Lowcountry Dog Magazine- August 2022

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Publisher Brian Foster brian@lowcountrydog.com Chief Canine Officer Peanut peanut@lowcountrydog.com Copy Editor Chelsea Salerno chelsea@lowcountrydog.com 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 Liza Martin Sierra Pope For advertising and media inquiries please email contact@lowcountrydog.com

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Cover and above photo by Southern Vintage Photography of our 2022 Lowcountry Dog Model Contest Winner, Wesson.

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!

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In this issue

SIT, STAY... BEHAVE: Go Ahead, Take the Lead!

HEALTH & WELLNESS: 5 Signs Your Dog Has Dental Problems FEATURE STORY: South Carolina’s Shelters Are in Crisis

LOCAL DOG EVENTS

IN THE NEWS

Rescue Spotlight: St. Frances Animal Center GO GREEN: Adopt A Recycled Dog!

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B each Etiquette for Do gs!

Peanut 's P O I N T

O F

V I E W

I love the beach as much as most pups but knowing how to act at our local beaches is very important. Every beach in the Lowcountry has different rules when it comes to dogs, so check out the beach rules before you visit, especially about off-leash and times allowed. Many beaches DO NOT allow for off-leash play and have certain times dogs are allowed during the summer months. Fines can be expensive, so know the rules before you head out.

To help you judge whether your pet is ready for an off-leash dog beach, here is some info from Lauren Novack, dog trainer and owner of Lauren’s Leash, for guidance. Check out her tips so you can be sure your that both you and your fur baby enjoy all that a dog beach has to offer.

Gauge your dog’s sociability.

The first—and most important—question to ask is whether your dog is comfortable with other dogs, especially in social and busy environments.

temperamentally sound dogs. “Don’t be the person who brings a nervous, under-socialized or aggressive dog to a crowded, off-leash dog beach, because it’s just not fun for your pet or for others.”

Be courteous.

One of the most important things to remember when going to a dog beach is that part of being a responsible dog owner means picking up after your dog. You should always have a full supply of poop bags on you, so that you can be sure that you don’t leave any messes behind.

Go over the “leave it” command.

Dogs live to sniff everything they can—and dog beaches are no exception.

“Not every dog is a social butterfly—and putting yours in a situation with lots of unknown animals can cause issues,” Novack says.

“There are many new critters and smells in these spots, including dead fish, shells and horseshoe crabs that will delight the canine senses,” Novack says.

If your pup is shy or nervous around strange dogs, a dog beach or dog park is not a good place for socialization, she adds. Instead, a reticent dog would benefit more from guided, one-on-one interactions with carefully selected,

Your dog may want to pick up, chew or roll in these new “treasures,” so a visit to the dogfriendly beach is an excellent opportunity to practice “drop it” or “leave it.” ■

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T R A I N I N G

Go Ahead, Take the Lead WRITTEN BY: LIZA MARTIN, Contributing Writer

“No matter what lead you choose, the key is to always be in control.”

That’s the professional advice from Jeff Schettler, a 59-year-old retired police officer and military canine trainer, who, since 1984 has been CEO of Georgia K9 NTC, an international, full-service canine training company with its primary locations on Edisto Island and in Canton, Georgia, as well as others and remote sites within the states and abroad.

“If you can’t handle your dog on a lead, it poses a real risk to your dog, other dogs, and people,” Schettler says, adding there are several different types of leads appropriate for dogs of all sizes, including the most popular: traditional and retractable. Most options can be found at pet stores, local retailers, canine training facilities, and online.

“I did a lot of research before I got Ranger,” Rachel Morath, 41, of West Ashley, says of her four-year-old German boxer that feels most comfortable with a traditional lead.

“I think picking out the best lead for your dog shows them that you are the alpha; who’s in

charge. It also teaches them what’s intuitive to their nature,” she says.

Using an appropriate lead for your dog’s size, breed, and temperament is essential to help your dog understand their respective role in a pack, echoes Alyssa Hathorne, 23, a former veterinarian technician and graduate with a BA in Animal Science from Clemson University, as well as a manager of doggy day care Camp Bow Wow, in Charleston.

“Choosing the right lead, especially during training, is important so that you maintain full control of the dog and any situation,” Hathorne says. “Plus, the right lead should keep you in control of your dog’s personal space, which they need identified to feel safe.”

The length, thickness, and comfort of a lead should be commensurate with the size of your dog, Schettler advises. He prefers round, traditional leads with durable hardware, and changing your lead as a puppy grows and your dog changes and ages.

