Lowcountry Dog Magazine- December 2022

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

HEALTH & WELLNESS:

A Tribute to Sweet Isabel.

June 29, 2022 to November 19, 2022

Isabel Tapia was born June 29, 2022, in Summerville, South Carolina, the daughter of Elizabeth Jean Tapia. Isabel was the most beautiful tiny human one could ever meet, inside and out. Her short four months of life were filled with so much joy, so much laughter, many adventures, and so much love. She was incredibly smart and learned so quickly. Her favorite thing in the world was, of course, her mommy, and right behind that, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.

Isabel entered eternal rest on Saturday, November 19th at 4 months and 21 days old. We at Lowcountry Dog adore her mother Elizabeth, and she and her daughter have been very special

to our Media Manager, Alyssa, and our Canine Correspondent, Lovey. Lovey, who is scared of most humans, loved her little cousin and loved to cuddle with her daily. They quickly became best friends. She has been looking for little Isabel everyday since.

This unexpected loss has torn her family into pieces; our lives will never be the same and there is nothing that could possibly fill this void. Like her mom Elizabeth, Isabel was the light in all of her family and her mom’s best friends’ lives. Elizabeth allowed me to be a big part of watching Isabel grow and I will be forever grateful. One of the best parts of my life was being a part of hers. Four and a half months was much too short, but she was already too perfect for this world. Elizabeth, you lived for her, and you proved yourself to be the best mother under some of the craziest circumstances, we love you. -Alyssa Helms

If you would like to read what Elizabeth has written, send positive thoughts and prayers to the family, or help with all the incoming, unexpected expenses coming Isabel’s mom’s way, visit the GoFundMe she has created. www.gofund.me/d68236ca

www.lowcountrydog.com

“How quietly you tiptoed into our world, almost silently, only for a moment you stayed…but what an imprint your footprints have left upon our hearts.”

2022

Featuring the perfect gift for each member of the furry family, whether an Olympic-level chewer or a real anxious type, a brand new puppy or your long-time companion, we’ve got you covered.

The Veterinary Staffing Shortage – Can we get some relief?

WRITTEN BY ELORA PASKOSKI, Relief Veterinary Professional

Most pet owners, locally and nationwide, have experienced the recent inability to secure a veterinary appointment for their sick pet or had to endure longer than normal wait times, even in the case of an emergency. These issues are not taken lightly in the veterinary industry, which is now in a constant struggle to effectively handle being inundated with appointment requests. Veterinary workers are distressed, overwhelmed, and unfortunately don’t see an end in sight.

You may then ask what is creating these issues? The simple answer is that the industry as a whole is experiencing a nationwide staffing crisis. Staffing issues are not a new problem in veterinary medicine, but they have worsened significantly due to the effects of the pandemic. Most clinics and hospitals are simply struggling to recover, while the demand for vet care seems to have increased. The staffing crisis can be attributed to a variety of factors, all coming together to result in exponentially higher turnover rates in a field that currently not many people want to enter. This leaves the industry in dire need of employees, but with no one to hire. Between being overworked and underpaid, the perceived lack of appreciation by employers and clients, and the overwhelming levels of burnout experienced by veterinary staff, a career that someone was once passionate about may now simply not seem worth it.

The staffing shortage is not only affecting veterinary employees, but also pet parents and the pets themselves. It is not uncommon to have

to wait weeks for a vet appointment nowadays, no matter the reason. Even scarier are the extended wait times at emergency clinics since their limited staff is simply unable to handle the overwhelming workload. There are several emergency clinics that are so short staffed that they are forced to close their doors for days to weeks at a time, severely limiting the number of emergencies that can be seen in that area and inundating the emergency clinics that are luckily able to remain open.

With the stress that comes with these abnormally long wait times, clients have become increasingly intolerant, impatient, and at times downright aggressive with veterinary staff. The lack of appreciation and understanding from some clients has contributed to staff burnout. Imagine working for 14 hours with no lunch break to ensure all patients are adequately cared for, running around trying to get as many patients seen as possible to avoid turning patients away, only to be berated by an angry client who insinuates you don’t care about their pet. It’s beyond disheartening to work so tirelessly and

care so deeply for your patients and their wellbeing, only to have an unhappy client tell you that you aren’t trying hard enough.

