BOOTS IN SERVICE

BOOTS IN SERVICE PROGRAM

HELPING OUR UNITED STATES VETERANS AND THEIR PETS SINCE 2016

South Carolina is home to over 420,000 veterans and many have complex medical and emotional needs which can require treatment in a health care facility. Unfortunately, for some veterans with no family, the answer to a health concern is not simple. More often than not, the health care treatment is declined by the veteran so they can keep their pet. Surrendering a beloved pet to a shelter with the prospect of never seeing them again to receive medical, and sometimes lifesaving, care is unacceptable.

Pawmetto Lifeline has an answer. Case managers and social workers can now refer veterans to the Boots in Service program and once qualified, Pawmetto Lifeline will offer the following services at no-charge while the veteran receives the care they need: boarding, foster homes, basic care, medical services including vaccinations, microchips, and spay/ neuter surgeries. The veteran can then seek their treatment knowing their pet is well-cared for and will be waiting for them when they come home. Pawmetto Lifeline has named this program Boots in Service to honor Governor Henry McMaster for his lifelong commitment to animal welfare. The McMaster’s beloved English bulldog Boots was well known among state staffers and was often seen on the state house grounds attending meetings with the Governor. It was very sad for the McMaster family when Boots passed away from cancer in 2016. Meet Mr. Bright, a recent recipient of the Boots In Service Program. Mr. Bright, a veteran, reached out to us and was on the verge of losing everything: his wife, children, home and his pets. Thankfully, someone referred him to us to assist with his two dogs, Bear and Dax. Through our Boots in Service program, we were able to give Mr. Bright peace of mind so he could focus on getting healthy. Mr. Bright picked up Dax and Bear and said he could finally have a happy Thanksgiving and a new beginning! A huge thank you to the Mungo Foundation for funding this program. Mr. Bright with Bear and Dax

Thank You

FOSTERS AND VOLUNTEERS!

FOSTERING SAVES LIVES!

Foster families are essential to the operation of Pawmetto Lifeline and allow us to greatly increase the number of animals that we can pull from the shelters and intake from the public. In total for 2021, the foster program provided over 1,400 pets with loving foster homes. Our nokill facility is not big enough to accommodate all shelter animals in need and the shelters end up having to euthanize homeless animals. In many cases, we receive a mom and her litter of pups or kittens and these pets are too young to stay at the facility, as they need extra care that can only be provided in a home. Other foster pets are seniors, and in some cases, hospice animals that need the comfort of a quiet home to live out the remainder of their lives. Four years ago, we opened the Neonatal Nursery at Pawmetto Lifeline and it has experienced extraordinary success. It has provided care for over 400 animals during this time. The nursery was established to allow pups and kittens under six weeks of age a real chance at life, as they need lots of care and feeding every two hours for weeks. Foster families take these infants into their homes and provide this care. It is very hard for a human to replicate what a mama cat or a mama dog accomplishes but these foster families rise to the occasion. The success of this program has reduced the deaths of these infants by approximately 90%. Foster homes allow us to save as many lives as possible, beyond the limits of our facility. The transformation of a “broken” animal into a confident and adoptable pet is amazing to witness and is so rewarding. The foster program provides food, supplies, medical care and 24/7 support. We are excited to announce our 2021 Foster of the Year: Gayle Sneed. Thank you Gayle and the rest of our foster families for your relentless commitment to saving lives! Join our foster program today! If you and your family have room in your home and heart for a homeless animal, please visit our web site at www.pawmettolifeline.org and complete an application. Afterwards, you will attend a training class and then you’re ready to start fostering and give a homeless pet a second chance at life!