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 Carolinas’ number one 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 Lowcountrybased pet non-profits, and we promote pet adoption and other responsible pet care practices.
Founded in Charleston, South Carolina in 2005 as a print magazine. From 2015 through 2019, we went digital. in 2020, print returned and we have grown to become “The Carolinas’ Source for All Things Dog,” with print distribution throughout the Carolinas, and digital readers worldwide.
Every issue of Lowcountry Dog Magazine is dedicated to Peanut, our Chief Canine Officer from 2005 to 2023, and Alyssa Helms, our Media Manager from 2020 to 2024.
Publisher
Brian Foster brian@lowcountrydog.com
Chief Canine Officer
Lovey social@lowcountrydog.com
Media Assistant
Samantha Stinner media@lowcountrydog.com
Canine Correspondent
Tula
Staff Writers
Chelsea Salerno
Jeanne Taylor
Photographers
Southern Vintage Photography
Jeanne Taylor Photography
Contributing Writers
Dr. Suzy Shannon
Mandy Yovanovic
For advertising and media inquiries please email contact@lowcountrydog.com
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Lovey’s Lowcountry Livin’: Celebrating 20 Years of Lowcountry Dog
Sit, Stay, Behave... In Memoriam: Karen Pryor
HEALTH & WELLNESS: My Pet Needs a Dental Procedure
FEATURE STORY: MICROCHIPS: Your Pet’s Best Ticket Home
A Day in the Life of an ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER
LOCAL DOG EVENTS
IN THE NEWS
RESCUE SPOTLIGHT: Coming Soon: The Wiggle Ranch
GO GREEN: Adopt A Recycled Dog!
Cover Photo & Above Photo by Southern Vintage Photography
2025: A Landmark Year For Lowcountry Dog
Woof woof! Hey there, dog lovers! It’s me, Lovey, the Chief Canine Officer for Lowcountry Dog Magazine.
I’m so excited because 2025 is a big year for my magazine! Can you believe it’s been 20 years since Lowcountry Dog Magazine started sharing stories about all us amazing pups? Time flies when you’re having fun, and I’ve had a blast being their CCO!
We have some amazing events scheduled for this year:
- SEWE is February 14th through the 16th
- Our 10th annual Eat, Drink, & Rescue on Feb 22nd
- Our 5th Woofstock: A Lowcountry Dog Music Festival on April 12th
- May the Dogs Be With You Festival on May 17th
Lovey's lowcountry livin’
We also have our Model Contest, which starts with open entries on March 1st to find our calendar models for 2026 as well as a cover model.
We will also be launching a new video series with our Canine Correspondent, Tula, where she checks out hot spots in the Lowcountry and gives you her opinion, from dog parks, beaches, pet stores, doggie daycares, and more.
I’m so grateful to the whole Lowcountry Dog Pack. And I’m even more excited to see what the next 20 years bring! We’ve got so many more adventures to share, so many more pups to meet, and so many more tails to wag.
So here’s to 20 years of Lowcountry Dog Magazine, and here’s to 20 more! Woof! ■
In Memoriam: Karen Pryor
WRITTEN BY JEANNE TAYLOR Staff Writer
If you have heard of clicker training, you should have heard of Karen Pryor, it’s creator, who used her vast knowledge and training with marine mammals to develop this positive reinforcement technique now widely used in dog training. While she was born into a family of creatives (her father was an author and her uncle created the television series, The Flying Nun), and married the son of famous aviator Charles Lindbergh, Pryor excelled in her own right, with multiple publishings and accolades, and even served as Marine Mammal Consultant to the US Government. She was a pioneer in her field and known as a woman who sought solutions to problems rather than accepting the status quo. She pursued the assistance of other sciences like neurobiology and ethology as needed, and even studied with brilliant minds like B. F. Skinner and Konrad Lorenz to further her evolving theories on behavioral training measures.
