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Publisher Brian Foster brian@lowcountrydog.com Chief Canine Officer Peanut Copy Editor Chelsea Salerno Social Media and Web Coordinator Alyssa Helms alyssa@lowcountrydog.com Editorial Columnist & Rescue Coordinator Alicia Williams alicia@lowcountrydog.com Staff Writers Julie Murray Kelly Sekulovski Hali Selert Fern Wooden Photographers Southern Vintage Photography Stono Tides Photography Web and Design Consultant Laura Olsen Contributing Writers Dr. Shannon Graham Kelsey Futeral Leah England Renee Johnson Natassia Donohue For advertising and media inquiries please email contact@lowcountrydog.com
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Above and cover photo by Southern Vintage Photography Photo Mosaic by Laura Olsen
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.
In this issue
6 10 14 16 15 Years of 22 Celebrating Lowcountry Dog 32 34 38 42 SIT, STAY... BEHAVE: The A- Word
HEALTH & WELLNESS: Emergency Veterinary Medicine during the COVID-19 Pandemic PEACE, LOVE & REAL TALK: with Alicia Rose Willliams FEATURE STORY: The Connection Between Violence Against Humans and Violence Against Animals
IN THE NEWS
LOWCOUNTRY DOG ANIMAL ADVOCATE: Carol Linville
GO GREEN: Adopt A Recycled Dog! LOCAL DOG EVENTS
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Reflec ting on my 14 years of life... On July 29th of 2020, I turned 14 years old or at least that is what my daddy says. If we go back to 2009, I was found living at the dump with my eight puppies. Some concerned neighbors called Pet Helpers to save my puppies and after rounding up my crazy bunch with shrimp nets (they were pretty feral), I ran up to the man taking my puppies and with one look, I was in the van my the way to the shelter as well.
Peanut 's
See my life didn’t start off so great, I don’t remember much about that time of my life but I do remember P O I N T being scared and needing food and wanting to keep my puppies safe.
O F
Once we got to the shelter they made sure my babies were clean and safe and they had their vet tech staff check me out. They said I was 3 years old at the time and that I was severely underweight, a problem I have since solved! I weighed about 15 lbs and after getting all my shots and getting spayed, I was put in the puppy window next to my babies. A vet tech named me Peanut and all my babies after other nuts. On July 29th of 2009, I was laying in my kennel when a man stopped and read my card and asked to see me. I was still pretty scared of all these new faces but something about him made me feel comfortable. He left, but soon returned and took me to his house. The first few days, I would sit beside the refrigerator and hide because I didn’t know what to think. He would take me on long walks everyday and I had my own yard which was weird as I was used to going in the woods to do my business so for a while, I only went to the bathroom on a walk. My dad had just lost his other dog of 15 years and therefore he spoiled me. He took me to dog training classes and I excelled at them. After a few weeks, my dad started volunteering for the shelter and one day he came home with 3 newborn pups that had been surrendered. He told me that we were going to foster them until they were adopted. Being an experienced mother, this was my calling and I helped clean and socialize the puppies as they grew. After that litter was adopted, we kept fostering. Our next foster was a little poodle with a broken leg and then one day he brought home a 5 week old beagle puppy that I took a special liking to. We named her Calliope and she became my sister. She was my best friend for over 5 years until she moved to Texas with my mommy.
V I E W
Over the next 10 years, my dad would foster over 100 puppies, dogs and kittens. I always did my part in being their caretaker and teaching them vital socialization skills. In 2015, my dad told me that we were buying my favorite magazine, Lowcountry Dog and that I was going to be the Chief Canine Officer. This was exciting news as I always wanted to be the boss. The last 5 years have been a whirlwind of staying busy, informing the community and throwing events to help raise money for the local rescues and shelters in the Lowcountry. I owe my life to these groups, because if it wasn’t for them, I would have never met my dad nor would I be writing this article for you to read. You see my face and likeness on almost everything Lowcountry Dog and as we wrap up our 15th year of publishing, I begin my 15th year of life, I reflect on all the good in the world and what me and my dad have done to make the world a better place for dogs like me. I hope you enjoy the magazine and if you ever see me at an event, please come say hi, because I am no longer that scared dog from the dump. If you ever find yourself needing a friend, try stopping by the local shelter or checking out one of the awesome rescues in town. They are all listed on lowcountrydog.com/rescues
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T R A I N I N G
The A- Word
Dealing with Food Aggression WRITTEN BY: CHELSEA SALERNO COPY EDITOR
Aggression is not a word people like to use when referring to their beloved family pet and luckily most household dogs have little to no aggressive tendencies, but when they do, it’s often food related. Food aggression is a form of resource guarding in which a dog becomes very defensive when eating, using threats to force others away. It can be directed towards other animals, humans, or both. It is a normal behavior in the wild but can present some serious problems when exhibited by domesticated dogs. Luckily, there are a few ways to address aggressive nature as well as ways to prevent it from developing in the first place. The first thing we need to know to prevent aggressive food behavior is understanding how it is established in the first place. A lot of researchers in canine evolution and behavior say that dogs are hardwired to be protective of every meal and most food aggressive dogs develop this behavior in puppyhood, especially if they experience strong competition for food. This often occurs when breeders feed puppies from one large communal pan, and the puppy who manages to eat the most will grow the quickest and become the strongest. If a breeder is not observant, this situation can deteriorate into one or more puppies monopolizing most of the food and a history of being rewarded for aggressive behavior can become firmly established. Likewise, free-roaming and stray dogs exhibit this type of behavior because they have to search for their food and they never know if they’ll have enough. As a result, they may defend food with the vigor of a dog whose life depends on it. This food defense may then just become a habit whether the dog is hungry or not. As a result, many shelter dogs exhibit resource aggressive behaviors but luckily for both us and them, there are steps that can be taken to correct these behaviors.
