Welcome

GALA COMMITTE L-R Back Row: Sean Hawkins, Natassia Donohue, Will Howell, Andrew Peiffer, Cara Bibbiani, Shannon James, Betsy Halstead, Kay Hyman. Front: Erin Nosker, Luigi Bravo, Louise Palmer, Gerri Greenwood, Laurel Greer, Cristina Guillermo, Caroline Clark NOT PICTURED: Linda Bakker, Kay Dunn, Jane Graham, Kathi Herrmann, Savannah James, Patricia Henley, Catherine Brack, Linda Wills, Melissa Taylor, Dillard Stevens, Kassandra von Etzdorf, Susan Wallace

With the midterm elections behind us, it got me thinking about the whole concept of “voting.” Not the typical kind of voting many of us just participated in at the polls – but the kind of voting you shower on us each day. Whether it’s the gift of your time, the gift of your home or the gift of your donations – your acts of kindness are votes for Charleston Animal Society and our lifesaving mission and I cannot be more thankful.

On October 15th, your generosity was on full display! That’s when our Applause for Paws Gala shattered all fundraising records for the Animal Society, raising an unprecedented $750,000 (excluding expenses) for the animals. There are so many people to thank including our Gala Committee led by chairwoman Gerri Greenwood, our staff, led by Gala organizer Erin Nosker, our volunteers, led by Andrew Peiffer, and everyone at the Gaillard Center who helped make our “Havana Nights” so special. A special thanks to all of you who attended (See photos and more on pg. 18).

I’m always astounded when we begin compiling our stories for each issue of Carolina Tails. There are so many stories to tell, so many animal heroes to thank and we only have 36 pages! One of the heroes we are thanking is the late D.P. Lowther who passed away in September at the age of 89. We remember Lowther for dedicating his life to saving the Marsh Tacky, a rare breed of horse that once roamed freely on our barrier islands (pg. 11).

Learn about the horrifying September dogfighting bust in South Carolina (the largest in state history, pg. 23). Using animal cruelty cases as a clue, can law enforcement do more to connect the dots and stop the next mass shooting tragedy, like what we saw in Uvalde, TX (pg. 14)? We also examine what’s behind the emergency crisis at shelters across South Carolina (pg. 30). On pg. 12, we celebrate a record-breaking Pick Me! SC statewide adoption event.

Pippin graces our cover and what a story of love and legacy this dog brings (pg. 8). Pippin originally belonged to my late friend and fellow board member Kiara Barnett. Before Kiara lost her battle to cancer, she had already made Pippin a star in Charleston Animal Society’s Firefighter Calendar. Shattered by her sister Kiara’s loss, Donna Moeckel became Pippin’s new mother and continued this photogenic dog’s star-like ways, including this issue’s magazine cover! But most importantly, Donna made sure her sister’s love for her dog and all animals would not be forgotten.

All of us love Thanksgiving and now there’s a way to love it even more, by making it more humane. See our tips on pg. 24. My favorite story details “Project Catification” at Charleston Animal Society (pg. 22). Thanks to the Jackson Galaxy Project, a program of Greater Good Charities, our shelter cats are living even more comfortably during their stay at the shelter.

Finally, don’t miss the winners of our Rescue Brew Contest (pg. 27), or the stories of three cats who survived some close calls (pg. 32).

As you receive this magazine, please remember that we are entering the most important fundraising season for charities like Charleston Animal Society. Giving Tuesday is November 29th, and we have a generous $50,000 gift that will match every donation up to that amount. Then begins our end of year giving campaign, where we humbly ask that you keep us in your giving plan through the holidays.

We wish each of you a joyous holiday season and we thank you for everything you do for the animals.

Sincerely,

Laurel Greer Board of Directors Chairwoman