Born only a dozen years after women received the right to vote, Karen Pryor was ahead of her time. She attended Cornell University to earn her bachelor’s degree then worked through her graduate studies at University of Hawaii, New York University and Rutgers University.
Among her prestigious positions held, she served as co-founder, head trainer and curator at the Sea Life Park and Oceanic Institute in Waimanalo, Hawaii during her period of graduate studies and before launching her own
publishing companies, as well as the Karen Pryor Clicker Training program. She was always pursuing knowledge - and sharing it.
A talented writer and lecturer, Pryor shared her thoughts, observations, and methods en masse and, as a result, is largely credited for the humane handling and treatment now applied to animals in captivity. But her theories were not only applied to dogs – they also have been used as the foundation for improved practices in working with autistic individuals, athletes and more. It was supposed that the psychology of positive reinforcement techniques could be applied across all species and Pryor proved just that, using the same methods she had employed with dolphins and other cetaceans and translating it to dogs. She developed Karen Pryor Clicker Training as an enterprise, and further expanded the business to include ClickerExpo, a training opportunity that has seen thousands of participants. Countless families in today’s world can no doubt credit her with the well-balanced pets living in their homes today.
I asked a friend, writer and pet-business owner, Isabel Alvarez Arata, her thoughts on Pryor’s passing, and she shared the following: “I have had the pleasure to interview some of the best dog trainers in the industry and many of them, if not all, trained directly with Karen Pryor or in her Academy. They credit her for writing the best dog training book ever written, “Don’t Shoot the Dog!: The New Art of Teaching and Training.” And, since her passing, many have honored her memory and impact with words expressing profound gratitude, admiration, and unparalleled respect. They all agree, me included, that Karen Pryor was an inspiring changemaker who left the world a better place, especially for dogs.” Arata further added, “Her clicker training techniques are now used in zoos worldwide thanks to her influence and successes.”
Karen Pryor was a wife, mother, scholar, businessperson, and visionary. She was many things to many people – and other sentient beings. She passed away January 5, 2025, at the age of 92, a life well-lived for certain. ■
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P r o f e s s i o n a l D o g T r a i n i n g
S e r v i c e D o g s ( 8 4 3 ) 4 0 5 - 3 2 0 6
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www.southernvintagephotography.com | info@southernvintagephoto.com elegant portraiture for lowcountry lovers
My Pet Needs a Dental Procedure - What Do I Need to Know?
WRITTEN BY DR. SUZY SHANNON, DVM DAVDC
Veterinary Dental Care
It is common for pet parents to ask what they should expect when their pet has a dental procedure. For most dental procedures in pets, anesthesia is required and can be safer than sedation. Anesthesia has evolved in veterinary medicine to become an advanced process. Multiple anesthetic drug protocols are used rather than a large amount of one drug to minimize side effects. During the procedure, the patient’s heart rate and rhythm, blood pressure, temperature, carbon dioxide, and oxygenation saturation are monitored. There are veterinary anesthesiologists who can consult on anesthetic protocols or be present for procedures.
Anesthesia is also required for safety during a professional dental cleaning because water is involved in the cleaning and scaling process. It is necessary for a pet to have an endotracheal tube placed to keep water out of the lungs. Furthermore, intubation ensures a patent airway. Suction can also be used if the patient is anesthetized.
Anesthesia is necessary to ensure that pets’ teeth and gums are cleaned properly and to investigate any problems below the gumline. Because a dog or cat will not sit still while a dental x-ray plate is in their mouth, anesthesia is necessary for intraoral dental radiography. If a dog or cat were to chew on an x-ray plate, it may end up in his/her stomach or intestines and cause a bigger problem. The patient must stay still while the sensor is positioned properly in his/her mouth to obtain diagnostic images of up to 42 different teeth.
Some veterinary dentists use cone beam computed tomography combined with intraoral dental radiographs to detect problems. Cone beam computed tomography allows the veterinarian to examine the tooth roots separately and construct three dimensional images. This technology prevents the overlapping of bones and teeth roots so that each piece of anatomy can be seen separately.
