONATE unused premiums to nonprofits rather than corporate pockets! THINGS TO KNOW. Insurance is always a shared risk so even though your pet may be gloriously healthy, your premiums won’t be solely based on your pet and their history. Wellness plans may not make sense in some cases so be sure you really dig in and understand what yours means. As an example, we are diligent about our pets’ annual visits and heartworm prevention. With our prior carrier, we paid $250 under an annual Wellness Plan, in addition to our “major medical” coverage. What that meant was we could spend up to $250 at the vet on wellness visits, vaccines and heartworm preventives and the carrier would reimburse us up to $250. Here’s the head-scratcher: we paid $250 for the wellness coverage, then had to pay $250 to a veterinarian to get $250 reimbursed. So, we essentially gave them $250 a year as a tip! Once we realized it, we canceled that portion of our coverage, and when we explained why we no longer wanted that, the company representative agreed it was not an effective use of funds. Lesson learned – really be aware of the math! Many carriers have discounts available, so it never hurts to ask the question. Pro tip: also inquire of your veterinary practice what discounts they offer clients – many have senior or military or even multi-pet discounts too – you just have to ask! For those not inclined to incur a monthly debt for pet insurance, know that you may have options at your veterinarian’s office should the need arise for critical or otherwise expensive services. Care Credit is a credit card that can be used for veterinary services and while the interest rate is higher (double-digits), this is an option many people exercise. Some practices also offer payment plans. The bottom line is I would sell everything I own to care for my pets, but with pet insurance on my side, I am confident it won’t come to that.■
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a bumpy start on the road to forever story and photography by Jeanne Taylor
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C O V E R
S T O R Y
“I want to have my babies in a shelter,” said no dog ever.
Yet, on December 27, 2021, that’s just what Vida did. This beautiful young female landed herself at Berkeley Animal Center on Christmas Eve when her humans lost their housing. She was scared and confused – hormonal – and in a new place filled with the barks of other dogs she could hear but couldn’t see. She was stressed for certain and just three days later, shelter staff came to work to find seven new intakes had joined them overnight. As you can imagine, a shelter is no place for newborn puppies or a nursing mother. Neonates are at risk for contagion especially and no matter how clean the shelter is, this is always a concern with new animals coming in daily. Thus began the networking to find a foster who could manage an entire family and give Vida and her babies a safe space to grow until they became adoptable. Two words that always inspire relief among shelter staff and volunteers: FOSTER FOUND.
I had the honor of transporting Vida to her new foster in Mount Pleasant. Kristin Villa, a local pet community staple, business owner (Ziggy’s Dog Parlor and Ziggy’s Villa) and friend, who is very experienced with these situations and was happy to bring Vida and her babies into their quiet new digs. Allowing Vida to decompress was the first order of business as she cared for newborns. What many don’t realize is that the first couple of weeks of a new litter in this world are basically a cakewalk. The mother does all the work, the feeding and cleaning and monitoring. The foster really just needs to ensure babies are gaining weight and appear healthy and that the mother dog is eating well, thriving, and the family has a clean living space. The few weeks that follow start to require a little more effort with cleanup and eventually feeding, sure, but overall, it’s a relatively easy proposition with an incredible emotional return on investment. There aren’t things more heartwarming than watching baby animals grow and be adopted into loving homes.
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Fosters make this possible. Shelters and rescues locally are in desperate need of foster support for these situations as well as many others, including medical cases, high-energy dogs, seniors, or animals who simply aren’t doing well in the noisy shelter environment. The custodial shelter or rescue will typically provide all of the tools a foster would need to be successful – food, supplies, bedding, toys, treats, and veterinary care. Foster homes provide a temporary but soft place for a pet (or pets) to land, and the opportunity for them to become their best self so they can move on to their forever homes. YOU can be a part of this life-changing process. If you would like to try your hand at fostering, please reach out to any of our local groups, whether shelter or private foster-based rescue. While they had a rough start, this litter also had the best possible ending as all the puppies have since been placed in their forever homes. At this writing, Vida is now available to a loving home as well. You can contact Berkeley Animal Center to schedule a time to meet her if you would like to bring this special girl into your home. I visited this litter weekly at Ziggy’s Villa, photographing their growth and documenting their journey to forever homes. Take a moment to enjoy their progression – I know I did.
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C O V E R
S T O R Y
In the first week of a puppy’s life, their eyes are not open yet. They find their way around and to their mom by smell. Mom is responsible for feeding, cleaning and keeping their body temperatures warm.