“Hand feeding is another exercise that may help with your pup’s aggressive behaviors. This is especially effective in puppies.” If your dog is exhibiting aggressive behaviors while eating, it’s important to rule out any medical problems that could cause anxiety or pain when your dog is eating so the first step in fixing this issue is to bring your dog to the vet! Talk to them about the food aggressive behavior and let the doctor physically examine your dog for any medical conditions might be causing this. Does your dog have poor eyesight and therefore feels more threatened when eating because they cannot see their surroundings? Does your dog have an infected tooth or dental issues that cause pain while eating? Dogs that are in pain or feel uncomfortable are much more inclined to be defensive or overreact when approached. A vet can diagnose or rule out these problems as the cause of your dogs aggressive nature so you can move on to step number two: training! There are several ways to train a dog to no longer exhibit food aggressive behaviors. Sometimes, desensitizing your dog to the presence of people and other dogs while they’re eating is enough to curb the behavior. This can be done by remaining near your dog while they’re eating from anywhere from 3 to 30 yards away. Watch your pup’s body language carefully, if their hackles are raised or they start growling and baring their teeth, you are too close to their threshold of tolerance. Take it slow and after a week you should be able to move closer. Try going about your business while moving closer and closer so you can gauge their tolerance of your proximity while eating. If this doesn’t work after two weeks and you are still unable to approach within 3 yards of your dog without them tensing up or growling, it is time to explore other options. Hand feeding is another exercise that may help with your pup’s aggressive behaviors. This is especially effective in puppies. Sit with your dog and give them kibble one bite at a time in an open palm. During hand-fed meals, speak pleasantly to your dog and stroke them while you offer food with your other hand. After a few meals like this, place your dog’s bowl on the floor and as they eat their regular chow, periodically reach down to drop in a treat. If you do
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T R A I N I N G
“If your dog is exhibiting aggressive behaviors while eating, it’s important to rule out any medical problems that could cause anxiety or pain when your dog is eating so the first step in fixing this issue is to bring your dog to the vet! Talk to them about the food aggressive behavior and let the doctor physically examine your dog for any medical conditions might be causing this.” this for the first few months after bringing your dog home, they should remain relaxed and unthreatened by your presence while they eat. If your home already has another dog in it and your new dog shows signs of aggression when eating alongside your other dog, try separating them for a month or two while they get used to each other. It takes time for dogs to adjust to a new living situation and eating rituals are a part of that adjustment. Once the dogs are more comfortable around each other, gradually move the bowls closer and closer until they are at the desired distance apart. Though they may never eat side by side, it is important that they are able to coexist while eating. Food aggression is a natural occurrence in dogs but it is something that needs to be addressed sooner rather than later. Prevention is the most fool proof form of rectifying the situation, but management is a viable option as well. If, after several months, there is no real improvement in aggressive behaviors then it is time to consult a professional. Food aggression is not the end of the world, but any aggressive behavior can be dangerous and needs to be remedied as soon as possible to keep both yourself and your dog safe.■
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H E A L T H
&
W E L L N E S S
Emergency Veterinary Medicine during the COVID-19 Pandemic Image by Jeanne Taylor WRITTEN BY: SHANNON GRAHAM, DVM V E T E R I N A R Y S P E C I A LT Y C A R E
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to significant changes in our daily life, not excluding visits to the emergency veterinary hospital. Veterinary care is considered an essential service, so Veterinary Specialty Care has continued to be open 24/7 to provide emergency and specialty care for pets while making changes to keep the staff and clients as safe as possible. Both clients and veterinary staff have had to adjust to these significant and sometimes challenging changes during this pandemic. Like many veterinary clinics around the country, we have implemented multiple policies to reduce the risk of Covid-19 spread, keep our clients and staff as safe as possible, and allow us to continue to serve the Lowcountry. We have adopted a “curbside service only” policy. No clients are permitted inside the hospital, with an exception for euthanasia. When a client arrives at our hospital, they wait in their car and call the posted phone number. The client is screened via a brief survey to evaluate the risk of Covid-19 exposure before the appropriate level of personal protective equipment (PPE) is determined for the triage technician to go to the car to bring the patient inside. The pet owner fills out an online client & patient intake form, and all of the communication for the remainder of the visit is completed via phone calls and other forms of telecommunication. All staff members must wear masks at all times and various levels of PPE as needed, and our staff must take their temperature at the start of each shift. We have established additional sanitation protocols for