It also detects bone loss before it can be seen on dental x-rays. Computed tomography is necessary to diagnose jaw fractures and to analyze upper molar teeth.
Most veterinary dental patients arrive early in the morning to be admitted for a dental procedure, so the team can prepare for the procedure. The team obtains a weight to calculate anesthetic drugs and obtains a resting temperature, heart rate, and respiratory rate. These are important to ensure the health of the pet and can be used to compare parameters during anesthesia.
Your pet may not be scheduled for the procedure until later in the day, but the team is still working to prepare your pet for anesthesia by performing pre-anesthetic bloodwork, quality control, finalizing an anesthetic plan, and making sure your pet is comfortable. The anesthesia usually involves preanesthetic drugs that sedate a patient and provide pain medication.
Once the patient is anesthetized, dental scaling and polishing is performed. Once again, anesthesia with endotracheal intubation is required because this can sometimes be an uncomfortable process, and water is required to cool the instruments as well as clean the oral cavity. Intraoral imaging with dental radiography is obtained and the images are examined. An anesthetized oral examination is performed in which a periodontal probe is placed underneath the gumline to measure periodontal pocket depth. At that time, the oral cavity is examined for tooth fractures and oral masses. Some teeth may not be detectable on an awake exam because the tongue covers the back bottom teeth, and tooth fractures and lesions may be in the back of the mouth and can be seen better with the pet anesthetized and lying still.
The information gathered from an oral examination is recorded in a dental chart for decision-making and future reference and comparisons. If treatment is required, it can be performed at this time or during a future anesthetic period.
After these steps, the patient is recovered from anesthesia. This is a particularly important part of the process in which the patient is monitored to ensure their vital signs are within normal limits. Recovery time is different for every patient so the time of discharge can vary.
As veterinary care for pets becomes more advanced, professional dental cleanings are recommended more often. The American Animal Hospital Association guidelines recommend preventive professional dental cleanings start at one year of age for smaller dogs and cats and 2 years of age for larger dogs. Knowledge about caring for pets’ oral health continues to advance, and veterinarians are detecting oral problems sooner and making older pets more comfortable. As the profession progresses, veterinary professionals can provide a better quality of life for our loved ones. ■
Although it is now 2025, there is still so much that needs to happen within our communities to ensure lost pets are returned home! Local shelter numbers are staggering when you see the volume of lost pets arriving at shelters daily, most of whom are found running at large without a microchip, not wearing tags and have no way to be identified other than a hope and a prayer that someone will recognize them on an intake post or page. This places an unfair burden on a system already at and often over-capacity, sometimes leaving no room for pets who truly need the safety a shelter can offer.
Slightly smaller than a grain of rice, the first microchip used in dogs occurred in 1989 in the United Kingdom, with the practice in the US becoming more popular and recognized in the 1990s. Across the pond, pet advocacy routinely seems to be well ahead of the United States –microchipping is MANDATORY in England, Wales,
and Scotland! With the animal crisis we have in the USA, it’s astounding every jurisdiction doesn’t require this potentially lifesaving addition.
How Is It Lifesaving?
While the reunification benefits are obvious, imagine this scenario. Unchipped Fluffy tunnels out of the yard and travels on foot for many miles, crossing jurisdictional lines. Fluffy lands in a local, rural, crowded shelter where they have little to no resources. The shelter scans and there is no chip located. Fluffy sits out the stray hold period (let’s assume five days for SC’s sake) and now she becomes at-risk because the shelter is full and with limited resources available, they must regularly make decisions about their population. Maybe Fluffy presents very shy or even fractious because she’s terrified in that setting, giving the impression that she’s not suitable for adoption. The sad reality is Fluffy may not make it out of the shelter alive. But with that microchip, she would make her way home to you.