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Luckily, these puppies had their momma, Vida, to nurse them and care for them in addition to their amazing foster mom. Many newborns end up at shelters with no mother or their mother rejected them, causing for round-the-clock care in foster care or rescue for the first few weeks. Most puppies’ eyes open between day 12 and day 14. Standing seems to be easy, it’s the staying up part that needs practice. They are entering their third week of life, so they will only become more animated from this point. So this may be the last smiling group shot. Each day they get just a bit heavier, their eyes and ears are open, their ears are beginning to flop a bit instead of sticking straight out from their heads and their personalities are coming into focus.
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C O V E R
S T O R Y
At three weeks, they are standing and walking easily! Barking, howling and growling and play time has started! Plus they are getting their baby teeth! OUCH! At four and five weeks old they are big enough to venture outside the walls of their little puppy den. Their immune systems have finally caught up with their desire for lots of space to play. The need a safe place to play so they won’t be exposed to anything dangerous for puppies. Dog parks and other public places are still out until they have had all of their vaccinations, which they get their first round at 6 weeks old. By eight weeks old they have had two rounds of vaccinations and are big enough for adoption.
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Local Dog Events 0 4 / 0 1 / 2 02 2 Ado pti o n Eve nt fo r B e r ke l e y An i mal Ce nte r C a rol i n a L i f e Real Esta t e, 3pm 0 4 / 0 4 / 2 02 2 Ya ppy Ho ur fo r Ki nd Kee p e r T i dal Creek B rew ho use, 5 pm
LOW CO UNTRY DO G EVENTS 202 2 0 4 /0 9 /2 02 2 Lowcoun tr y Dogapalo oza Hanah an A m ph ith eater, 12 to 6 p m 05/15/2 02 2 Lowcoun tr y Dog ’s May t he Dogs Be With You Festival Tattooed Moose Park Circ le 2 to 6 p m
0 4 / 1 0 / 2 02 2 Outdo o r M ovi e Ni ght with B e r ke l e y An i mal Ce nte r Cyp ress G a rd e ns, 7 pm
0 6/0 4 /2 02 2 Lowcoun tr y Dog Days o f Summer Location T BD
0 4 / 1 2 / 2 02 2 D o g Day Tuesday at Cha r l eston R ive rdo gs Jo e R i l ey Stad i um, r iverdo gs. co m f or t i c ke t s
1 0 /0 8/2 02 2 Woofstock 2 02 2 : A l owcoun tr y Dog Music Festival featurin g Lit! Hanah an A m ph ith eater, 12 to 7 p m
0 4 / 2 1 / 2 02 2 Ya ppy Ho ur at Wa n na make r Park, 5 : 30 pm
1 1 /0 6/2 02 2 Lowcoun tr y Dog ’s D ia D e Los Perros Festival Location T B D
0 4 / 23/ 2 02 2 P i tche rs & Pi nts fo r Pet Hel p e rs Mex 1 Co a stal Ca nt in a , Pa rk West , 11am 05 / 03/ 2 02 2 D og Day Tuesday at Cha r l eston R ive rdo gs Jo e R i l ey Stad i um, r iverdo gs. co m f or t i c ke t s 05 / 05 / 2 02 2 Yappy Ho ur at Wa n na make r Park, 5 : 30 pm 0 4 / 2 1 / 2 02 2 Ya ppy Ho ur at James I sl a n d Coun ty Park, 5 : 30 pm 05 / 17 / 2 02 2 D og Day Tuesday at Cha r l eston R ive rdo gs Jo e R i l ey Stad i um, r iverdo gs. co m f or t i c ke t s 05 / 2 4 / 2 02 2 D o g Day Tuesday at Cha r l eston R ive rdo gs Jo e R i l ey Stad i um, r iverdo gs. co m f or t i c ke t s
Ch eck out our Events page for e ve n more local events and to ch eck fo r date changes. w ww.lowcountr ydog.com/ events
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In The News Dog abandoned for being ‘gay’ is adopted by samesex couple The North Carolina couple adopted 5-year-old Fezco after his previous owner dumped him at an animal shelter for humping another male dog. The dog who made national headlines this month after being abandoned by his owners for being “gay” has been adopted, by a same-sex couple.
Slash’s New Single is Written From the Perspective of Myles Kennedy’s Dog Kennedy has a Shih Tzu named Mozart, who, according to the singer, acts a lot more intimidating than he is. One time when he was headed home, his flight was delayed because of a storm. Through a video camera system that Kennedy has at his house to keep an eye on Mozart when he isn’t there, he noticed the pup panicking during the storm, as many dogs do. The single, Fill My World, is written from Mozart’s point of view.
