South Carolina’s Shelters Are in Crisis!

F E A T U R E S T O R Y

WRITTEN BY HALI SELERT, 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 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

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 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. ■