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Publisher Brian Foster brian@lowcountrydog.com Chief Canine Officer Peanut peanut@lowcountrydog.com Copy Editor Chelsea Salerno chelsea@lowcountrydog.com Social Media Manager Alyssa Helms alyssa@lowcountrydog.com Staff Writers Hali Selert Fern Wooden Staff Photographer Southern Vintage Photography Guest Photographer jeanne Taylor Photography Web and Design Consultant Laura Olsen Contributing Writers Alexis Kaul Dr. Valerie Nesser Misha Rackliff
For advertising and media inquiries please email contact@lowcountrydog.com
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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.
the lowcountry’s dog magazine since 2005!
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In this issue
SIT, STAY... BEHAVE: Slow & Steady
HEALTH & WELLNESS: Behind the Scenes at Emergency Pet Care FEATURE STORY: A Flight to Freedom: The Story of One Dog’s Lucky Escape from the Meat Trade
LOCAL DOG EVENTS
IN THE NEWS
THINK OUTSIDE THE SHELTER: Rescue Spotlight: All 4 Paws GO GREEN: Adopt A Recycled Dog!
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New Diet , W ho Di s?!?!
Peanut 's P O I N T
O F
Food trends for dogs have changed dramatically in the last 15 years. From dog food full of filler and who knows what else to grain free, meat first kibble to fresh human grade foods, these trends are certainly making mealtime more tasty and also expensive. When I was stray, my diet was certainly not what one would call healthy. When I got adopted by my dad, I was pretty skinny and had a rather unhealthy coat. I was then fed some quality kibble with either lamb or fish as the protein. My weight improved and my coat went from thin to full and very soft. I switched over to a turkey based kibble about 6 years ago to help maintain a healthy weight (we don’t talk about my chunky phase). I have been on the same kibble ever since with zero issues. The brand I eat is among the top rated among brands and contains no grains. Over the last few years, a fresh or human grade food trend has been gaining popularity. You may have seen the advertising for brands like Farmers Dog or Fresh Pet everywhere. Well at my senior age of 15, I decided to branch out and see what this craze was all about. We were contacted about a new local brand called My Pup Grub that makes and delivers fresh food to your
V I E W
door every week. We decided to give them a try and see what all the fuss was about. The food was delivered and needs to either be refrigerated or frozen and comes in 1 lb pouches. I chose the beef recipe which includes the following ingredients: Beef, brown rice, zucchini, sweet potato, carrots, boiled egg, beef liver, blueberry, pumpkin seeds, sunflower oil, kelp, fish oil, calcium carbonate, iodized salt, zinc citrate The first day my dad just mixed a little bit with my kibble and man, did it spice up meal time. I licked my bowl clean. The next day i got a little more in my kibble until I had a meal of just the new food a few days later. So far, I am excited to try something new but will probably mix this with kibble going forward. The cost is quite a bit more than even the best kibble as it is low batch but is comparable to other brands offering similar services. Learn more at mypupgrub.com ■
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T R A I N I N G
Slow & Steady: The Road to a Happy, Healthy Rescue Dog!