Now, if Fluffy had been chipped, upon scanning by the shelter (or an animal control officer if picked up through that means), the owner of record as listed on the chip would be contacted immediately - and there would be multiple attempts to reach the owner of record. Sure, Fluffy may end up guesting at the shelter for a day or two depending on how quickly you answer your phone, but it beats the alternative!
Microchipped pets also receive a longer stray hold period at shelters than unchipped pets (14 days vs. 5 days in SC) allowing owners more time to reunite with them.
Pet theft has been on the rise in recent years. If your pet is stolen, and is taken or sold across state lines, and somehow escapes or is let go, for example, you will lose the opportunity to look for him locally. If he were microchipped and taken to a vet even across the country for some reason, the chip would lead him back to you.
Consider catastrophic weather situations: hurricanes, floods; pets do get separated from their people! Your pet relies on you for safety, and everyone who ever lost a pet during a catastrophe probably believed it would never happen to them. Microchips have reunited countless pets with their families in these situations; unchipped pets weren’t always so lucky.
There is no downside to microchipping.
Microchip FAQs
Isn’t it painful?
That’s a resounding NO! You can equate a chip implanting to a vaccine or other injection. I was there and watched as our dog was chipped as a 5-month-old puppy – he was awake, alert and didn’t even flinch! Chips are encased in a biocompatible material to prevent allergic reactions or rejection of the chip. Complications are extremely rare.
Where will the chip be located?
In the US chips are usually implanted between a pet’s shoulder blades. Once in a blue moon, a chip may migrate over time, but shelter staffers and animal control officers know to scan a pet’s entire body just in case it has moved over the years.
Couldn’t I just put a collar on my dog?
The BEST defense for a lost pet is a collar with tags AND a microchip. Chips are permanent; whereas tags and collars can come off while an animal is out in the woods lost, for example. Microchips are a permanent form of identification.
Isn’t it expensive to microchip?
No. Veterinary practices may charge more to implant a chip, but they may opt to do it while your pet is already there for a procedure. In that case, you may be looking at anywhere between $20-75, depending on the practice and your geography, but across the country, there are lowcost clinics that offer microchipping for about $10 per animal. Many pet stores like Pet Supplies Plus in Goose Creek host low-cost clinics every month and mobile clinics offer microchipping too, so there is no excuse to not utilize this lifesaving resource.
How will anyone know to contact me?
This is the most crucial step aside from the implant itself. Chips are uniquely coded with an identification number and at the time of implant, your information should be recorded and registered including multiple telephone points of contact, if possible, and your email address. Once your chip is implanted, registered, and confirmed by a quick scan by a chip reader, you can take the extra preventive measures and register the chip FOR FREE through different databases and services. You can – and should – also sign-up through Petco Love Lost (https://petcolove.org/ lost), which uses facial recognition technology to reunite lost pets. It’s simple, it’s free – and all
you need to do is take a cute, clear picture of your pet to include in their profile in the event they are ever lost.
And don’t be confused by solicitations that seem to require payment to register your pet’s chip; the one-time registration is generally included with the chip, but companies may/will try to upsell you on additional features of their programs. But the initial registration is included with your chip.
The second key part of this is keeping your contact information up to date! If you change your cell number or email, or you move, be sure to contact the chip company to provide your new details. If there is an option to do so, give them a backup emergency contact too. Make it someone you trust in the event your pet gets lost and needs help.
There are universal scanners in use by shelters, veterinary offices and now by some community members too, who have taken up the task of helping lost pets in their neighborhoods. Locally, PetHelpers recently received a $10,000 grant in late 2024 from KFC Wishes to install microchip
scanning stations around the Charleston area where the public can access them too. Most of these stations should be active in early to mid-2025, allowing finders of lost pets to drop by a station and scan the pet themselves. Councilwoman Amy Stern has also been researching this as an option in Berkeley County as well.
How do I know the chip is active?
At every vet visit, you can ask to have your pet’s chip scanned FOR FREE. It’s a good habit to get in the practice of doing when you go for any vet office visit. Make sure they hear the beep and can see the ID number reading. You should be able to also login to your pet’s chip provider or one of the many registries to verify your contact information is correct too; any changes would need to be made directly through the provider and can only be made by the pet’s owner.