“Find what you like, spend as much as you’d like, but most importantly, (the lead) must be comfortable and sturdy,” he says, adding there are options in traditional lead durability, such as leather, nylon, or biothane — a strong rubber.

“It’s not a one-size fits all,” Hathorne says, adding that other common choices include gentle leads, muzzled ones, those with harnesses, or retractable or electrical collars – these are all also options dog owners can research to understand what’s best for their pet, especially as they age.

“I’ve seen owners use different leads for different dogs or different situations. It differs from caseto-case,” Hathorne says, adding that the breed, size, age, and temperament of the dog, as well as its environment, are all factors that should be considered.

While Schettler, Morath, and Hathorne prefer traditional leads, Schettler says retractable

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T R A I N I N G

leads really are only appropriate and safe in remote areas where one is unlikely to encounter people or dogs.

“It’s easy to lose control with a retractable lead,” Schettler says. If not handled properly, a retractable lead can make it more difficult than other, safer options to stop your dog from running into the street, running to people or other dogs, or trouble.

“You can step on (to manage your dog’s distance, or to restrain, sit, or stay), a traditional lead, but you can’t do that with a retractable one,” Morath says. “You just can’t react fast enough if something happens.”

No matter the lead you choose, Schettler reminds all dog owners, that “your connection to your dog is the most important part of owning one. It’s a responsibility. And that’s why a good lead is so crucial to your connection with and control over your dog.” ■

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H E A L T H

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W E L L N E S S

5 Signs Your Dog has Dental Problems

WRITTEN BY SIERRA POPE, Contributing Writer

Dogs are there for us when we need them most.

That’s why it’s important to be proactive when it comes to their health. Dental health issues, however, can be difficult to identify because they are less visible than other health issues. In order to combat tooth decay, infections, and dental diseases in your dog, you should keep an eye out for 5 main signs your dog has dental problems.

Bad Breath If your dog has bad breath on a regular basis, there is a good chance that they have some sort of infection or disease in their mouth. The scientific name for this type of infection is called halitosis and it is one of the most common signs of dental issues in dogs of all ages. While bad breath can mean many different things, it’s never

a bad idea to take your dog to the vet for dental checkups and cleanings on a regular basis. In some cases, pet insurance plans may provide coverage for this type of care.

Bleeding or Swollen Gums Red, swollen, or bleeding gums is a definite sign of dental disease. Luckily, this is one of the easiest signs to point out with the naked eye. If your dog has any of these symptoms, make sure to seek care for them immediately to prevent permanent damage or tooth extraction.

Increased Buildup of Plaque Deposits While plaque buildup is normal in both humans and dogs, it can lead to tooth decay and gum disease if left untreated. In addition to this,

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Senior dog with gingivitis and teeth with tartar. Photo by Todorean Gabriel serious conditions like bone loss and tissue damage can also be attributed to heavy plaque buildup in a dog’s mouth. The good news is that these serious conditions can also be prevented by periodicl teeth cleanings and dental hygiene products for dogs.

Difficulty Chewing or Excessive Weight Loss If your dog appears to be in pain while chewing its food, it is most likely experiencing various dental problems including cavities and tooth decay. This can lead to other physical problems such as malnutrition and weight loss if the pain is too great for your dog to eat. If your dog shows signs of weight loss or pain while chewing, this is cause for immediate attention and it should be addressed as soon as you notice a problem.

Excessive Drooling Drooling is a normal behavior in all dogs during times of stimulation. However, excessive drooling, especially when food is nowhere to be found, can be an early sign of periodontal disease.

How Can I Protect My Dog? The best way to defend your dog against dental disease is to watch out for these signs yourself.

The earlier you spot dental disease or decay, the easier and less expensive it will be to make sure your dog gets the care it needs. Periodic checkups by a licensed veterinarian can also give you peace of mind about your dog’s dental health. In conclusion, being proactive rather than reactive is always a good practice when it comes to your dog’s health.■

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F E A T U R E

S T O R Y

South C a r o l i n a ’s Shelters Are in Crisis!

W R I T T E N BY H A L I S E L E RT, Staff Writer

If you didn’t know, now you do – South Carolina’s shelters and rescues are in a time of crisis. Adoptions and donations are lower than they have been in years, and surrenders are at an all time high. Shelters in neighboring states have started euthanizing owner surrenders upon intake based on the simple fact that animals are coming in much faster than they’re going out, and there isn’t enough room to house the ones that need sanctuary. To top it off, neglect and abuse cases are also on the rise. Add in the fact that animal welfare workers are leaving the field at astronomical rates, and it is a clear recipe for disaster. The only way to describe the situation shelters and rescues are in, is that of crisis.