How do we fix this, you wonder? Well, there are many issues in veterinary medicine that need to be rectified in order to increase job retention and employees’ job satisfaction. Of course, one would be to ensure you have adequate staff to reduce burnout occurrences, but that’s hard to do if there is no staff to hire, right? That’s when some clinics have discovered veterinary relief companies, such as Charleston Veterinary Staffing Solutions, which provides additional staff when needed without the hassle and expense of recruiting, hiring, and training new employees. By utilizing relief companies, clinics can continue to operate without overworking their staff to cover the employee shortage.

Charleston Veterinary Staffing Solutions, owned by Desiree Riniker and Rachel Stewart, recognizes the shortcomings of the veterinary field, and aims to change them, benefitting their staff and the patients they treat. They provide veterinary staffing solutions that allow clinics to focus on the care of their patients, not on recruitment and hiring. Whether it is for short term coverage to allow staff to take their much deserved time off, or long term coverage while clinics take their time to hire the right fit for their practice, Charleston Veterinary Staffing Solutions has it covered. They thoroughly interview applicants to ensure they are hiring the best the industry has to offer in the interest of providing clinics quality relief workers to fit their needs - not just technicians, but assistants and client service representatives as well.

Charleston Veterinary Staffing Solutions provides clinics with experienced extra hands that could very well keep them from having to close their doors due to staffing shortages. They also focus on the well-being of their employees

by encouraging a healthy work-life balance and understanding the importance of mental health wellness. By truly caring about their employees’ well-being, they decrease burnout and increase retention and job satisfaction. Veterinary workers that may have lost their purpose and considered leaving the field now have a renewed passion and love for the field. It seems easier to remember why they entered veterinary medicine in the first place.

As a local business, it has the added perk of getting to know their employees on a more personal level. Employees aren’t just workers to Charleston Veterinary Staffing Solutions, they are family. This mindset sets them apart from corporate relief companies that perhaps don’t get the same interaction with each employee. Encouragement, understanding, and having a true interest in each employee are just some of what helps keep their staff happy and satisfied, allowing them to provide clinics with the best they have to offer.

The veterinary industry is projected to grow up to 19% by 2030, higher than the national average, meaning the staffing shortage may not be ending any time soon. To counteract this, clinics need to invest more into their employees to increase job satisfaction and retention; the overall pay scale needs to increase so employees can effectively survive on their wages; and clinics need to maintain appropriate staffing to reduce employee burnout due to the prolonged stress of being overworked.

Next time you take your furry loved ones to the vet, please be sure to thank the staff for all of their hard work and try to be understanding and patient. We are all trying our best and only want to help your pet. We know the frustration and anxiety is immense, but please know this is not an ideal situation for either side, and we are all on the same team with the same goals. ■

MUSC CANINE THERAPISTS

WRITTEN BY CATHY C. BENNETT Therapy Animal Coordinator, MUSC AAAIP Board of Directors

“We have a young woman in her mid-twenties who is dying of cancer. She doesn’t have long to live. She is surrounded by family now, and her mother is desperate to have a therapy dog visit her. Will you and Bodie please do this?”

Bodie is a six-year-old apricot-colored impeccably groomed Golden Retriever, known around campus as having the smoothest head to pat and caress. Patients and staff cannot get enough of his silky “crown.”

As the nurse led both Bob (his handler) and Bodie to the patient’s room, Bob remembers seeing six people representing three generations. The patient’s mother moved towards Bob with a look of relief and gratitude on her face. “I promised my daughter that I would find a therapy dog to visit her today, and I am so grateful that you and Bodie came, ‘’ she said.

The nurse adjusted the bed so Bob could get Bodie’s head within view and reach of the patient’s hand. She moaned softly and her eyes flashed open and closed as her mother moved her hand to Bodie’s head. Bodie seemed to understand the intent and gently nuzzled the edge of the mattress, keeping his head within the patient’s reach.