WRITTEN BY: ALEXIS KAUL, Pet Helpers Animal Behavior Manager,
We’ve all seen it, cowering body posture, tail tucked, stress panting, and trembling. All indications of an under-socialized and scared dog, and potential adopters are often quick to look away from dogs who display these behaviors. At Pet Helpers, as with many other rescues, we work hard to allow each dog to achieve Brambell’s Five Freedoms needed to acclimate to their new home environments. As an example to achieve freedom from fear and distress, we must be mindful of each dog’s unique triggers. If a dog displays reactivity to visual stimuli in the kennel, offering a visual
barrier at their kennel’s door can greatly reduce their stress levels. Through the use of training and behavioral modification interventions, we are able to socialize and begin the road to rehabilitation. Throughout my time working in shelters, I am fortunate to say I have been a part of so many touching behavior-success stories by utilizing science-based methods and working toward slow and steady progress. One of my favorite success stories is Mama June. Mama June came to us from another rescue in February 2021. Mama June was pregnant and soon gave birth to five beautiful puppies who have all since been adopted. She was resistant to handling and any interactions with humans left her cowering, shaking, frozen and overall very frightened. It was clear that Mama June was not thriving in the shelter environment so we placed her in one of our most trusted foster homes. Slowly but surely her body language started to loosen a little bit day by day! Getting her outside was a challenge due to her fear of the leash and new environments/experiences. We started with the basics: positive association with the leash and treats. The foster would clip the leash on and off, not always ushering her outside, while supplying Mama June with ample treats. By associating the treats with the leash we were using counterconditioning methods to get her more comfortable. Once medically cleared, we introduced her to other dogs Smushie and Hawk in hopes of offering her more socialization opportunities. A new dog blossomed right before my eyes! She was immediately off to the races with the other dogs and was soon frolicking, playing and wrestling. I could not believe the transformation that occurred when another dog was present it was an incredible sight to see. Helper dogs can be really beneficial in adding confidence and while they don’t completely “fix” dogs, they can be a great tool to use if the other dog is accepting. After Mama June began spending more time with the foster’s dogs she began to approach people more frequently. The dogs were showing her how to be a dog really! Now she is known for lounging on the couch, playing
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T R A I N I N G
chase/tag with the resident dogs, and even cuddling up to her foster. Her foster mother has since fallen in love with her and decided to finalize the adoption in September 2021! We are so thankful for the hard work and love she has offered to our sweet Mama June! Another dog we’ve been working with on behavior modification and socialization is the big and beautiful Peaches who came to us as a stray in May 2021. When she originally came to us it was evident that having people close to her made her extremely uncomfortable. She would retreat or push herself into the farthest corner possible until curiosity got the best of her and she would approach. We focused on those short moments of approaching a person to reinforce her behavior with high-value treats. Hot dogs are her favorite! She began to get more comfortable with our staff members here and is really starting to show off her big goofy personality. Weighing in at 95 lbs she is a very clumsy girl who loves to play with tennis balls, frisbees, and even basketballs. The world is still a very scary place for Peaches so patience is very crucial in her training process. At Pet Helpers, our training methods are all positive reinforcement-based. This means we ask and show the dogs what we want them to do rather than telling them what not to do. When working with fearful under-socialized dogs it is crucial to go at the dog’s pace - no matter how slow or fast that might be. We want to avoid flooding a dog with too many triggers and overwhelm them as this can hinder the training process. Although some of the goals dogs achieve in training might seem like a small step, for example simply approaching might seem standard but for our fearful pups, this is huge! We celebrate every small victory because each milestone brings a dog closer to living a happy and healthy life inside of a home. Learn more about the dogs and cats we work with daily at pethelpers.org and be sure to email office@pethelpers.org with any questions or adoption inquiries.■
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H E A L T H
&
W E L L N E S S
Behind the Scenes at Veterinary Specialty Care Blue Pearl
WRIT TEN BY Dr. VALERIE NESSER Veterinar y Specialty Care
Meet Rosie, a sweet Rottweiler puppy who was found as a stray in an unfortunate circumstance: a foreign object sticking out of her head. A Good Samaritan of Orangeburg found Rosie abandoned and alone and brought her to Veterinary Special Care in Summerville for medical attention. The team members of the Emergency Service triaged Rosie upon intake to the hospital which includes taking her vital parameters, collecting bloodwork samples, and initiating basic treatments. Fortunately, Rosie was in stable condition and an IV catheter was placed in her front leg to administer pain medications and sedation necessary for skull x-rays to evaluate the damage done by the foreign object in her head. The X-rays confirmed suspicions that the foreign object was an arrow with a pointed metal tip.