We spoke with representatives of several shelters across the state to get a boots on the ground take of what is going on currently. Bobbie Comer with York County Animal Shelter, Hannah Buccini with Lancaster County Animal Shelter, and Kimberly Bartlett Coulter with A Second Chance Animal Shelter in Manning all weighed in on the climate of animal welfare. These women didn’t get to consult with one another, but the similarity in their answers is astounding. Their sobering thoughts are outlined below.

Q: How would you summarize the situation your shelter is currently in?

York: “We are facing the most challenging time

in recent history for shelters. For the first time in years, the number of pets entering the shelter exceeds those leaving.“ Lancaster: “The shelter is struggling badly. As soon as one dog leaves, another takes its place.

Many of the animals coming in are emaciated, heartworm positive and now that it’s summer time the animals are coming in loaded with fleas and ticks. We are struggling to keep up with the intake levels. Our rescue partners are struggling, adoptions are low, transports north are slowing down. We don’t have enough people stepping up and saying YES I will foster that dog so a rescue can help.”

Manning: “In the three years I have worked at ASCAS, this is the worst I have ever seen it. We currently house 85 dogs which is the max that we can shelter at one time. We do not have any open pens anywhere on our property. We get so many calls daily to take in dogs and we have to turn them down and put them on a waiting list. This is very worrisome because we don’t know what is going to happen to all these animals we have to turn away. Are they going to be just turned loose, dumped on a dirt road or worse? Dogs are barely trickling out to rescue and our adoptions have all but stopped and as soon as we get one out the space is filled right back up again within hours.

Due to COVID, our spay and neuter clinic has not

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been up and running, so we are having to take dogs that go to rescue to our local vet. This has led to an increase in our pull fee and we cannot adopt out an animal without it being altered first which has led to decreased adoptions. I feel like we are in a downward spiral that we may not make it out of.”

Q: When would you say the shift began, to make it be this bad?

York: “I think reality hit us to how bad it was when everything really started opening back late last year. We expected the adoptions to increase to match and they did not.”

Lancaster: “​​About early June is when we began to notice the biggest shift. Unwanted litters of puppies are being surrendered weekly, people who want to go on vacation are now surrendering their animals or dumping them instead of finding a safe place for them to go. Animal control continues to bring in more animals off chains that are emaciated and neglected. Let’s not talk about the amount of dumped and abandoned animals. Prices are going up and people can no longer afford to take care of their animals..”

Manning: “It seems like everything started to slow down once the world opened back up after the shutdown for Covid. Although we are not having animals that were adopted or fostered returned, the rescues that we depend on to pull dogs to their safety are which leads to them being too full to pull from shelter. This has had a devastating effect on us.”

Q: Has your shelter’s euthanasia rates gone up? Have you had to return to euthanizing for space?

York: “Yes our euthanasia rate has increased in proportion to the amount of pets we are taking in. All of the pets we have made decisions on have been for medical or behavioral reasons.

However, the difference we are seeing is that, in dogs especially, the increase in the length of stay that is happening in shelters, is causing an increase in behavior issues. Understandably

so. In addition, a couple years prior, we would have had several options for placement to work on those issues. Now, because shelters are so saturated with dogs that have no issues, we aren’t seeing any placements for dogs with even minor behavior issues.”

Lancaster: “Our last shelter reports put us at a 97% save rate. Each week we are faced with the decision to euthanize multiple dogs for space.

For the last 4 weeks we have been able to avoid it but just barely. We strive to never have to make a decision just for space. We hope that we can continue to not have to make decisions simply based on space but each week proves harder and harder to move adoptable animals out.

With intake levels being so high, we are not able to hold the dogs as long and learn about their personalities to properly network. We are given a very brief time frame to get them out before a decision has to be made.”

Manning: “We are a no kill shelter. We do not euthanize to make space. The dogs we have now we will continue to have until a rescue can pull them from us or they can be adopted out. That being said, the animal control facility for the county is a kill facility. We pull dogs from animal control when their time is up to our shelter to keep them from being euthanized. At this time, we are unable to pull dogs from AC because we have no open pens. If they fill up, lives will be in danger and we don’t have a say in it.”

Q: What do you think the biggest problem is, that has led to this happening?