the hospital and guidelines for the staff to adhere while inside and outside of the hospital, including mandatory quarantine in certain situations. I know that going to an emergency veterinary hospital is already very stressful for pet owners, especially during a global pandemic. It is difficult for the pet owners as they anxiously wait in their cars, unable to visit their hospitalized pets, and even receive upsetting news concerning their pet over the phone. In addition, many people have been affected financially by COVID-19, due to being furloughed or their place of work being temporarily closed. This financial strain and the additional fear of future job and financial instability can create overwhelming feelings of anxiety and stress for pet owners and affects how they are able to make decisions concerning their pet’s veterinary care. Veterinary Specialty care has made efforts to address and reduce these concerns by offering frequent updates while owners are waiting in their cars, providing photos and frequent updates about their hospitalized pets and presenting healthcare financing service options and variable levels of diagnostic & treatment estimates for their pet’s care. “Telemedicine” and these protocols are new for the veterinary staff as well. We miss the personal interactions with our clients and the ability to see their reactions and non-verbal communication to gauge their understanding of their pet’s diagnosis and recommended treatment. As a veterinarian, it can be more difficult to gain the owner’s trust without ever meeting them in-person and to be unable to hug and comfort owners as they say good-bye to their beloved pet. There is also some reduction in
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efficiency and communication that occurs due to the staff adjusting to the new way of doing their job, technological difficulties like dropped calls, owners rushing to the hospital and forgetting their cell phone or phone charger at home, or delay in testing and treatment due to being unable to get in contact with owners due to cell phones being on silent or clients leaving the parking lot before speaking with the doctor. Emergency veterinary medicine is a rewarding but stressful and emotionally taxing profession, without the additional obstacles that are present during a global pandemic. There are staff shortages due to lack of childcare and staff being quarantined for potential COVID exposures or immunosuppression, an increase in overflow of cases from family veterinarians that have had to block out longer appointment times and reduce the cases they are able to see each day, and medication, PPE, and other product shortages from these supplies being prioritized for use in human healthcare. The staff has experienced situations of clients projecting their overwhelming feelings of stress and frustration that have been building during quarantine on them and coping with their own fear of potentially being exposed to COVID-19 while working and bringing it home to loved ones. However, with these challenges, there have also been many positive things that I have noticed at our emergency hospital and in our community over the past couple of months. Overall, clients have been extremely patient, grateful for the hospital staying open through the pandemic, and understanding of the transition to telemedicine. Pet owners and pets are enjoying the increased quality of time at home together, and pets are also providing a necessary companionship during a time of social distancing. Pet owners are witnessing behaviors like itchy skin, intermittent limping, coughing, and increased water intake and urination that they are realizing are more frequent than they thought and seeking care for these issues. Owners are also picking up on subtle signs that may have gone unnoticed for a longer time, which helps lead to an earlier diagnosis, treatment, and often a better prognosis for their pets. There has also been an increase in animal fostering and adoption due to the extra time available at home to train and care for these animals. As we continue to receive more updates from the CDC and government as well as recommendations from the AVMA regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, the policies that Veterinary Specialty Care have in place also continue to change. Our goal with these policies is
to continue to serve the Charleston, and surrounding communities while providing the safest possible environment for our clients and staff members. While this pandemic continues to be a moving target, our goals and commitments to the community remain the same. I have provided some helpful tips if your pet requires a visit to our emergency hospital during the pandemic. Helpful Tips When Visiting Veterinary Specialty Care: 1. Visit the hospital’s website to be familiar with what to expect upon arrival. It is helpful to fill out the online client and patient intake form before-hand to expedite the check-in process, but it can be completed upon arrival as well. 2. It is helpful to bring your pet’s medical records, especially during the evenings and weekend when your family veterinary clinic is closed. 3. If you are immunocompromised, sick, or have been around someone who is sick, please arrange for a healthy family member or friend to bring your pet to the hospital. 4. When you arrive at the hospital, stay in your car and call the hospital’s posted phone number and select the appropriate location. 5. A triage technician will come to your car to take your pet inside for the exam and duration of the visit. It is recommended that you are wearing a mask as well during this interaction. Your small pets must be in a carrier and the dogs will be secured with a slip lead for their walk into the hospital. 6. Be readily available by phone. It is recommended to have your ring on loud and have a charger with you, so you can receive phone calls from the veterinary staff to discuss your pet’s history, estimate, diagnostic tests, and treatments. 7. Please do not leave the parking lot without veterinary staff approval. Some visits are very quick and others may require time for diagnostic testing and treatments that will allow for time for you to leave to pick up lunch or run an errand. 8. Checkout will be performed over the phone. Paying via a debit or credit care is preferred, but cash is accepted. 9. Your pet will be brought back to your car with discharge instructions and any medications to go home. 10. Most importantly, please be patient and kind. The veterinary staff strives to provide the best care for your pet, while keeping you as safe as possible during this pandemic. ■
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H E A L T H
&
W E L L N E S S
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Runaway Rainbow EDITORIAL BY: ALICIA ROSE WILLIAMS Founder, Eunoia Rescue
About a year and a half ago I was “tricked” into adopting one of my foster dogs named Rainbow. Rainbow came to Eunoia Rescue from Lancaster County completely terrified. After finding out some more information about her past, it seems that she was separated from another dog she was bonded with and also experienced some type of neglect before coming to the shelter. As soon as Rainbow crossed the threshold to my house, I knew she wasn’t just a foster – but she was mine.