Shelters and rescues that adopt out animals will often retain a backup contact position on the adopted pet’s chip too, offering one more level of security should they become lost.
Things happen, kids leave doors and fences ajar by accident. Bored pets dig out of their yards or jump fences. Pets are stolen from yards or vehicles left unattended. So many circumstances can lead to a pet going missing – take this extra step as a caring, responsible pet owner to keep them safe and get them chipped so they can be home again on your couch, cuddled up watching DogTV with you, and not stuck in a shelter terrified, wondering where you are and if they will ever see you again. ■
DESERVES THE BED YOUR DOG
SHOP IN ONE OF OUR 170 STORES OR AT
Written by Mandy Yovanovic
Photography by Southern Vintage Photography
Sgt. Hake with Charleston County
You’ve probably seen your local Animal Control Officers (ACO) out and about and maybe you’ve wondered what their daily duties entail. For this feature, I had the pleasure of chatting with Officer Martin, an animal control officer for Colleton County, and Sgt. Hake, traffic/animal control supervisor for the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office. We talked about everything from the daily duties of an ACO to a major cow problem on I-95 and I learned the importance of their resourcefulness and adaptability while on the job.
Colleton County Animal Services (CCAS) (the shelter) and animal control are a joint effort with five ACOs employed, while Charleston County Animal Control is part of the sheriff’s department, with ACOs being Class 1 law enforcement officers.
It should be noted that the jurisdictions within Charleston County (such as the Town of Mount Pleasant, City of Charleston and North Charleston) maintain separate animal control departments for their areas.
Officer Martin has been with CCAS for almost seven years. Prior to that, he worked for the South Carolina Department of Corrections and is also a veteran. No two days are ever the same, according to both officers. For Martin, beginning a typical day at CCAS depends on whether or not you are the on-call officer. “If you are, you’ll help with office work and phones and if you aren’t, you’ll assist the shelter staff with cleaning duties, taking care of the animals by giving medications, cleaning kennels, etc.” When ACOs in Colleton County run calls, according to Martin, they “handle everything from barking dogs to livestock in the roadway. We support equine, bovine, domestic, exotic - pretty much any type of pet that comes to mind.” Unlike many other locales, assisting the shelter staff is also a part of their duties, when necessary. “Every officer at the shelter knows how to implant microchips and a couple of us can even do heartworm testing.”
Sgt. Hake started as an ACO for the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office and has been there for eight years, having been promoted to patrol
supervisor and now traffic and animal control supervisor. A typical day for Sgt. Hake would start with a radio sign-in and checking what dispatch has for the officers. “Dispatch will schedule a lot of calls. Some are non-emergent animal calls for the next day when the ACOs come in, so Monday mornings can get dicey. If they don’t have anything pending or anything active, officers will do a lot of stray patrols and while driving around, if they see anything amiss, they’ll stop and check. The two that are deputies will supplement patrol on calls for service as well if they need to - alarm calls, traffic collisions, those sorts of activities.”
As a Charleston County resident, I was curious to hear their advice on when it’s necessary to call animal control. Hake advised, “The biggest thing in the state of South Carolina that people who move here don’t understand is that we do not have a tethering law and animals can live outside 24/7 for their whole life so long as they have food, water, shelter - adequate shelter for the climate, not just a plastic dog house when it’s fifteen degrees outside or a plastic dog house sitting out in the sun when the dog doesn’t get any relief in the summertime. I always tell people to pay attention to how a dog looks. Just because you think a dog is thin doesn’t necessarily mean it’s underweight, but, obviously if you can see ribs and hip bones then that’s an issue that needs to be addressed. Most of what we get are problems with people not containing their animals like they should and we do welfare checks all the time. A lot of our job ends up being education.”