“Look at this beautiful Golden Retriever who came to see you! Can you open your eyes to see him?” her mother said.

Her eyes blinked and she uttered a few soft

sounds. Bob wasn’t quite certain if she was really able to focus on Bodie, but it didn’t matter. What mattered was that her mother believed her daughter saw him and felt his soft, silky head, which fulfilled her promise to her daughter. It was that single moment that filled Bob’s heart – he and Bodie had become part of a mother’s final gift to her dying daughter.

MAGIC IS REAL TO ME -

when it comes to therapy animals. Their intuitiveness mixed with compassion and empathy is evident in the human animal connection we observe as their handlers.

Their magic is like gifts to a healthcare institution. They can improve a patient’s health and clinical outcome, which could ultimately reduce medical costs. Certified therapy dogs not only reduce stress, depression, and lower blood pressure, they eradicate loneliness and anxiety. Animal Assisted Activity (AAA) is, has, and always will be the foundation to the practices of the therapy animal.

Visitation is key to patients and family members, as well as medical personnel. Research has proven Animal Assisted Therapy/ Intervention (AAT/AAI) can be used as a complementary form of therapy that involves animals as part of the patient’s treatment. We are learning everyday how to incorporate these animals in the patient’s healing process. Research also shows us that goal-oriented and structured interventions intentionally incorporated with therapy dogs for the sole purpose of therapeutic gains are consistently proving enhanced clinical outcomes.

SEVERAL YEARS AGO -

Our focus shifted towards the inclusion of canine therapeutic services.

MUSC offers a nonprofit student-run organization called CARES (Community Aid, Relief, Education and Support), which is a clinic that provides free medical care to uninsured residents of South Carolina. Two years ago, therapy dogs began assisting the occupational and physical therapists there.

In no time, they became the best of friends and always ended each session with a hug.

Jaxson and I were assigned to a patient with Parkinson’s disease. He has difficulty with hand tremors, balance, mobility, and fine motor tasks. Bowling was an activity to address those areas. The patient would bowl with a tennis ball in different stances to work on balance while throwing. Jaxson would retrieve the ball for him and stay with him as he bent down to reset the cones.

A patient experiencing difficulty fastening buttons, zippers and snaps on his clothing due to a brain bleed as a result of a car accident found Jaxson, wearing a customized vest complete with all the items a person will encounter when getting dressed, to be a breath of fresh air. Jax, donned in his vest, would stand still while he retrained both his brain and hands on how to dress himself.

Whether there’s weakness/incoordination due to a brain bleed, or in this case a stroke, there is always something a therapy dog can be used for to inspire a patient to try harder - it can be something as simple as brushing a dog to regain mobility in your hand and/or wrist.

Patients’ motivation improved, and attendance increased when paired with a therapy dog to assist in the difficult tasks that come with occupational/physical therapy.

AN ONLINE LIBRARY -

Stories for our inpatient pediatric population launched following our eight-month pandemic hiatus. While on furlough, children had no access to the therapy dogs. PAWsome Story Time is now available 24/7 through our Get-Well Network system. Patients can watch dozens of their favorite dog handlers read age-appropriate stories as their pups sit and listen along.

Each year, we try to answer the call, whether it’s for a local school, Joint base Charleston, City of Charleston, Charleston International Airport and, most recently, the Charleston City Police Department.

Now when a child starts to feel lonely, or is too ill to get out of bed, the story time library is at their fingertips with the click of a remote in the comfort of their room. We hope to offer this same complimentary service to pediatric outpatient clinics, and emergency waiting room areas throughout the MUSC Enterprise in 2023.

COMMUNITY

ENGAGEMENT -

is essential in my world. As a military spouse to a retired career Army Officer, I am passionate about giving my time and talent in the community where I live. The Medical University of South Carolina is substantial in size to Charleston, so it just makes sense for the MUSC Canine Therapy Crew to “do our part” and bring tail wagging happiness where we can.