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For months (yes, months) Rainbow either hid within the house or lived outside. She seemed most content outside, no matter the weather. (I made it as comfy as possible for her so that she would understand that she is now “safe.”) It took several weeks for Rainbow to not bark at me when she saw me. It took even longer for her to allow me to pet her. It was obvious that Rainbow wanted to trust me but she just couldn’t. Fortunately, Rainbow started to make progress over time. Finally, she started to come inside on her own. She still stayed underneath my bed when inside; but she would poke out and say hello from time to time. Fast forward to present day, and although Rainbow doesn’t seem to have improved to most; I know she has made leaps and bounds since she first arrived. I’m thinking – “wow, Rainbow really trusts me. She most definitely loves me. She would never try to escape.” Boy was I wrong. Just like any human teenager, Rainbow tested her limits and escaped from my back yard. I only saved her from the horrid shelter and she decides to leave me - a perfectly safe haven where she’s cared for and loved. (Can you feel my sarcasm?) For a solid 24 hours, I was worried sick. I had contacted the local animal shelter, called the local veterinarians, posted on social media; nobody had seen her. Due to Rainbow’s past, I knew she would be hard to catch. I knew she wouldn’t seek help from just anyone, but would rather hide away from the world. I felt awful. The “rescuer,” not being able to keep up with her own dog. I preach all the time about how to be a responsible dog owner and here I am doing the exact opposite. In most editorials, I express my distaste for humans – but in this instance I definitely have to give them praise. There wasn’t one harsh comment. Instead, people spread the word about Rainbow. They
listened to her story and realized that she was a special case. Complete strangers were coming out to help me search for her. I received phone calls from people with extremely helpful “leads”. One gentleman even walked me through directions of where he saw her while I was in my vehicle. I was truly touched and impressed by my community. Finally, the phone call came through. Rainbow had actually been spotted a few blocks away from my place. The woman who saw her stayed with her until I could get there – and then she even stayed with me while I was trying to catch her. (Naturally, it took another 45 minutes to “catch” Rainbow. She thought we were playing a fun game of chase.) Rainbow is home safe. So what exactly am I rambling about? My point is that animal rescue can leave us pretty jaded and our minds go directly to the worst case scenario. When I see a dog running loose, I think “wow what an idiot human for not being able to control their pet.” I am wrong to think this way. The fact of the matter is – animals will be animals. It doesn’t matter how much you think you know them or the safety measures you take; some of them will accept the challenge and try to defy you anyways. It happens and we need to take into account that no pet owner is perfect, especially when dealing with animals that have an unknown past. Instead of judging, let’s try and help an animal get home safe. Lastly, I would personally like to thank the community of Park Circle located in North Charleston, SC. They banded together and helped with Rainbow’s safe return. A variety of people with diverse backgrounds stepped up to help me – a complete stranger. In a time of such craziness, I appreciate that people I didn’t even know helped me and my precious pup Rainbow. We need more of this. ■
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The connection between violence against humans and violence against animals WRITTEN BY: KELSEY GILMORE FUTERAL, JD
The articles published in Lowcountry Dog are usually family-friendly reading, so I wanted to give readers a warning that the following article mentions sex and abuse of both people and animals. This is an important topic and must be addressed by our community, but please exercise your discretion whether to share it with the youngest members of your family. In early May, I learned of a tragic case in Spartanburg in which police responded to a report of domestic violence and arrived on scene to find a woman crying outside her home. According to Spartanburg law enforcement, a man who had been heavily drinking shot the victim’s dog to death as the dog hid under
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a bed. When the victim attempted to flee with her child, the man grabbed her by the hair and refused to allow her to leave. The man is now facing charges of second-degree domestic violence, discharging a firearm into a dwelling and ill-treatment of animals. In a separate case in May, an Aiken woman and her husband were charged with bestiality (or buggery as state law calls it) after a child pornography investigation uncovered sex acts with horses. As these cases demonstrate, there exists a significant correlation between violence against people and violence against animals. Numerous studies substantiate this relationship, including a 2018 study which found a significantly higher likelihood that a person would harm their partner (including strangulation and rape) if they had a history of animal abuse. The authors concluded that “both humans and animals residing in homes with a [domestic violence] suspect who has a history of pet abuse should be considered at extreme risk of suffering severely damaging physical and emotional harm or death.” Domestic violence offenders often leverage the pets in the home to keep the victim from leaving, thereby holding the victim hostage. Abusers may threaten to harm the pet, abuse the pet to punish the victim or even kill the pet to exert control over the victim. Surveys of domestic violence victims show that they often refuse to leave their abusers out of fear that their beloved pet will be harmed, or because the community lacks safe havens for both the human victim and their pet. Studies also show that children who are exposed to or commit violence against animals have a higher risk of growing up to commit violent crimes against people. In one scientific article, published in the journal Human Relations in 1985, 25% of a population of men incarcerated for violent crimes reported committing “substantial cruelty to animals” as children. If agencies in a position to address those red flags had been involved in these men’s lives when they were children, might their pattern of violence have been interrupted? Children who live in homes where they are exposed to animal cruelty also demonstrate an increased tendency to abuse animals, other children or people later in life.