Similarly, Martin shared his view. “I would say anytime residents feel something’s wrong - if a dog doesn’t look good or if you notice over time his health is declining, especially, if it’s a thirty pound dog hooked to an eighty pound logging chain, you definitely want to call us. If their (the dog’s) kennel or shelter breaks down, we tell everybody, give the owner some time to fix it but, if a week or so goes by, then definitely give us a call and we’ll go out there and have a conversation. At that point, a case is open and we’ll continue to follow up with the owner. The biggest thing I tell people is, just because you don’t see us out there doesn’t mean we’re not going by or we’re
not keeping in contact with them. I tell people to read the ordinances and see what we have to enforce. With a lot of our issues that we deal with, it requires a warning. There’s no real ordinance, at least in Colleton County, that says if the dog is underweight or if there’s inclement weather that you have to bring the dog inside. There is an outside ordinance that includes what it (the dog) would have to have access to and even that’s pretty broad: food, water, and shelter from inclement weather.”
When dealing with animals, as well as the public, everyday can be unpredictable. Both officers shared some stories with me that ended up making for a more interesting workday than usual in their careers. Officer Martin relayed a story about a cow incident that had me wishing video footage existed! “We had those 60 cows get out on I-95. They were going to auction in Florida and the driver fell asleep, went over the bridge and we spent from 1:00a.m. until noon that day chasing cows.” My retort: “At least
they’re not very fast.” But I learned that a cow’s average speed is actually 17 mph and they can hit a maximum speed of 25 mph! However, they only run in short bursts. He went on to say, “It was a swamp though. And I don’t know if you heard the part about it being on I-95? Also, we had sixteen pigs during that last big flood. They flooded out of the pasture and they all got out on Augusta highway; three of them got into one of the neighbor’s yards. We had a little pot-bellied pig, a domestic pig and a giant mammoth. I think it was a cross between a pot-belly and a wild boar. He was a beast, every bit of three hundred pounds.”
Sgt. Hake had received a call about a bull that she knew would make for an interesting day. “Sarge called and said, ‘There’s a bull in the road on River Road and I thought, ‘oh, okay that’s cool’ so it ended up actually being a water buffalo who had escaped from his farm and had gone for a jaunt down River Road on Johns Island. He was privately owned and his people were out looking
for him as well. We have a horse trailer (at the sheriff’s office) so I picked that up and headed to John’s Island. The owners saw me go by, followed me and said, ‘please tell me you found a water buffalo’. We did find him. It took some ingenuity to get him corralled onto the trailer, but we successfully returned him home so that was that, but in the dark, it wasn’t fun.”
ACOs not only have to be ready for anything, they also have to be incredibly resourceful. Listening to their stories made me realize that, like many jobs, the best training is hands-on, while on the job. Martin praises the director of CCAS, Laura Clark, for sourcing and offering more training opportunities. “Our director, Laura Clark, when she took over, has done and continues to do an outstanding job. She’s found training for us all over the country. She started out as our shelter manager and maybe two or three years after I started, she took over as director and it’s been a 180-degree turn.”
Charleston County ACOs “will train with one of the ACO deputies for a period between 4 and 6 weeks, depending on how well they are picking up on protocols. We will also send them through training provided by either the National Animal Control Association (NACA) or Code 3 Associates. A lot of the ‘new’ situations are dealt with through teamwork, brainstorming and relying on the experience of others. It’s not uncommon for the multiple agencies throughout the county to work together to solve a problem,“ says Hake.
When asked how the residents of Charleston, Colleton and ALL counties can help their communities with the homeless and stray animal problem, both officers mentioned spaying and neutering pets as well as utilizing the Trap and Release programs (TNR) that are in place for the feral cat population. When asked about free or low cost spay and neuter clinics in Colleton County, Martin stated, “Here, we have two main resources. One is near Hilton Head. (SNAC, Spay and Neuter Clinic offered by the Hilton Head Humane Association). The other one comes to the shelter (PETSInc, out of Columbia, which is a mobile vet clinic that offers affordable spay and neuter). We also have a TNR program that is free. We will come
Officer Martin with Sebastian from Colleton County
in, trap the cats on your property, take them to the shelter and then bring them back out once they have been altered and vaccinated. Last year we did over a thousand TNR’s. Another thing I would say, other than spaying and neutering is, if you are feeding an animal, you are responsible for them. Any stray dogs you see, just call us.”