Although the arrowhead had penetrated deep into the sinuses of the skull, all were relieved to see that the arrowhead had not damaged critical structures including the bony barrier which protects the brain. The emergency team made great efforts to remove the arrowhead under general anesthesia, however; the shaft of the arrow became dislodged from the metal arrowhead which was seated deep within the bony surfaces of the skull out of reach from the surface of her head. Rosie’s case was transferred to the surgery service under the care of Dr. Valerie Nesser, a board certified veterinary surgeon. Dr. Nesser along with veterinary technicians Melissa Couch and Rebecca Driggers prepared Rosie for surgery. Rosie was anesthetized and the fur around the surgical site was clipped and aseptically prepped. Routine anesthetic monitoring
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equipment was applied including ECG leads to monitor her heart rate and rhythm, doppler and oscillometric systems for blood pressure monitoring, esophageal thermometer to monitor temperature, and CO2 breathing monitoring attached to the endotracheal tube which delivers oxygen and inhalant anesthetic. The surgical site was draped to create a sterile field and the surgery instrument packs were opened and organized. A pneumatic powered high speed surgical drill was assembled with a tiny bur attachment. The round hole in Rosies head measured approximately 7mm, about the diameter of a pea. The skin and soft tissues around the hole were gently retracted to expose the bony entrance lesion. The arrowhead was at least 1cm deep to the surface of the skull. The 7mm bony hole was slowly widened with the high speed bur to create a window around the arrowhead. Once the bony window was wide enough and the arrowhead was visualized, surgical instruments were used to grasp and remove it. The surgical site was closed with stitches and Rosie recovered smoothly from general anesthesia. Rosie’s care was taken over by Libby and Mace’s Place Rescue and she was discharged to a wonderful foster family who adores her. Rosie is expected to make a full recovery thanks to all involved with her care! ■
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F E A T U R E
S T O R Y
A Flight to Freedom: The Story o f O n e D o g ’s L u c ky Escape from the M e a t Tr a d e W R I T T E N BY : M I S H A R A C K L I F F, Contributing Writer
April 26, 2020 was the day I had waited months for. Two days earlier, I had received a phone call from Pati Dane, the director at the Dalmatian Rescue of South Florida, telling me that I would finally be able to make the four hour journey to Jacksonville, Florida to pick up my new rescue dog, Emma. As I got in the car that morning and began my drive, I still wasn’t quite sure what to expect. I knew very little about this little spotted dog who had captured my heart with just a single photo on a Facebook post. Emma Roo arrived in the United States in midJanuary of 2020 after spending the first few years of her life in Shanxi Province of China. By some stroke of fate, I accidentally stumbled across the post containing her photo that simply said “will be arriving soon.” I had recently lost my older Dalmatian to old age and had been considering adopting a new companion. It wasn’t until I reached out to the rescue for more information that I learned Emma was a lucky survivor of the inhumane dog meat trade in China. Like many Americans, I was blissfully unaware of the horror of the dog meat trade until Emma Roo came into my life. According to Human Society International, it is estimated that up to 10 million Chinese dogs (and 4 million cats) are slaughtered annually for human consumption. Even more alarming, more than 10,000 of these deaths occur during the annual Yulin Dog Meat Festival,
which spans over the course of 10 days around the summer solstice. The festival, which began in 2009, takes place in the Guangxi province of China and has drawn criticism from animal activists around the world. While festival organizers initially claimed that the animals in question were humanely executed, attendees over the years have uncovered the horrors these animals face. Photos and videos quickly surfaced showing evidence of cruel treatment including reports of brutal torture, dismemberment, and even boiling dogs to death. In many photos, living dogs can be seen neglectfully crammed into small cages awaiting their deaths. At the start of the festival, many believed the dogs being sold for consumption had been bred in a manner similar to that of livestock, meaning they’d been raised on dog meat farms throughout the country. However, according to the Animals Asia Foundation, it is reported that approximately 70% of rural villages in China have witnessed a large number of mysterious dog disappearances,
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suggesting that many of the at-risk animals are stolen from households. Many of the caged dogs do not fit the description of the typical meat-dog that is currently bred on meat farms. Many of the festival dogs seem to be purebred and even more heartbreaking, some of these dogs can be seen wearing collars, harnesses, and clothing. Since 2009, animal activists around the world have been working to ban the mistreatment of dogs in China and across several other countries where the consumption of dog meat is commonplace. Through protest and rescue efforts, it is estimated that over 1,000 dogs are rescued from the Yulin Festival each year. In a swift change of luck, many of these dogs are taken into the custody of animal rescues who are able to transport and adopt them into homes around the world. Unfortunately, the cruelty does not stop with the Yulin Festival. Throughout rural areas of the country, lost and stolen dogs can be found in slaughterhouses and “wet markets” (small outdoor meat markets) year round. One of the most common ways that dogs are saved from death is by the bravery of undercover