Domestic violence offenders often leverage the pets in the home to keep the victim from leaving. Photo by Pexels Some of the most notorious killers admitted to harming or killing animals before they progressed to killing people. These include Columbine High School shooters Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, Parkland High School shooter Nikolas Cruz, Albert DeSalvo (the Boston Strangler), Dennis Rader (the “BTK” serial killer in Kansas) and Jeffrey Dahmer. Because of the connection between animal and human abuse, the National Sheriffs’ Association formed an animal cruelty committee and the FBI’s criminal database now tracks acts of animal abuse alongside other felony crimes like arson, assault and homicide. The Humane Society of the United States is proud to partner with the National Sheriffs’ Association to raise awareness about these issues and to support those on the front lines through our Law Enforcement Training Center. We have had the privilege of training thousands of officers over the years, including throughout South Carolina in partnership with various law enforcement agencies. During these day-long training sessions, we emphasize this connection and the need to recognize the serious and sometimes lethal consequences animal abuse has on other vulnerable beings living in the home. For this reason, the Animal Law Committee of the South Carolina Bar successfully petitioned the family court administration to include pets in the form order that grants people protection from alleged abusers. Now, with a simple check of a box, family court judges can order offenders not to harm or threaten to harm the family pet upon
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F E A T U R E
S T O R Y
penalty of incarceration. While magistrates may also include pets in orders of protection, their court administration has not yet updated the form order to automatically include them for consideration. Responding to domestic violence and animal abuse requires a community approach. In the HSUS’s law enforcement training, animal crime experts emphasize to the officers the need to connect the victim with appropriate services to address food security, housing needs, childcare assistance and a safe space for their pet. The Animal Welfare Institute’s Safe Havens program and RedRover’s Safe Place for Pets provide lifesaving resources to help families with pets safely escape domestic violence together. Local shelters in the Lowcountry, including Pet Helpers and the Charleston Animal Society, work directly with social workers and domestic violence shelters to provide safe havens for animals, giving victims the assurance and comfort of knowing that they will be reunited with their beloved pet in the future. As a community, it is imperative that we recognize the incredibly important link between animal abuse and interpersonal violence. In the Lowcountry, we need to cross-train social workers, law enforcement officers and animal control officers to recognize the signs of domestic violence, child abuse and animal cruelty in every situation they encounter. A social worker or police officer who can read the body language of a cowering animal who has been beaten by an offender will have a fuller picture of the situation when speaking with a victim who may fear disclosing the abuse they suffer. More importantly, we must take a multidisciplinary approach between law enforcement, animal control, animal shelters, child protective services, domestic violence shelters and school systems to ensure communication and collaboration to protect victims from domestic violence. When we inform and utilize the network of resources already in our community, we will make the Lowcountry a safer place for people and pets and will be one step closer to making ours a more humane society. ■ Kelsey Gilmore-Futeral is the South Carolina director for the Humane Society of the United States.
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DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE
AFFECTS THE
ENTIRE FAMILY
OUR
PETS
ARE FAMILY TOO
1/ 3
of children who experience family violence in pet-owning homes will act out against pets.
A Division of Pet Helpers Foster Care Program
Most domestic violence shelters can’t accept pets because of health regulations, space limitations, additional costs, and potential liabilities. However, animal shelters, animal care and control agencies, veterinary clinics, and private boarding kennels have begun partnering with domestic violence shelters to provide temporary housing for victims’ pets. Pet Helpers Animal Safe Haven Program offers a life-saving alternative for family violence victims and their companion animals. Maintaining confidentiality is essential when working with family violence victims. If information about victims or their pets is shared with many people, the safety of all parties is jeopardized. Only the caseworker who made the referral, our Foster Manager, Intake Manager, Shelter Manager and the Executive Director have access to records about victims and their pets. All paperwork and case files are kept in a securely locked filing cabinet. Any computer files on the people or animals in the program are password protected. To help ensure safety, victims and foster caregivers are not given each other’s names or contact information. For further information of Pet Helpers Animal Safe Haven Program contact 843 -531-6164, msusko@pethelpers.org or fostercare@pethelpers.org.
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15
Celebrating Fifteen years & 93 issues later...
years
We look back on the history of Lowcountry Dog Magazine from brainstorming at James Island County Dog Park in 2005 by Renee Johnson and Leah England to present day, where Lowcountry Dog is read globally as a digital publication and print publication while remaining the area’s go-to source for all things dog in the Charleston area and beyond.
IMAGES BY SOUTHERN VINTAGE PHOTOGRAPHY & THE LOWCOUNTRY DOG ARCHIVES
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RENEE JOHNSONFounder of Lowcountry Dog Magazine, 2005 The idea for a local magazine about dogs popped into my head one day while working as a freelance reporter and editor for a Charleston business publication. The thought hit me while I was compiling some really dry facts and figures about the Lowcountry economy: Why not write about a subject I truly loved? Dogs! The fit was perfect: I enjoyed writing and editing, interviewing people, sharing news and ideas, and most of all, I loved dogs. I’d been a rescue foster mom for ages, worked as a vet technician, and had a degree in animal nutrition from Clemson University. So I teamed up with my very creative friend Leah England and brought Lowcountry Dog to life. The
magazine’s title was easy to come up with, but the logo and layout were harder. Thanks to the immensely talented designer Angie Hranowski, we soon had a look and feel for the magazine, and the equally talented photographer Julia Lynn brought everything to beautiful visual life. In fact, the creative side of Lowcountry Dog was a wonderful collaboration. Ideas for articles, features, and news came easily, and we were enthusiastically received by everyone we approached, whether for interviews, photo shoots, or requesting that they write a guest column. Everybody was happy to talk about dogs. Our readers were especially eager to share their dog stories and photos with us, which was always so gratifying. Those businesses where we distributed copies of the magazine, from restaurants to vet offices to retail stores, welcomed us, and many of them became advertisers. The best part of producing the magazine was to see the cover design and Julia’s photographs come to life each month and then pick up the newly printed copies at the warehouse in North Charleston.