York: “To me the obvious answer is the lack of spay and neuter. Our society has become so progressive in identifying issues and evolving our daily lives for the betterment of society. Yet, we keep missing the opportunity to address animal overpopulation. This is a serious issue that needs addressed throughout the country, but especially in our region.”

Lancaster: “Our throwaway society. The lack of people spaying and neutering their animals. The people who want their cute dog to have just one

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litter of puppies. The back yard breeders looking to make a quick buck. The people who want to go on vacation so they dump their animals instead of finding a safe place to board them. The people who won’t vaccinate their animals so they end up with parvo and then they refuse to treat them.

The lack of accountability. Things won’t change until our laws and ordinances do! We are fighting a never ending vicious cycle, that we can’t rescue our way out of.”

Manning: “Honestly, the biggest problem is irresponsible pet owners. They don’t take care of their animals.”

Q: What would you say the solution is?

York: “I don’t think there is one solution.

However, I do think the biggest impact could be made through increased accountability for those contributing to the overpopulation issues. Spay and neuter requirements along with stronger legislation addressing humane tethering and housing of animals is a necessity.”

Lancaster: “Spay and neuter, laws and ordinances need to change. It’s that simple. Our state needs to get on board and set an example. Every animal that comes into our shelter is the direct result of breeding in our community and state. Laws in place would help prevent the unwanted litters, hold those accountable who continue to back yard breed and it would help us on a shelter level! We wouldn’t have to give animals back to the owner not spayed/neutered. People need to start being held accountable!”

Manning: “Making sure they are spayed and neutered would help tremendously. People need to stop turning in their animals expecting us to fix the problems they created.”

Q: If you could say one thing to the community, to better help them understand shelters, what would you say?

York: “Your shelters are there because they want to be part of the solution. But we need the community’s support to make change and

save lives. Volunteer! There are so many ways to support your local shelters, but no better way to understand what the true need is than setting foot in an actual facility.”

Lancaster: “Everyone wants to give their opinion on the shelter crisis but nobody wants to be on the frontlines actually volunteering and putting in the work to keep these animals alive. It’s so easy to say “don’t kill them” or to harass the staff for making decisions. But not many want to be a part of the solution. We need action. If you want to learn, come down to the shelter and let us teach you! Let us educate you on the problem we are dealing with. It’s easy to have an opinion behind the keyboard. But actually showing up and doing something is what we need. We have a few regular volunteers that come in on a weekly basis. We need dozens more!”

Manning: “Please, please spay and neuter your animals. Treat them as family...they are not dispensable. If something doesn’t change, there may not be any shelters left to fix all the problems that people have created and the animals are gonna be the ones that suffer. Visit your local shelter and see what we go through on a daily basis with the sick dogs, the pregnant dogs, the dogs with mange and heartworm disease, the dogs that come in so malnourished they look like walking skeletons, the ones we think we can never see anything worse but then it comes through the door. Volunteer, foster, donate, be proactive instead of complaining about what we can’t do for you.”

Thank you to these brave women who took the time out of their extremely busy lives to share their thoughts with me, and for being amazing advocates for the animals in their shelters.

Please take their words to heart. Now is the time to get involved with your local shelter or rescue organization. Now is the time to hold yourself and fellow pet owners accountable. Now is the time to make change. Animals’ lives depend on it. ■

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C O V E R

S T O R Y

Over 16,000 votes were cast in the 2022 Lowcountry Dog Model Contest. After our judges picked 50 dogs from the over 300 model entries, we did photo shoots with each and 48 dogs competed during the month of June.

Wesson, the Doberman, took the top dog spot with an astounding 1,800 votes. We held our ‘Folly State of Mind’ shoot on Folly Beach with a 1960s VW Bus and some other to dogs in the contest. These pictures not only capture the vibe of our beloved Lowcountry beach town, but inspired us to make our entire 2023 Lowcountry Dog Calendar a celebration of the Folly State of Mind!

You can order your 2023 Lowcountry Dog Calendars that benefit local rescues and shelters at lowcountrydog.com/calendar

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Aspen, the Australian Cattle Dog, not even a year old, came in second place with over 1,400 votes.