This year we are happy to partner with our brave men and women in blue. Accompanying them to community events and providing precinct wellness visits (in addition to our hospital commitments) will be our primary role. However, their new K-9 Therapy Crew will also be a phone call away should a devastating event occur. Police officers deal with demanding and stressful days. I have a hard time comprehending how one decompresses after responding to murders, sexual assaults, child abuse, rapes and suicides. Research has discovered that dogs create a nonjudgmental environment of unconditional love, psychological happiness and comfort. After any traumatic crisis, if they need us, we will be there.

OUR TEAMis one that prides itself on the hospital’s mission statement – changing what’s possible in healthcare. I’d like to think we’re contributing with an innovative approach, one paw at a time! When teamed with physicians, therapists and nurses, canine intervention assists our patients to reach their health goals, remain positive, and motivated.

The strong human/animal bond between the clinical staff and the therapy dogs has become quite evident over the years, as they help unleash work fatigue.

“There’s something very special about aiding another human being. To be able to do that with your therapy dog by your side takes it to an entirely new level.”

Teams currently service four major hospitals in Charleston, two large surgical outpatient pediatric clinics, and more than nine ambulatory clinics throughout the Lowcountry.

I am often asked: “I’d like to volunteer in your program, how can my dog become a therapy dog?” A certified therapy dog must be a friendly dog. Breed is not limited to any specific type. Basic commands are essential, and therapy dogs should have already reached adulthood. Most organizations will not test puppies under the age of one year.

Your dog should be well-mannered and socialized, display no leash aggression tendencies, and not be easily spooked by moving objects like skateboards, wheelchairs or walkers.

Having your dog registered or certified with a national therapy animal organization is mandatory in most facilities. Many interested in

becoming a therapy animal handler seek formal training before testing, which is not required, but certainly understandable if professional assistance can redirect areas of concern like barking or failure to heel.

A PATIENT ONCE

SAID -

“These dogs and their handlers dramatically changed my life while in the hospital and for that I will be forever grateful. I can’t tell you how many doctors have walked into my room during a therapy dog visit and said I looked better than they’ve ever seen me. That’s the true power of a therapy dog. I have many memories of days as an inpatient that tested my strength and challenged my positive outlook. It was those days that the dogs meant the most to me. The work they do is incredible and genuinely life changing.”

There’s something very special about aiding another human being. To be able to do that with your therapy dog by your side takes it to an entirely new level.

If you would like to learn more about our program, or have any questions - you can reach me at bennetca@musc.edu ■

Photography by Southern Vintage Photography

In Memory of Bear, who crossed the Rainbow Bridge on December 8, 2022

WRITTEN BY CATHY C. BENNETT

Therapy Animal Coordinator, MUSC AAAIP Board of Directors Creator of Groovy Goldendoodles Girls with Dogs Podcast Co-host

Every year when the leaves start to separate from the trees and football games take ownership of our weekends, giddiness tugs on our heart strings at the mere thought of making holiday wishes come true. The definition of a wish is “a hope or strong desire for something that is not easily obtainable.” Yet, this is the season where the emphasis is magnified, whether it’s for you or someone else. This is the season where wishes seem much more attainable.

That special someone else who your wish is focused on could also be your beloved furvorite canine companion. You might be wishing for tangible items like puzzle food toys, a new dog bed, or something more magical like improved health or maybe a little more time together.

Kyle Kelly’s priority is on the latter for his beloved Bear as he watches an incurable painless disease invade this gentle ten-year-old Bernese Mountain dog’s body.

If you’ve lived in the Holy City long enough to experience the holiday season, chances are you’ve heard of or visited the well-known King Street attraction called Uncle Kyle’s Sweater Emporium. The store opens annually right after Labor Day and remains open seven days a week until after Valentine’s Day.

Together Kyle and Bear welcome humans of all ages into the store to help them sift through thousands of nostalgic holiday sweaters. As Kyle operates the register, Bear’s tri-colored markings on his regal profile - along with his trademark dangling tongue - beckon everyone to stop, kneel down and either rub his head, scratch his back, give him a hug or take a selfie. In those moments, people experience the magic of Bear.

