Dear Friends,

As we welcome the blossoming flowers and warmer weather, there’s no better time to enjoy the great outdoors with our beloved pets. Carolina Tails is thrilled to bring you an exciting issue that celebrates the wonders of spring and the joys of being a pet owner.

Be sure to join us for Charleston Animal Society’s Celebrity Paws in the Park presented by Crews Subaru on June 10th. It takes place at Riverfront Park in North Charleston and begins with a Walk for Animals where you can bring your dog. Please consider forming a team for your walk and help us raise lifesaving funds for the animals! Visit CharlestonAnimalSociety.org/Paws.

If you’re planning a road trip, I think you’d look great in a brand-new Lexus! Hank and I were so happy to purchase an amazing 2023 Lexus RX 350h luxury cross-over vehicle to raise money for the animals we all love so much. This is the 5th car raffle we’ve sponsored and it’s helped raise almost $1 million for Charleston Animal Society’s incredible lifesaving work. Over those five years, the lives of approximately 100,000 animals were impacted. Please get your ticket today at CharlestonAnimalSociety.org/Tails-Lexus.

We’ve got an amazing lineup of articles that will inform, entertain, and inspire you. On page 7, we’ll introduce you to a group of firefighters who are learning pet first aid. They know that our furry friends are just as vulnerable to accidents and emergencies as we are, and they’re committed to being prepared to help them in any situation.

Charleston Animal Society broke a Guinness World Records™ Title during VAX-A-PALOOZASM, and we’re here to share the exciting details with you on page 8.

But it’s not all sunshine and roses. Animal cruelty is a real issue that affects countless pets every year. On page 10, we take a hard look at the real cost of fighting animal cruelty. It’s a tough subject, but an important one that we can’t ignore. April is the

Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month.

We’ll also dive into the challenges facing shelters in 2023 –how funding and standards of care are intertwined, yet difficult to bring together as needed (page 12). Learn about No Kill South Carolina’s “Sprint to the Finish” on page 32.

And for all you cat lovers out there, you won’t want to miss our article on the dangers of hair ties on page 25. It’s a surprising and eye-opening read that will make you think twice about leaving them lying around.

As we celebrate the 10th year of No Kill Charleston, it’s not all serious business. We also have a heartwarming story on page 28. One man adopted a dog from us while in college, and together they journeyed across the country and through his life changes. Unfortunately, his beloved pet recently passed away, but his story is a testament to the power of the human-animal bond.

Finally, we’ll take a look back at the year that was 2022. It was a year full of ups and downs, but we’re proud to say that we were there to document it all. From heartwarming rescues to controversial animal welfare issues, we’ve got it covered.

As we reflect on the past year and look ahead to the future, we want to remind you that there’s still so much work to be done. Animals are counting on us to be their advocates, their protectors, and their voices. Let’s never give up on the animals that need us the most.

So snuggle up with your furry friend as you read Carolina Tails and enjoy the wonders of spring together. I hope to see you on June 10th at Celebrity Paws in the Park presented by Crews Subaru –and be sure to buy your raffle ticket to win a brand new Lexus!