activists who intercept the trucks moving animals from one point to another. In 2013, the Animal Epidemic Prevention Law instituted a policy that requires all dogs to be vaccinated for transport. Because dogs being transported for consumption are not vaccinated, they are considered illegal to transport or sell, allowing some transport trucks to be intercepted. Once authorities are notified, the animals are put into the custody of animal rescue organizations and taken to safety. For years, animal rights activists have been working to introduce new legislation that will prevent the unnecessary deaths and mistreatments of cats and dogs across China. As the coronavirus pandemic began to spread across China, it was speculated by many that the outbreak was a result of the “wet markets” in Wahun, China. To help prevent the spread of disease, the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture reclassified the livestock regulations in April 2020. The government clearly outlined all of the acceptable species of consumable livestock via this bill, with all others falling into the category of companion animals. As an early victory, dogs were
no longer listed as a type of livestock meaning they can no longer be bred for food, milk, fur, fiber, or medicine. Despite these new animal welfare regulations, activists were shocked to see that the annual Yulin Festival was still to be held this past June. In the weeks and months following, photo and video evidence of the festival have begun to surface, raising questions on the efficacy and enforcement of the new legislation. In another massive setback, the United States Center for Disease Control instituted a new policy effective July 14, 2021 that temporarily suspends dog imports from countries that are considered highrisk for rabies. Rescues in the US are now lobbying to overturn this legislation, which does not have a definite end date. Thankfully, Emma Roo was one of these lucky dogs who were given a second chance at life. While distance, censorship regulations, and language barriers have made it hard to learn the specifics of her rescue, I’ve been able to piece together a bit of her background. For a dog estimated only a few years old at rescue, Emma has experienced more trauma than any dog ever should. A sweet Chinese National who I’ll refer to only as Doe, reached out to me shortly after Emma’s adoption. In broken English she introduced herself as someone who had a large part in Emma’s journey. I learned that Emma Roo had been rescued from the meat trade when she was only a puppy and due to the severity of her injuries, had lived at a vet clinic for several months. After 5-6 months of medical care, she was adopted but had been returned to the clinic. Due to the seriousness of her injuries and the level of care that Emma would need, the veterinarian at the clinic decided her best chance would be outside of China. He contacted local rescue advocates who put him touch with Doe, beginning her journey to me here in Charleston. Once Emma was spoken for by Doe’s rescue, volunteers began networking her story in hopes of finding a breed-specific rescue in the US to take her case. Upon hearing of her, the Dalmatian Rescue of South Florida worked diligently with Doe’s organization to obtain all the necessary funding and travel documents Emma would need. Due to the changing political and social climate, it was
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F E A T U R E
S T O R Y
a race against time to get Emma on a flight to the states. The COVID-19 pandemic was quickly spreading to other parts of the world and the United States government was slowly beginning to limit the amount of animal imports coming from China. Meanwhile back here in the USA, I scrolled through Facebook one day and stopped in my tracks upon seeing her photo. There was something about her very human-like amber colored eyes that consumed my thoughts for days. As an advocate for adopting special needs dogs, I jokingly tried to convince friends and family to take her in. On January 28, 2020 Emma Roo arrived in the cargo hold of an airliner at Miami International Airport, just days before the US government banned the import of animals from China as a means of combating Coronavirus. I had been following her story since that first day she came across my newsfeed and decided to inquire about making a donation in her honor. I learned that although she had many supporters, she had not had any adoption offers. I immediately knew that fate had led me to finding her that day and soon enough I had committed to giving her a new life. The next few months would prove to be a waiting game as quarantine and travel restrictions prevented Emma from moving across state lines. The day I finally held this sweet dog in my arms, standing in the parking lot of a random rest stop, I couldn’t help but cry. This is a memory that will stay with me for the rest of my life. Today, Emma Roo is living her best life. Thanks to the support of more than 13,000 Instagram fans, she has received a custom built wheelchair cart. After months of massage and swim therapy, she can be found at dog parks throughout Charleston running with the big dogs. She shares her story both on social media and through local events to help raise awareness and educate others about the dog meat trade. It is her hope (and mine) that one day this cruel practice will end and that dogs throughout the world will be treated equally. When she is not out being a local celebrity, Emma Roo can be found snuggled up in her king size bed or waiting at the front door for her next Barkbox to arrive.■
Commissioned Pet Portraits by Louise Hall www.auberginestudio.com 843-476-6537
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Left: “Paul Revere,” 3’ x 3’, acrylic on canvas Right: “Paul the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” Antlers and red nose were added digitally after the painting was finished to use on the family Christmas card!