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to investigate. What they don’t know is that Bear can’t get up. Two years ago he was diagnosed with Canine Degenerative Myelopathy, a chronic incurable, progressive disease of the canine spinal cord. The symptoms are parallel to the human illness known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease.

This gentle giant was born on St. Patrick’s Day and Bear and Kyle have been a duo since he was 7 weeks old.

transplant recipients, nurses, physicians, and non-clinical staff members. In three and a half years, Kyle and Bear have logged in more than 900 hours sharing tail wagging happiness with thousands of people.

Bear has become a legend to hundreds of MUSC staff members. Everyone knows him! Imagine my surprise, as I waited for sedation before my colonoscopy procedure - being probed #punintended - about Bear!

Our wishes reflect our dreams for the future. I can only imagine how wishes of a hospitalized patient have given way to hope while awaiting tests, surgeries and treatment. I can’t help but surmise Bear has been trying to show us how our desires are connected to the heart and our emotions of yearning.

As a therapy dog, Bear has figured out how to make humans feel special if only for a moment.

“Living with Bear is like living with a cartoon character; he’s animated and goofy” says Kyle, which is what convinced him to pursue a therapy animal certification. The five-year-old Bear was a natural helping those struggling with physical and mental illness, along with healthcare workers experiencing stress, anxiety and workplace fatigue.

Gravitating to everyone he meets at the Medical University of South Carolina, Bear has touched the hearts of pediatric cancer patients, organ

Bear’s hotspot healed, but the shaved hip area was still visible. Nurses approached Kyle as soon as Bear’s paws exited the elevator. A little boy, struggling with his recent hair loss, was becoming a recluse not engaging with anyone - until Bear.

Bear entered the room and laid down by the child’s hospital bed, while Kyle struck up a conversation with the parents. When the child noticed Bear’s shaven hair area, he sat on the floor and slowly started to pet Bear. He asked about the hotspot and Kyle explained the vet shaved the area to allow Bear’s “boo-boo” to heal. There were no words to describe what happened next. The tiny nine-yearold placed his head on Bear’s chest telling him he, too, lost his hair because the doctors needed to fix his “boo-boo called cancer.” He reassured Bear they would both get better and their hair would grow back. Need I say, there wasn’t a dry eye in the room.

This is one of countless experiences Kyle has

witnessed in Bear’s presence with patients. In 2019, Bear won the prestigious Healthcare Hero Award in the therapy animal category from the SC Biz News, a well-deserved title for a dedicated canine therapist.

Last year Bear’s symptoms progressed and his hind legs were failing him. Kyle initially thought they should stop but Bear loves to volunteer, and a little collective innovative thinking prevailed. A red wooden wagon with a padded bottom became Bear’s mode of transportation. Now he could resume visitation to those who needed him most. Supplied with black Sharpies, MUSC staff members sign Bear’s chariot as he rolls down hospital halls.

Sitting in the wagon, Bear’s height is perfect for the average patient’s bed reach. Kyle says he’s not sure how much “gas” Bear’s got in his tank, but they’re going to “run it wide open till it’s empty.”

At the time of publishing this article, it was discovered that Bear had a tumor on his spleen that was bleeding and could rupture at any time. Kyle decided to give him a few days to say his goodbyes at the hospital and the store and he crossed the Rainbow Bridge on December 8th. We chose to hold on publishing until now as we wanted his story to be completed.

Bear knew wishes come from the heart, and he understood the importance to those who truly needed them to get through tough times every single day of the year. I believe this is Bear’s holiday wish for himself and all those he’s helped along the way. We will miss you Bear! ■

Local Dog Events

12/10/2022 Ugly Sweater Party Seaside Pet Spa 12 pm

12/10/2022 Rita’s Santa Paws & Folly Beach Christmas Parade Folly Beach 10 to 3 pm

12/10/2022 Salty Dog Meet N Greet at Bagel Cafe Pawleys Island 7 am to 2 pm

12/11/2022 Biergarten’s 4th Annual Christkindlmarkt Bay Street Biergarten 11 am to 2 pm