Spay and neuter is critical. Hake also recommends keeping pets current on vaccinations. “We have a really high tendency to see wildlife with distemper around here for some reason. Also, keep your animals contained. Whether you put them out on a cable tie when they’re outside unsupervised just to potty, or you have a fence, or you walk them on a leash, keep your animals contained! And, of course, spay and neuter. Obviously, we’re going to preach that. That’s really the population control because goodness knows, the shelter does not need anymore unwanted animals. And if we could get everybody to microchip their pets, that’d be great. Animals that they can put hands on, will be microchip scanned and officers do their very best to return them where they belong rather than have to take them to the shelter.”
Lastly, I wanted to know what each found most rewarding about being an ACO. For Hake, it’s finding and returning missing pets. “I had a cat once that had been gone for over a year and it was microchipped. I took it up to the shelter and they scanned it and the people came and got it. Martin enjoys “seeing animals a little later on down the road still living their best life.”
Although ACOs primarily work with animals, both officers shared instances where they’ve stepped in to help pet owners improve their situations. That sense of community and compassion is a key part of the job, especially when dealing with difficult situations where either a person or an animal is going through a tough time. Being an ACO is not an easy job, and my conversations with these public servants were both enlightening and engaging. We appreciate your hard-work and dedication to your community and most importantly, the animals who need your help. ■
Local Dog Events
2/09/25 Waters Edge Great Dane Meet & Greet
Woofgang Bakery Downtown Charleston 12 pm - 5 pm
2/14 through 2/16/25 SEWE
Marion Square and Brittlebank Park, sewe.com for tickets
2/15/25 Paws & Kisses Puppy Yoga
O2 Fitness Clubs 12 pm - 1 pm
2/15/25 Smooch A Pooch/ Puppies in the Window M. Dumas & Sons 10 am - 5 pm
2/15/25 Puppy Love Adoption Event for Dorchster Paws Bolts & Brews Beer Garden 3 pm - 6 pm
2/22/25 Adopt & Shop Vendor Market
Firefly Distillery, 12 pm - 4 pm
2/22/25 Love Your Pet Adoption Event for Dorchester Paws Pet Supplies Plus Summerville 12 pm
03/15/25 PAWS 2025 for Colleton County Animal Animal Shelter The South Forty 5:30pm - 9:00pm
4/15/25 DOG DAY AT THE JOE Riverdogs Stadium 7:05pm
LOWCOUNTRY DOG EVENTS
EAT, DRINK, & RESCUE Feb 22, 2025 Estuary Beans and Barley, 12 to 4pm
WOOFSTOCK MUSIC FESTIVAL Hanahan Amphitheater, April 12, 2025 woofstockmusicfestival.com
MAY THE DOGS BE WITH YOU
May 17, 2025, Ashley River Park
DIA DE LOS PERROS
November 2, 2025
Check out our Events page for even more local events and check for date changes. www.lowcountrydog.com/events
In The News
Charleston County cancels contract with Charleston Animal Society
Charleston County and Charleston Animal Society spoke to News 2 about where negotiations stand after the county terminated an agreement between the two in November.
The county sent Charleston Animal Society a 30-day notice of the termination before the contract was cancelled on Nov. 30, 2024
Caitlyn, dog whose Charleston abuse case made global headlines, dies
Caitlyn, a Staffordshire terrier mix, died on Sunday after a brief bout of cancer, according to a post shared by the animal shelter. She was 11 years old.
“She suddenly became ill in the last week and was diagnosed with an advanced and aggressive cancer. As was her nature, she fought until the end,” her family said.