Aspen was a foster fail from Berkeley Animal Center. She is a lover of adventure so she suited up in her beach shirt and hit the road in the VW Bus seeking the sunsets and views available along the Edge of America! Follow her adventures on instagram @aspenxeros

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Our final two beach babes are Emmy Rose, the French Bulldog, and Cheesecake, the English Bulldog. Cheesecake came in 3rd place and Emmy Rose came in 4th, both with over 1,000 votes each. They are both rescues from breeders where Cheesecake was recently saved by Bullies 2 the Rescue after spending her whole life as a breeding machine and not well taken care of. You may recognize Emmy Rose from the June issue of Lowcountry Dog in our story about the French Invasion. She was rescued from a puppy mill many years ago and now lives her best life as an instagram model with her sister, Luna Bean, who was a Lowcountry Dog Calendar Model in the 2021 LCD Calendar. Make sure you order your 2023 Lowcountry Dog Calendar at lowcountrydog.com/ calendar. These 4 pups plus 8 more will be bringing the Folly vibe to each month of 2023!

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Local Dog Events 0 8/ 0 9 / 2 02 2 Do 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

LOW COUNT RY D OG E V ENT S 2022

0 8/ 1 2 / 2 02 2 L aps fo r L ove fo r Hall ie Hill S a n c tua r y Halli e H i ll . co m f o r mo re inf o rma t io n

09/2 4/2 02 2 Rescu e M e A doption Eve n t Cypress G arden s, 12 t o 7 p m

0 8/ 3 0 / 2 02 2 Do 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

10/08 /2 02 2 Wo ofsto ck 2 022: A lowcountr y Dog Musi c Festival fea turin g Li t!

H an ah an A mph it h eat e r, 12 to 7 p m

0 9/ 0 8 / 2 02 2 Yappy Ho ur W a n n a m ake r D o g Pa rk , 5 : 30 pm 0 9/ 1 0 / 2 02 2 D o g Day A f te rno o n at th e Wa te r Pa rks !

2 s ess i o n s av a ilable a t bo t h Ja mes Isla n d Cou nt y Pa rk s a nd Palmett o Isla n d Cou nt y Pa rk s 0 9/ 1 1 / 2 02 2 D o g Day A f te rno o n at th e Wa te r Pa rks 2 s ess i o n s at Wa nn a maker Co unt y Park 0 9/ 2 4 / 2 02 2 Ado pt & Sho p F i ref ly D i st i ll e ry, 12 to 4 pm 0 9/ 2 4 / 2 02 2 S hake Rattle & Roll Over Gal a for D orcheste r Paws D o rch est e r Sh r ine Clu b, 6 pm 0 9/ 25 / 2 02 2 Ve ts to Ve ts 5K9 Do g J og fo r Ca rol i na B oxe r Rescue W ake Med Soccer Pa rk , 94 0 E Cha t h em St ree t C a r y, N C 1 0 / 0 4 / 2 02 2 B LESSING OF THE DOGS MUSC 1 0 / 15 / 2 02 2 N ATIONA L FETCH DAY 1 0 / 2 2 / 2 02 2 Ado pt & Sho p F i ref ly D i st i ll e ry, 12 to 4 pm 1 1 / 5 / 2 02 2 An n ual Fur Ball Gala

Charlest on Ga illa rd Ce nte r

09/17/2 02 2 Ba rk i n th e Park Magn olia Park , 3 t o 6 pm

11/06 /2 02 2 Lowco un tr y D og’s Dia De Los Perros Festival Loca tio n TBD

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 4,000 Beagles Being Saved From A Mass Breeding Facility The Animal Rescue Team of the Humane Society of the United Society has officially started removing the nearly 4,000 beagles from the mass breeding facility and transporting them to our partners and our animal care and rehabilitation center.

Lowcountry animal shelter sees mass influx of lost pets after July 4th celebrations This is one of the busiest times of the year for animal shelters. Pets are getting spooked by Fourth of July fireworks, leading to a mass influx of lost pets being brought in.

Three arrested in Chester County for alleged animal abuse, 50+ animals seized A phone call to animal control resulted in those cats being rescued from what’s being called extremely unlivable conditions. These cats were then taken from a rescue organization called Cat’s Paw Rescue South Carolina that was supposed to be helping them.

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 , Media Manager

As we continue to try and expand Lowcountry Dog and spread light on different rescues, organizations, and shelters, we had the opportunity to visit Saint Frances Animal Center and see the amazing work they do in their facility, filled with lots of animals and love. Saint Frances, is the oldest 501(c)3 non-profit organization in Georgetown County trying to break the cycle of neglect and overpopulation, and they do a phenomenal job. We spoke with their director, Suzanne Roman, about all of the hard work the family of staff and community of volunteers put into the care of the animals and getting them adopted at Saint Frances.