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a session for
eve ryone
LEAH ENGLAND, Publisher 2005 to 2015: I met Renee Johnson through a joint project at a local publishing company. We bonded because we both had Great Danes and started meeting up at the dog park. We were at the James Island dog park when Renee shared her idea about starting a dog magazine to serve the Charleston area. I thought it was a brilliant idea and jumped in to help. Julia Lynn signed on as photographer and recommended her friend Angie Hranowsky to create the magazine’s logo and signature aesthetic. The dream team met up to mastermind the magazine at Renee’s backyard tiki hut and after a few very fun sessions, we had a mock up and planned an editorial calendar I could use to obtain our first core advertisers. We were incredibly grateful for the support of those first advertisers because they allowed us to move into production very quickly. The magazine gained ground in readership and popularity that first year; but my husband’s job moved us to Florida. Renee’s priorities had
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also shifted and we considered stopping the publication all together, but instead I decided to purchase Renee’s shares and continue producing the magazine remotely from Florida. I would pack up my Great Dane, Poet and drive seven hours to direct the photo shoots, meet with advertisers, rescues and writers, and attend as many pet friendly events as I could during my brief stay. I’d return to Florida and return to Charleston a few weeks later, this time delivering each and every magazine to our distribution points myself with Poet in the backseat as inventory manager. I was willing to go to great lengths to keep the magazine going because I wholeheartedly believed in it, and always felt I’d get back to the Lowcountry. We moved to North Carolina and I continued with my travels to Charleston, but now with my newborn son in tow. The magazine really hit its creative stride, producing favorite issues like “Dances with Dogs” (ballerinas leaping with dogs), “Bone Appetit” (celebrity chefs and their dogs), Smart Cookie (Chaser, the world’s smartest dog) “Prison Pups” (the dog training program at the Navy brig) and the extremely popular issue, “Real Men Love Dogs” (that one really flew off the shelves!). I was extremely proud of our annual Animal Advocate Award and the annual auctioning of one of our covers as a fundraiser for local rescues. And of course, the annual Model Contest at Pet Fest was always a blast. In 2015 and now living in Bluffton, SC, pregnant with my second child and with a busy career in home building, it was time for LCDM to change hands once again. I was thrilled Brian Foster, a long time animal rescue activist and parttime LCDM ad sales rep decided to purchase the magazine because it was very important to me to leave the publication in the best hands. I’ve enjoyed watching the magazine deepen its mission under Brian’s watch, developing phenomenal fundraising events like Woofstock, Eat Drink Rescue and May the Dogs Be With You. It feels like things have come full circle because now my family uses Lowcountry Dog as a resource to find dog friendly places and things to do when our family visits Charleston with our Wirehaired Pointing Griffon, Pilot. As pleasing as it is to see
the magazine doing so well, what I’m most grateful for are the wonderful friendships I made along the way. If you are enjoying the publication today, it is because I had the extreme honor to work with the following people who helped bring the idea to life: Renee Johnson, Founder Julia Lynn, founding Photographer Angie Hranowsky, founding Graphic Designer Laura Olsen, Staff Photographer Brian Foster, Advertising Sales Ashley Smith, Staff Photographer Leigh Webber, Contributing Photographer Oliva Rae James, Contributing Photographer Kristen Scott, Contributing Photographer Gillian Nicol, Executive Assistant Stratton Lawrence, Distribution Andy Lassiter, Distribution
From L to R: Julia Lynn, Leah England and Angie Hranowsky
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BRIAN FOSTER, Publisher 2015 to Present I had seen Lowcountry Dog Magazine around town but it wasn’t until 2009 when I picked up a copy at Pet Helpers that things began to happen. Laura Olsen had begun shooting for the magazine shortly after and when I helped with the 2011 Pet Fest Model Contest, Leah and i began to discuss the business side of the magazine over dinner and soon after I was the Sales Rep for LCDM. Sales and Research was my day job and magazine ad sales just seemed natural to me. With Leah living out of the area, Laura and I had become the local people for the magazine, representing the magazine at local events like Dogtoberfest and the Charleston Dog Show. We had always said that if Leah decides to sell, we would buy the magazine and keep it going. That day came in 2015, when Lowcountry Dog was publishing its last issue in February. Laura was about to move to Texas, so I decided to carry on the dream and bought the magazine and relaunched it as a digital plublication on September 25 of 2015. The decision to switch to digital only did not come easy. People had become used to picking up free copies around town and I knew it would be missed. Thinking of the envirnoment and my passion for dogs, help steer the digital publication even further as we grew the brand. www.lowcountrydog.com
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At first, it was just me doing everything from layout, selling ads, & growing our social media to include Instagram. I met Jackie and Celess of Southern VIntage Photography at an event in 2015 and they have been shooting for us ever since. In 2016, I met Alicia Williams of Eunoia Rescue and she began helping me with writing an editorial column each issue as well as helping me with the rescue side of things. Laura Olsen was also still around to help me bounce ideas off of and I also enlisted her to re design our website that we re launched in October of 2016. That site has been nominated for best site every year since. We started having events to help rescues, beginning with Eat, Drink & Rescue in January of 2016 and now have 6 popular events every year including Woofstock: A Lowcountry Dog Music Festival which was nominated for Best Festival and won for Best Fundarising Event in the 2020 Best Of Charleston Awards. In 2017, we hit our stride and hit over 1 million readers of the 6x per year digital magazine. We started doing Rescue Spotlights with companion videos produced by Palmetto Coast Media, sponsored by Pet Supplies Plus. We produced 12 videos and spotlights and even won Best Locally Produced Video for our spotlight on Pet Helpers.