‘Despicable activity’: Georgia man sentenced to 475 years for dog fighting, animal cruelty
A Georgia man who had more than 100 dogs tied up in his backyard along with a host of items used in dog fighting operations was handed a 475-year prison sentence.
Vincent Lemark Burrell, 57, was sentenced Jan. 30 after a jury found him guilty of dog fighting and animal cruelty
Click images above to read the full story. For more top stories, visit www.lowcountrydog.com/top-stories
Building The Wiggle Ranch
WRITTEN BY COURTNEY VAUX
Bullies 2 The Rescue
In the heart of Marshville, NC, amidst rolling hills and lush green farmland, a new sanctuary/bulldog shelter is taking shape, one that promises to be a haven for English and French bulldogs from across the East Coast. This ambitious project, born out of love and compassion for these endearing breeds, aims to provide a safe and nurturing environment where these dogs can thrive and live out their days in comfort and happiness.
A Vision of Compassion
The sanctuary, set against the picturesque backdrop of Marshville’s idyllic countryside, is the brainchild of the president of Bullies 2 the Rescue, Courtney Vaux, along with a group of dedicated animal lovers and rescue advocates from all over the United States. Their vision is to create a refuge that not only offers shelter, but also fosters a sense of community and belonging for bulldogs who have been abandoned, neglected, or surrendered by their owners and breeders.
The Need for a Sanctuary
English and French bulldogs are beloved for their distinctive looks and affectionate nature. However, they are also prone to a variety of health issues due to their breeding, which can make them more vulnerable to abandonment and mistreatment. Many bulldogs find themselves in shelters, rescues
and, more so than the others, abandoned, where they may not receive the specialized care they need. The sanctuary in Marshville seeks to address this gap by providing a dedicated space where these dogs can receive the attention, medical care, and love they deserve.
Building the Sanctuary
Construction of the sanctuary is in the planning phase with the closing of the 5+ acres in the beginning of February, with the support of generous donors and volunteers. The facility is designed to accommodate the specific needs of the 4-legged toddlers, with spacious bull suites, play areas, and medical facilities. The kennels are equipped with climate control to ensure the dogs are comfortable in all seasons, and the play areas offer ample space for exercise and socialization.
A Home for Healing
One of the sanctuary’s primary goals is to provide a space where bulldogs can heal, both physically and emotionally. Many of the dogs that will come to the sanctuary have experienced trauma or neglect, and the sanctuary’s team of veterinarians and caregivers is committed to helping them
recover. Each dog will receive a comprehensive health evaluation upon arrival, and individualized care plans will be developed to address their specific needs.
Community Involvement
The sanctuary is not just a place for dogs; it is also a place for people. The founders believe in the power of community involvement and have created opportunities for local residents to engage with the sanctuary. Volunteer programs, educational workshops, and adoption events are just a few of the ways the sanctuary plans to connect with the community and raise awareness about the
importance of animal welfare. Bullies 2 the Rescue is also looking for professionals in the following trades: plumbing, electrical, concrete, fencing, and grading. If you would like to donate services, elbow grease or funds, please reach out to Courtney Vaux, as she is heading up the chaos! Email: healthybullie@gmail.com
Looking to the Future
As the sanctuary in Marshville prepares to open its doors, the excitement and anticipation are palpable. The founders and supporters are filled with optimism for the future of the bulldogs who will find a home there. The sanctuary represents
a beacon of hope for these furry kids who have faced adversity, offering them a second chance at life in a place where they are loved and valued.
Conclusion
The bulldog sanctuary in Marshville, NC, is a testament to the power of compassion and community. It is a place where English and French bulldogs from all over the East Coast can find refuge, healing, and happiness. As the sanctuary continues to grow and develop, it is poised to make a lasting impact on the lives of countless dogs and the people who love them. In the serene and beautiful farmland of Union County, NC, a brighter future is being built, one bulldog at a time. ■