12/14/2022 Paws & Pints Crooked Hammock Brewery, N Myrtle Beach 4 to 7pm

12/17/2022 Lowcountry Dog’s Home for the Holidays Smoky Yolk Cafe 1:00 to 4:00pm

12/17/2022 Holiday Market Firefly Distillery 12 pm

12/31/2022 Totally Pawsome 80’s New Years Party -Fundraising FurBall for Berkeley Animal Center New Realm Brewing 8 pm

02/11/2023 Dog Days of Winter Whitewater in Charlotte 8:30 am to 1:30 pm

2023 LOWCOUNTRY DOG EVENTS

02/25/2023 Lowcountry Dog’s 8th Annual Eat, Drink, & Rescue Eat, Drink, & Rescue Estuary Brewery 1:00 to 5:00pm

03/25/2023 Woofstock: A Lowcountry Dog Music Festival Hanahan Amphitheater Gates at 11:00 am woofstock.live for tickets 05/2023 May the Dogs Be With You Festival

09/2023 Lowcountry Dog’s Bark in the Park 10/2023 Lowcountry Dogapalooza Festival 11/2023 Dia De Los Perros 12/2023 Home for the Holidays

Check out our Events page for even more local events and to check for date changes. www.lowcountrydog.com/events

02/25/2023

Lowcountry Dog’s 8th Annual Eat, Drink, & Rescue Eat, Drink, & Rescue Estuary Brewery 1:00 to 5:00pm

03/04/2023 Annual Oyster Roast for Carolina Coonhound 1113 Sam Rittenberg Blvd 12 to 5 pm

Lady Gaga Dognapping Shooter Sentenced to 21 Years in Prison, Confronted by Victim in Court

ALMOST TWO YEARS after he was shot in the chest and left bleeding on a sidewalk because he refused to hand over Lady Gaga’s beloved French bulldogs, Ryan Fischer was in a Los Angeles courtroom Monday as the man who pulled the trigger was sentenced to 21 years in prison.

A woman who recently moved to Texas says her move is not complete without her best friend and pup.

Meagan Ogg said Jackson, a pit bull, husky, and Scottish terrier mix, is her everything, but he has gone missing.

Jackson has one blue eye and one brown eye, so he should be very recognizable. But so far, no one has seen him for a month and a half.

“He [Jackson] went missing when I was on vacation in California,” Ogg said.

Georgia sheepdog fights off, kills 8 coyotes after pack attacks his sheep

A Georgia sheepdog is recovering from injuries after squaring off against a pack of coyotes, killing eight of them, while protecting his flock.

Casper, a sheepdog who works on John Wierwiller’s Georgia farm, fought off the more than half a dozen coyotes in a fight that lasted over half an hour, WAGA-TV reported.

Wierwiller says that Casper disappeared for two days after the brutal fight.

Click images above to read the full story. For more top stories, visit www.lowcountrydog.com/top-stories

‘I need him’: Dog owner drives hours every weekend searching for missing pet

WRITTEN BY: CHELSEA SALERNO, Copy Editor

We would like to introduce you to the 4 nominees for the 2022 Lowcountry Dog Animal Advocate of the Year. We asked our rescue groups what individuals they would like to nominate for this award. We choose four people from dozens of nominees to go up for the award. Voting will be posted on our social media and the winner will be announced in our February Issue.

MEET THE NOMINEES

Tina Waters of Dorchester Paws believes that all animals deserve to live their best life and works tirelessly to provide the resources and time to ensure they can do just that by finding them forever homes. She spends her days volunteering as a dog walker at Dorchester Paws and donates her company’s time and resources with her husband, Wayne, providing signage and

materials for the campus and shelter to operate better. Together they help adoption events run smoothly by transporting adoptable animals to events as well as providing on-site support. Tina and Wayne work all of the events at the shelter and are always there in a pinch for whatever needed. Since Dorchester Paws has a small staff, Tina will give presentations at area schools, runs the shelter’s community programs and volunteers in any way to help the homeless animals have a better day. As if that isn’t enough, she brings a dog to her office to promote them through the shelter’s “Professional Paws” program. Tina is truly a selfless individual. If she isn’t spending the day with her church group, she is working to improve the lives of Dorchester Paws’ animals every day, any way she can.