Their mission of providing abandoned and mistreated animals a nurturing environment until being placed in loving homes was started in 1983 by a group of Georgetown’s community members, led by Betty Harris. Their group started a program teaching and educating the community on proper pet ownership and the joys of it. They used their own homes to rescue abandoned pets and get them adopted until 1986. After complicated negotiations with the city, they could finally open the doors to a small house on a lot behind the dog pound. It was called “Georgetown County Humane Society.” It was supposed to fit 50 animals, and was immediately overflowing. They had quite a few tough years before this little house became Saint Frances Animal Center in 1998.

Since then, they have been able to exponentially grow their facility to what it is today with the help of the community; sponsors, donations, fosters, adopters, volunteers and each other.

They show tremendous gratitude to their donors for funding and to their volunteers who have made this Animal Center what it is today, especially since they have no funding from the city and rely solely on the donations and sponsoring they’ve been blessed with over the years. Without the help from loyal animal advocates in the Georgetown community, Saint Frances would not be able to do what they do!

Since Saint Frances is the go-to shelter for the community and takes in all of the animals scooped up by animal control, they work with many different rescue groups who can take them and give them a better chance of finding adopters, and to help Saint Frances keep up with the influx of homeless and abandoned animals in Georgetown County and Georgetown city. They have a Saint Frances wrapped van they use to transfer animals all the way to states like Pennsylvania and New York, like Bo Fitzgerald or “Fitz” for short, who was getting hugged on by the staff members that weren’t ready to say goodbye, as he headed to his furever home already in place for him in the Big Apple. This happens a lot at the center. The staff members create emotional bonds with the majority of animals that go in and out of their doors. Whether it be vet techs, secretary staff, volunteers, etc.

Suzanne Roman says that the staff consists of mostly long-timers, and that they either get involved and stay forever or they opt out. The dedicated ones stay for all the right reasons, the animals.

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During Lowcountry Dog’s visit to Saint Frances, we were able to first-hand witness the compassion and sense of family among the staff members and volunteers. We ran into a volunteer who has been showing up for over 15 years! Working in a large, non-profit community based animal center consists of hard work and an even harder schedule. They work around the clock, based on what the animals in the center need, and have to be ready for a neglected/wounded animal from animal control, or a litter of puppies at any given time. The people at Saint Frances are essential workers, driven by the force of rescuing. Members of the facility bond on that level, as well as bond with the animals they care for. They all help each other and all want what is best for the place these animals temporarily call home.

Saint Frances Animal Center is a very large facility with over 80 runs and many rooms dedicated to the animals in their care. including several isolated rooms where recovering and new intakes stay and free-roam cat rooms. They also have the Cotton Memorial Veterinary Clinic they use to not only do intakes and wellness checks, but also offer low-cost vaccines, spays and neuters, as well as low cost heartworm treatment to their community. The Cotton Memorial Clinic also has its very own X-Ray machine, allowing Saint Frances to get a much more extensive look into what they could be dealing with, knowing whether an injury is minor or something more serious. This clinic makes things a lot easier than transporting animals to vet offices in the area for spay/neuters. But not only that, the clinic allows Saint Frances to more effectively assess all of the animals who come through their doors.

Georgetown deserves a huge round of applause for all the work they have put into the facility and the animals that have been saved. The community has come together over many years to create this safe place known as Saint Frances Animal Center.

There are so many ways to get involved, and it is so easy and so rewarding. They are always accepting new adopters, foster homes, supplies, and donations. If you want to adopt, foster, volunteer, or donate, visit sfanimals.org. ■ www.lowcountrydog.com

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T H A N K

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BOARDING

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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.

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Locally Owned

440 Old Trolley Road, Ste A Summerville, SC 29485 843-871-7977

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GO GREEN | ADOPT A RECYCLED DOG

PET HELPERS

BER KELEY ANIMAL CENTER

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THESE ADOPTABLE DOGS ARE SPONSORED BY: ADOPTABLE DOGS ARE SPONSORED BY: THESE

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SAINT FRANCI S ANIMAL

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GO GREEN | ADOPT A RECYCLED DOG

BULLIES TO THE RESCUE

EUNOIA RESCUE

THESE ADOPTABLE DOGS ARE SPONSORED BY:

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LAKESIDE ANIMAL RESCUE

LIBBY AND MACE’S PLACE

WATERS EDGE

THESE ADOPTA BLE DOGS ARE SPONSORED BY:

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