Pet Brand Will Donate $10K to Animal Rescues Each Time Power of the Dog Is Said at 2022 Oscars Power of the Dog, Jane Campion’s western drama starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Kirsten Dunst, is set to have the power to change the lives of countless canines. In a press release, Pawp — a 24/7 support system for pet parents — announced their plan to turn the 94th annual Academy Awards into one of the top animal charity events of the year — through the Power of the Dog.
Click images above to read the full story. For more top stories, visit www.lowcountrydog.com/top-stories
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WRITTEN BY: A LY S S A H E L M S , Social Media Manager
I am sure we have all thought about how much time, effort, and money is required and needed to run an animal rescue, keep it running, and make it successful. Hali Selert is the new president of Eunoia Rescue and is dedicated to saving animals’ lives by pulling them from local shelters, finding suitable foster homes, and placing them in their forever homes. Hali was the very first foster for Eunoia Rescue. She slowly took on more and more responsibility over the years and adopted her pittie, Winnie, from Eunoia in 2016. Rescue work is not always easy. Lowcountry Dog Magazine has been involved with Eunoia from the very start in a number of ways. We partner with Eunoia through countless adoption events, fostering dozens of dogs, helping with transportation, donating and raising money, promoting and more…Lowcountry Dog is proud to know this relationship has resulted in quite a few happy tails and that rewarding feeling is what rescue is all about. Almost everyone at Lowcountry Dog past and present has either fostered, volunteered, or adopted from Eunoia Rescue. Alicia Williams, a friend and former writer for the magazine, founded Eunoia Rescue back in September of 2015. In the spring of 2021, Alicia stepped down from this massively responsible job and passed the torch to Hali. Hali juggles countless daily tasks for the rescue– she manages the rescue’s social media and website, oversees intakes, handles adoptions, coordinates medical appointments, and so many other things. Hali and many others in rescue
Hali Selert, President of Eunoia Rescue
organizations also have day jobs. When she’s not working as a criminal defense attorney or juggling rescue tasks, she’s spending time with her two pups, Winnie and Ripley, and her fiance, Tal. Running a rescue means dealing with the non-stop duties the rescue may demand and always being on-call. If Hali - or anyone on the planet - had to do this all alone it would be impossible. She couldn’t do it without Vice President Nicki Shriver and Foster Coordinator Avery Ivey, who help handle the dayto-day operations of Eunoia. Also along for the ride is Rachel Ballenger who manages supplies and donations; Leslie Rider, who is the medical guru of the bunch; Hollie Xu, who keeps track of registering microchips; Lenzee Newman; who coordinates getting the photos and biographies for available animals together; Mackenzie Ivey, who is the rescue’s photographer; and many, many more people who step up to make sure Eunoia is running as efficiently as possible! Not to mention the countless foster families who house Eunoia’s animals; puppies, seniors, recovering medical cases, and hospice dogs – they take in as many as they can fit, actively care for, and love. Eunoia is a foster-based rescue organization and got its name from the definition behind it. Eunoia is a Greek word that means “beautiful thinking” and was used by Aristotle to refer to an indefinable feeling of goodwill and kindness that emanates from certain
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people, much like the feelings of those behind Eunoia Rescue and all of their fosters and supporters willing to contribute to the saving and well being of animals, allowing the rescue to grow exponentially since 2015. Eunoia Rescue’s mission is to spare the lives of beloved dogs and cats from high-kill shelters and place them in harmonious and life-changing environments provided by foster homes, ultimately finding their forever homes. Giving one animal the chance to be in a foster home saves another animal’s life by opening that space in the shelter. Over time, being in a shelter manifests in a wide number of stressors, regardless of how amazing the shelter may be. The dogs in kennels disengage and eventually lose trust of humans and hope of a life of love. Eunoia’s purpose, along with many other rescue groups, is to give that hope back to the animals and allow them a brighter future. Generally, Eunoia Rescue takes in the overlooked and the forgotten. They pull animals from euthanasia lists at over-capacity shelters, tough medical cases, and injured animals that wouldn’t be treated and cared for by most other groups. They are also known for freeing dogs from hoarding and neglect cases. Hali says, “It can be the most rewarding to see some of the more broken ones with crazy stories find their way to their forever people.” In 2021, Eunoia was made aware of a breeding-gone-bad situation that started as two dogs. They were left to fend for themselves and over five years that number multiplied to about 130…completely taking up a small, fencedin backyard in North Carolina. Most were Pugs, a handful of Pekingese and of course some mixed of the two. They were all seized little by little and Eunoia was able to pick up seventeen of these dogs after the Eunoia foster community stepped up to help get these poor dogs spread out and back to health, after foster families were all set in place by the power of social media. It took the rescue and clinic over thirty hours to get all seventeen vetted as many had severe skin and ear infections, and nails so long they were starting to curl under and grow into their paw pads. Jess, Hali’s current long-term foster is another example of the type of dog Eunoia seeks to help. Jess came to Eunoia as a parvo survivor. Since her puppyhood was spent in an isolation ward of a shelter, she lacked proper socialization and confidence. Eunoia entrusted a “trainer” to help get Jess in a position of being adoptable. Unfortunately in April of 2021 Jess was seized along with 40 other animals from that “trainer’s” home by Kershaw County Animal Control.