Visit me at my booth at Woofstock 2021! See my paintings, note cards, kid’s games and more!
“Leia”, 18” x 24’” acrylic on canvas
Follow me on instagram @louisehhall_visualart and on facebook @Aubergine Studio
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Photography by Jeanne Taylor www.lowcountrydog.com
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Local Dog Events 1 0 / 2 / 2 02 1 H a rr y Puppe r A do pti o n Eve n t Mic h a el s B arke r y, 11 to 2 pm
1 1 /6/2 02 1 Th e Wizard of Paws Fur ball Ch arleston Marriott , 6 to 10 pm
1 0 / 3/ 2 02 1 Ok tobe r fest T i dal Creek B rew ho use in Myr t le B eac h , 1 to 3 pm
1 1 /7/2 02 1 Dia De Los Perros Fest ival Tattooed Moose- Joh ns Island , 2 to 6 p m
1 0 / 3/ 2 02 1 Ya p py Ho ur T i dal Creek B rew ho use in Myr t le B eac h , 5 to 7 pm
1 1 /2 0 /2 0 /2 02 1 Th e Bark Awake ns Cy p ress Gard ens, 1 to 4 pm
1 0 / 1 0 / 2 02 1 Wo o fsto ck 2021: A Lowco un tr y D o g Festival featuri ng S iste r H a ze l ! Ha n ah a n A m phithea ter, 11 to 7 pm w o o f st o ck 2021 . co m
1 1 /2 0 /2 02 1 Adop t & Sh op at Fire f ly F irefly Distillery, 12 to 4 pm 1 2 /5/2 02 1 F l ip p ers an d Fur Fest Reg atta Inn, 1 p m
1 0 / 1 0 / 2 02 1 Poo chamania T h e Marke t Commo n in Myr t le B ea c h , 11 to 5 pm 1 0 / 1 6 / 2 02 1 & 10/17 /2021 Ba r k tob e r fest Ta tt o o ed Se n or ita , 1 to 4 pm ea ch d ay 1 0 / 1 6 / 2 02 1 Ado pt & Sho p at Fi re fl y F i ref ly D i st i ll e ry, 12 to 4 pm 1 0 / 23/ 2 02 1 D o g tobe r fest F resh f i el d s Vi l age, 1 to 5 pm 1 0 / 2 4 / 2 02 1 B ere kle y A ni mal Ce nter A d o p ti on Eve n t Pet Su p pl i es Pl us Go ose Creek , 1 to 3 pm 1 0 / 30 / 2 02 1 L ibby and Mace A do pt ion Eve n t Pet Su p pl i s Pl u s, 12 to 3 pm 1 1 / 1 / 2 02 1 Ya p py Ho ur T i dal Creek B rew ho use in Myr t le B eac h , 5 to 7 pm
Ch eck out our Events page for eve n more local events and to ch eck fo r da te changes. w ww.lowcountr ydog.com/ events
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In The News Goose Creek Woman Arrested on 5 Counts of Animal Cruelty Tonya Lee Tracy was arrested on Monday, August 30th on 5 counts of animal cruelty after a tip of dogs left uncared for in the backyard of a Goose Creek residence.
A Community Over The Barrel The Barrel has been a community favorite since it opened in 2014 but after some complaints from the neighbors of illegal parking and noise compliants, the local governing body discovered the establishment was not adhering to its usage and capacity allowed. The bar with a dog park is now closed with no re opening in sight.
South Korea’s president mulls dog meat ban as consumption dwindles Most Koreans have never eaten dog meat, and demand for it has dwindled in recent years. But it is estimated that up to one million dogs are still slaughtered for food each year in South Korea. Speaking during a meeting with the prime minister, Mr Moon questioned whether it was time to “prudently consider” a ban.