Photo by In Between the Blinks
In 2019, we hit another milestone by raising $30,000 for local rescues and shelters from our events and calendar sales. Our yearly print calendar is in its 3rd year and become a popular fundraiser for local rescues and hundreds of dogs compete each year to be a calendar model. We have built an amazing staff of writers, photographers, editors and social media specialists to keep us on top of our game. We now reach over 100,000 per week across all platforms.
LAURA OLSEN, Staff Photographer 2010 to 2015, Design Consultant 2015 to Present
When looking at 2020 and being our 15th anniversary, we decided to celebrate by bringing back print. We now produce high quality print copies you can find around town and we are now offering up a new program, The Lowcountry Dog Society, to be more in touch with our readers. ■
Turns out Leah thought I did. What a joy it was to meet people all over the Lowcountry with a love for dogs. I photographed thousands of dogs (if you count all the Pet Fest model contestants) and had a blast. Life took me away from the Lowcountry but I’m glad to still be a part of the pack all these years later, working on the Lowcountry Dog website remodel coming soon.
I remember nervously clicking send on the email to Leah England on Tuesday in February way back in 2010. I was so nervous. I’d been a photographer for just a couple of years, but did I have the chops to work for a magazine? Little did I know that one day I would really feel like one of the pack.
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1447 Folly Rd. 843.795.1110 pethelpers.org
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In The News PETLAND SUMMERVILLE SUED OVER SELLING SICK PUPPIES A group of consumers filed a lawsuit in the Dorchester County Court of Common Pleas against the owners of the local pet store Petland Summerville, along with its franchisor, the international pet store chain Petland Inc. The complaint alleges that the defendants violated South Carolina consumer protection laws by knowingly and fraudulently selling sick puppies to unsuspecting consumers, causing the consumers to suffer tremendous emotional and financial harm. The James Island law firm Kidd Corvey & Simpson is representing the plaintiffs, with assistance from attorneys in the Animal Protection Law department at the Humane Society of the United States.
IT’s SAFE TO GO IN THE WILD! We are thrilled to reintroduce ourselves to the Greater Charleston Area: We are The Wild Pet Stores of Charleston, SC, formerly known as All is Well in both West Ashley and James Island. We have been serving the pets and pet lovers in the community for the last 16 years with the highest quality food and nutritional advice in the area. We’re still here, just with a new name, an updated store, the most unique treats, highest quality diets, and professional pet nutrition education services.
LOCAL RESCUE STORY: PRAYERS FOR GRADY With the motto “More Love Less Cruelty”, Valiant Animal Rescue has served the community for more than a decade. Valiant is a 501-C3 nonprofit operating in North and South Carolina. The organization sets itself apart from other rescues specializing in cruelty cases, including dogfighting, puppy mills, and gunshot wounds. Executive Director Michelle Reid is an animal cruelty investigator and consultant. Her areas of expertise include animal cruelty consulting for Government Entities, animal forensics, management and coordination of animal seizes, and training local law and animal control officers.
Click images above to read the full story. For more top stories, visit www.lowcountrydog.com/top-stories
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Puppies, Possums and Perseverance: C a r o l L i n v i l l e ’s L e g a c y o f Animal Advocacy
W R I T T E N BY : N ATA SSI A D O N O H U E
You would never believe that the energetic woman zipping around Pet Helpers with anything from a cat to an egret in her arms has just celebrated her 75th birthday. That’s Carol Linville for you, founder of Pet Helpers and animal advocate extraordinaire. For as long as she can remember, Carol has been a passionate animal lover and for the last 42 years, she has put her heart and soul into Pet Helpers. Her efforts have saved more than 49,000 animals over the years and the legacy she built through Pet Helpers continues to make a difference in the Lowcountry. “My first rescue was Trouble, a little ‘Benji’ dog I saw crawling along Folly Road on my way to work in 1978,” Carol said. “That was just the beginning! It doesn’t matter where the animal is or what is wrong, they rely on us and need us.” As sad as a situation like Trouble’s is, Carol was inspired by a more horrific situation years before. In 1976, Carol learned the horrific reality of euthanasia facing many shelter animals when she read a news article that reported more than 8,000 shelter animals were euthanized every year. The more Carol researched, the more she saw a lack of education and available resources for stray and abandoned