In July of 2021, Eunoia Rescue helped in a hoarding case in North Carolina, 17 of the pugs and pug mixes were transported to Charleston and placed in foster homes, including one who was fostered by Lowcountry Dog.
Hali says “Jess was skin and bones, you could see every rib, every notch on her spine, her eyes were sunken in, her fur was dull. She was a dog on the verge of death,” when she first came to her. She was also much worse behaviorally than she was before training– she wouldn’t allow anyone to touch her for the first month she was at Hali’s house. After several months of both physical and mental rehabilitation, Jess was ready for actual training. Hali enlisted the help of Canine Revolution Dog Training to actually train Jess, and repair the damage that had been done with the fake trainer. Jess is now back with Hali and is getting closer and closer to being ready to find her forever home. These are just two of the most jaw-dropping, recent rescues that Eunoia has made, but every one of their stories matter. Eunoia Rescue is a pro-peace, all love, non-profit bound by kind hearts, a continuous drive to rescue, and the never ending need for it. Hali says they are extremely thankful for all of the donations and help they receive and that they will never turn down unopened bags of food, treats, beds, crates, etc. and you can also help monetarily, if you would like to donate to the health and care of Eunoia’s rescues, any amount helps. Hali also says “If you’re thinking about fostering, there is no better time than now… [fosters] are the ones who really make this possible, without them we wouldn’t have anywhere for the animals to go, so we wouldn’t be able to take animals.” If you would like to save an animal and become a part of Eunoia Rescue’s ever growing family, head to the rescue’s website to find applications to foster and adopt, and all the ways to get involved: eunoiarescue.org ■
www.lowcountrydog.com
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T H A N K
Y O U
T O
DAYCARE
O U R
R E S C U E
S P O N S O R S
BOARDING
GROOMING
1090 Jack Primus Road (Just off Clements Ferry)
Vintage Antique Edwardian Art Deco Victorian Jewelry
Lucee's Treasure Chest
10% of sales donated to local spay & neuter efforts
etsy.com/shop/LuceesTreasureChest
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Over 35 Years Experience in the Pet Industry.
One stop shop for food, treats, supplements, grooming, and self serve dog wash Certified in pet allergy and nutrition. Corn and wheat free store. Locally Owned
440 Old Trolley Road, Ste A Summerville, SC 29485 843-871-7977
www.lowcountrydog.com
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GO GREEN | ADOPT A RECYCLED DOG
PET HELPERS
C AROLINA BASSET T HOUND
THESE ADOPTABLE DOGS ARE SPONSORED BY:
C AROLINA COONHOUND
A P R I L
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BERKELEY ANIMAL CENTER
KIND KEEPER
ALL 4 PAWS
THESE ADOPTA BLE DOGS ARE SPONSORED BY:
www.lowcountrydog.com
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GO GREEN | ADOPT A RECYCLED DOG
BULLIES TO THE RESCUE
EUNOIA RESCUE
THESE ADOPTABLE DOGS ARE SPONSORED BY:
H.F HELP
A P R I L
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LAKESIDE ANIMAL RESCUE
LIBBY AND MACE’S PLACE
WATERS EDGE
THESE ADOPTA BLE DOGS ARE SPONSORED BY:
www.lowcountrydog.com
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DORCHESTER PAWS
HALLIE HILL
THESE ADOPTABLE DOGS ARE SPONSORED BY:
C AROLINA BOXER RESCUE
A P R I L
THE
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DOG PARK
AT WANNAMAKER COUNTY PARK
C H A R L E S TO N CO U N T Y PA R KS .CO M
Photo courtesy of SeamonWhiteside
www.lowcountrydog.com
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