Click images above to read the full story. For more top stories, visit www.lowcountrydog.com/top-stories
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FOSTER. ADOPT. DONATE.
PETHELPERS.ORG 843-795-1110 1447 FOLLY RD CHARLESTON, SC 29412
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All4Paws Animal Rescue WRITTEN BY: A LY S S A H E L M S , Social Media Manager
Lowcountry Dog began Rescue Spotlights in 2016, and I am ecstatic to be bringing them back to our readers. These pieces highlight rescues one by one, giving them each the spotlight they deserve! By doing these, we allow the community to get an inside look into all the rescues we feature, a great way to promote volunteering, adopting, fostering, and donating. We kicked off a new series of spotlights last issue with telling you all about the new Berkeley Animal Center and this issue, I’ll be talking about All4Paws Animal Rescue located on Pawleys Island, SC. After speaking with founding director Allison Gillespie and visiting the shelter, I saw first hand how important each individual animal was to her and to everyone who works in the facility. The mission of All4Paws is to get each animal who comes into the rescue back to health and adopted into a loving home.. All4Paws Animal Rescue focuses on mainly dogs and cats, and the majority of the animals at their shelter and foster homes come from overflowing shelters with high euthanasia rates. This rescue was started back in 2012 with the founders filling their own homes with rescues. After they grew too big for this, they bought the property where they currently house over 30 dogs and 30 cats, and they are always full. Now, All 4 Paws gets around 1,200 animals into homes annually. With the 10th anniversary of All4Paws coming up in 2022, Gillespie is overflowing with ideas for the shelter. “It is always improving and only getting
bigger and better.” says Gillespie. They turned a simple house into a no-kill animal rescue with a training yard, indoor and outdoor pens, an entire cat wing/room/sanctuary, and an on-site Clinic In A Can! They are currently working on making a new quiet room that will be used for meet and greets, finishing their admin offices, and getting a clinic X-Ray machine. They are making constant renovations and improvements to the facility to benefit the animals, the people that work and volunteer, and those who come in to see the animals and adopt. The latest edition to the rescue is the “Clinic in a Can.” This medical facility was built inside 3 shipping containers and sets just across the street from the main building. It gives them the ability to treat and better care for their rescues. Now, instead of driving with vans full of animals to go as far as Mount Pleasant to get them vetted, they can just walk right across their lot! All 4 Paws has a veterinarian who comes on-site three days a week or more. They can now make sure their animals are spayed and neutered to prevent the needless euthanization we face due to overpopulation. This new facility has given them a 53 percent increase in surgical capacity! They also have a huge training yard where volunteers
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Click logo to view the Rescue Spotlight Video or watch at lowcountrydog.com Photos by Palmetto Coast Media
and workers bring out the dogs daily to teach them basic skills to better them for adoption. One of the things that came to a surprise was their take on heartworm positive dogs. About 65% of the dogs they take in are heartworm positive and they have worked to develop a treatment protocol that is not only highly effective but cost efficient. They also have a dedicated Parvo program that enlists a small team of volunteers who provide supportive care to an overlooked population. All4Paws does not shy away from the tough cases but runs head first into helping those who need a second chance. Gillespie says they get messages and calls almost everyday asking for help. They have the drive to save as many animals as possible, but there are the bad, heavy-hearted days when they just can’t. They have loyal fosters who allow more dogs to make it to the shelter by taking the rescues into their own homes. They also have generous donors and dedicated volunteers who work tirelessly to aid All 4 Paws mission of saving animals. The dedication among this rescue is incredible and I saw that as I walked through. If you were wondering how you can give a little support to All4Paws, visit their website at all4pawssc.org or follow them on social media @all4pawssc ■
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One stop shop for food, treats, supplements, grooming, and self serve dog wash Certified in pet allergy and nutrition. Corn and wheat free store. Locally Owned
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THESE ADOPTA BLE DOGS ARE SPONSORED BY:
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GO GREEN | ADOPT A RECYCLED DOG
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DORCHESTER PAWS
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THESE ADOPTABLE DOGS ARE SPONSORED BY:
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