Lori Nebel is the owner of a Pet Supplies Plus franchises located in Goose Creek and Murrells Inlet. Her rescue adventure began the same as many of ours did: by volunteering at a local animal shelter in her home state (Massachusetts). She opened her own pet store in 2014 and began networking with local shelters to plan adoption events and fundraisers to be held in her store. Through this networking, she found like-minded individuals and assisted in the start of Sinbad Sadie Second Chance Rescue, where she served on the board as well as volunteered for events, transported animals, sponsored medical cases, and fostered animals. Being a part of the rescue

community is something that Lori values greatly and knows that even the smallest gestures can have great significance. She currently has three dogs and is reminded every day that even though animal rescue is hard work, “it is heartwarming and gives you butterflies knowing you made a difference, and you can see the good that comes out of it”. Be sure to check her store out next time you are in the area, maybe even stop to chat with her and learn how you can engage in your community animal rescue too!

as critical to rescue as the next.” In the future, she hopes Eunoia can continue their success in saving lives and respects their constant devotion to dogs across the Lowcountry.

Lifelong lover of animals Sarah Linden grew up with parents who were always taking in strays and rescuing animals in need. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree! Sarah is entirely devoted to doing what she can for animal rescue, and Eunoia Rescue in particular is near and dear to her heart. She first became aware of the rescue group after seeing a picture they posted of a dog that she and her husband just KNEW they had to adopt! Since adopting Jeffry in 2019, Sarah has been an important member of the Eunoia volunteer team. Her compassionate parents instilled a love and respect for animals and because of that, she has helped rescue many animals herself. She understands how crucial nonprofit rescues can be, and particularly resonated with the women at Eunoia. When asked what she wished people understood more about rescue, she explained “the goal is the same across the board. It doesn’t matter the rescue, as the end goal is to make these animals’ lives better. The other thing is that no amount of help is too small. If you can donate, donate! If you can transport, transport! If you can volunteer time, organize food drives, walk dogs, help trap, etc., then do whatever you can. The list is endless, and everything is just

Erin Cannon volunteers at a local animal shelter, as well as several rescue organizations such as Libby and Mace’s Place. She goes to the shelter three mornings a week before work to spend time with dogs who are struggling to learn social skills. She also volunteers on the emergency transport team to get dogs out of harm’s way before or after a disaster such as when a hurricane strikes. She guesses she interacts with around 100 dogs a week and has had close to 20 foster dogs at her house this year alone! Her passion for rescue began nearly a decade ago when she began volunteering for an organization called Dogs on Deployment, a rescue with a mission to prevent soldiers from having to rehome their pups through their deployment. Since then, she has helped save countless dogs in our area. Erin finds so many rewarding moments in rescue, from opening her home to foster dogs, bringing a dog to an adoption event, sponsoring medical fees, and even treating the medical needs of a dog. She plans to continue working to find every misplaced dog a home and genuinely believes that no matter what the breed, temperament, sex or age, every dog is adoptable! ■

THESE ADOPTABLE DOGS ARE SPONSORED BY:

BERKELEY ANIMAL CENTER

PET HELPERS CAROLINA COONHOUND

THESE ADOPTABLE DOGS ARE SPONSORED BY:

BULLIES

THESE ADOPTABLE DOGS ARE SPONSORED BY:

EUNOIA RESCUE

CAROLINA POODLE RESCUE

LIBBY AND MACE’S PLACE

LAKESIDE

SALTY DOG SENIOR RESCUE

HALLIE HILL

DORCHESTER PAWS

THESE ADOPTABLE DOGS ARE SPONSORED BY:

CAROLINA BOXER RESCUE

For more than 40 years, Charleston has hosted one of the most beloved events in the Southeast. SEWE is a celebration of the great outdoors through fine art, live entertainment, and special events. It is where artists, conservationists, collectors, and sporting enthusiasts come together to enjoy the outdoor lifestyle and connect through a shared passion for wildlife. This Is SEWE.