animals and the more she saw a need for help. Armed with that knowledge and a kind, compassionate heart, Carol’s first endeavor in animal welfare was to start a “Pet of the Week” column in the James Island Journal. She also began rescuing dogs here and there with the help of her friends and family, leading to the foundation of Pet Helpers in 1978. Pet Helpers mission is to keep all animals until adopted and the organization became the first nokill shelter in Charleston. Carol went on to explain that the biggest challenge was changing the mindset that euthanasia was the answer to the problem of pet overpopulation and stray/abandoned animals. In realizing that, Carol became a passionate advocate in taking her efforts to the next level. Changing the laws surrounding animal welfare and becoming involved in animal cruelty prosecution were the next step in her mission to save lives. “I personally drafted the first animal welfare ordinance for Charleston County in 1988 and it passed within six months--that was just the beginning!” Carol explained. “In 1989, I worked to get Folly Beach to pass a similar ordinance and have assisted in the passage of several local and state
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ordinances, including South Carolina’s first bill making animal cruelty a felony in the year 2000. Attending the signing of the bill in Columbia with the governor at the time was a proud moment for everyone involved.” While effecting change on the municipal level, Carol has also successfully effected change in other areas of animal welfare. She was able to stop the sale of county shelter animals for experimental purposes; she also became involved in actively monitoring feral cat communities and implementing a trap-neuter-return (TNR) strategy to reduce the feral cat population and prevent the transmission of disease among them. She has helped other shelters succeed and has helped organize disaster relief efforts for shelters, pet owners and other community members in need in and outside of the United States. Carol also became directly involved in animal control for Folly Beach and continues her efforts today, responding to various calls from stray or abandoned animals to injured wildlife. She quite literally brought an egret with an injured wing to Pet Helpers one day and kept it safe until she personally transported it to a wildlife rehabber. Carol’s dedication did not go unnoticed. The John Ancrum SPCA, which was a feature in Carol’s “Pet of the Week” column, recognized her efforts by awarding her their service award from 1980 through 1984, and
recognizing her as the Humanitarian of the Year in 1998. In the early 1990s, Carol was also recognized through various community awards including Folly Beach Citizen of the year. In 2004, Carol was honored to receive the South Carolina Veterinary Association’s Humanitarian of the Year Award. She was most recently recognized as a South Carolina Association of Fundraising Professionals 2013 National Philanthropy Day Honoree for founding Pet Helpers and associated philanthropic efforts. All that recognition though--it still doesn’t compare to the joy and energy of saving an animal. “All animals are deserving of care and compassion,” she says. “I am proud of being able to save so many lives over the years, especially knowing that so much of it was done through direct contact with our community. It was done without cell phones and emails, but through personal calls, many long days, and hours spent on the road--one person can make a difference.” ■
Do you know an animal advocate that deserves to be featured here? Reach out to contact@lowcountrydog.com
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GO GREEN | ADOPT A RECYCLED DOG
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THESE ADOPTABLE DOGS ARE SPONSORED BY:
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BERKELEY ANIMAL SHELTER
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GO GREEN | ADOPT A RECYCLED DOG
BULLIES TO THE RESCUE
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THESE ADOPTABLE DOGS ARE SPONSORED BY:
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LAKESIDE ANIMAL RESCUE
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Events Aug ust T hro u g h S e p te m b er! Lowco unt r y Dog A d o p t i o n P ro mo t i o n wi t h Mag nol ia P l an tat i o n! 9 / 1 3 / 2 0 2 0 Dog Day Afternoon W an n amaker Park 2 Sessi on s 1 0 - 1 2 & 1 - 3 pm
9 / 2 7 / 2 0 2 0 Lowco unt r y Dog A d o p t i o n Even t Pav al i on Fiel d a t Ma gn ol ia Pl ant a t i on 1 - 5 pm
1 1 / 1 / 2 0 2 0 D ia De Los Pe r ros Fest i val Tatt ooed Mo ose J ohn s I sl an d 3 - 6 pm
1 / 1 6 / 2 0 2 1 6 th A n n u al Ea t, Dri n k & Rescue Smoky O ak Tap room 1 - 5 pm
3 / 2 0 / 2 0 2 0 Pe t Fest a n d Lowcoun tr y Dog Mode l Co n test Palmett o Isl and s Count y Park 12 - 5 pm
3 / 2 7 / 2 0 2 1 WOOFSTOCK 2 02 1: A Lowcoun tr y Dog Music Festi val Hanah an Amph it h eat er 11 - 7 p m
5 / 1 / 2 0 2 1 May th e Dogs Be With Yo u Festi val Deep W at er Vineyard 10 - 5 pm
6 / 6 / 2 0 2 1 Lowcoun tr y Dog Days of Su mme r
Tatt ooed Moose Joh ns Isl and 3 to 6 pm
DUE TO COVID- 19 REST RICT ION S SOME EVENTS A RE P OST PON ED A N D A RE SUB JECT TO CHA N GE!
C h eck out our Event s page for e ve n more local event s and ch eck a n d date changes. www.lowcountr ydog.com/ even ts
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G OLD PASS PARKS. EVENTS. DISCOUNTS.
C H A R L E S TO N CO U N T Y PA R KS .CO M CHARLESTON COUNTY DOG PARKS James Island County Park Mount Pleasant Palmetto Islands County Park North Charleston County Park w w w . l o w cWannamaker ountrydog.com
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“MY FASHION PHILOSOPHY IS, IF YOU’RE NOT COVERED IN DOG HAIR, YOUR LIFE IS EMPTY” -Elayne Booster
sniff us out on social media @lowcountrydog or read all our issues at lowcountrydog.com
