Pet Pointers

REMEMBERING BETTY WHITE

The #BettyWhiteChallenge took the internet by storm in January. More than 1,600 donors gave to Charleston Animal Society as part of the nationwide tribute to one of TV’s best-known comediennes. “Betty White was a tireless advocate for animals her entire life,” said Charleston Animal Society President and CEO Joe Elmore, CAWA, CFRE. “The Betty White Challenge was a fitting tribute to this actress and animal hero who would have turned 100 on January 17th.” The last act of this Golden Girl may be her most amazing one yet. Within hours of her passing on New Year’s Eve, the #BettyWhiteChallenge took off across social media. As part of the challenge, animal lovers were encouraged to give to their local animal shelters to remember White’s legacy. Tommy & Paige Hall with the Hall Group matched all donations to Charleston Animal Society up to $10,000. “To team up with this movement in honor of Betty White on behalf of Charleston Animal Society is a dream come true for us,” said Tommy Hall. “We were excited to match as many gifts as possible to help the lifesaving efforts at Charleston Animal Society.” “We are all saddened by the passing of Betty White, but to see her love for animals continue in this way is a bright light for all of us during this ongoing pandemic,” Elmore said. “In honor of Betty White, I just want to say, ‘Thank you for being a friend.’” You can still give in Betty’s honor by donating to Team Betty White in Charleston Animal Society’s Celebrity Paws in the Park at Paws.CharlestonAnimalSociety.org.

CHARLESTON ANIMAL SOCIETY RECEIVES TOP BUSINESS HONOR

The Better Business Bureau (BBB), serving the Midlands and the Lowcountry, honored Charleston Animal Society with the 2021 Large Business of the Year Torch Award. The mission of the BBB is to create an ethical marketplace where buyers and sellers can trust each other. In this spirit, BBB Business of the Year Torch Awards nominees are scored by a panel of judges according to their commitment to the community, ethical business practices, and leadership practices to unify the organization. “Our team goes to great lengths to run an open and transparent organization,” said Charleston Animal Society President and CEO Joe Elmore. “We are honored that the Better Business Bureau has recognized our lifesaving efforts and business practices.” The Torch Awards are open to all for-profit and nonprofit businesses located within the Lowcountry and Midlands regions. A panel of judges from SCORE reviewed the entries and chose the winners. SCORE’s mission is to foster vibrant small business communities through mentoring and education. Charleston Animal Society received the award in a ceremony held in Columbia on November 3rd. “This is always an inspiring event”, said Chris Hadley, President and CEO of the BBB serving Central SC and Charleston. “BBB is especially pleased to highlight the outstanding work of our Business of the Year Torch Award Recipients.”

VOLUNTEER PARTY MAY 22

Charleston Animal Society is excited to host its annual Volunteer Appreciation Party on the afternoon of Sunday, May 22! The event will take place at the Blackbaud Corporate Campus on Daniel Island and will be a chance for Charleston Animal Society volunteers to come together and be celebrated for all of their incredible work on behalf of our community’s animals. Guests can enjoy food, fun, and activities, all while we thank our amazing volunteers. Details at CharlestonAnimalSociety.org/Events.

RESCUE BREW 2021 MAKES ITS DEBUT!

After 149,471 votes were cast by the public to determine the winners, Pippin and Sirri, the official Spokesdog and Spokescat of the 2021 Rescue Brew Beer, are now on the labels of the new Palmetto Brewing Company beer. The Rescue Brew Beer made its debut at a special event Saturday, January 29, 2022, at Palmetto Brewing Company’s Charleston Taproom.

THE GODMOTHER OF GIBBONS DIES AT 87

Tucked away near Summerville – the place known as “Flowertown, USA” – is a sanctuary dedicated to gibbons (small apes). It’s a jungle-like wonderland that has lifesaving at the core of its mission. The visionary leader who founded the International Primate Protection League (IPPL) sanctuary, Dr. Shirley McGreal, died on November 20 at her home on the sanctuary grounds. She was 87. In January 2020, Charleston Animal Society awarded its Elizabeth Bradham Humanitarian Award to McGreal. IPPL opened its doors as the only Gibbon sanctuary in North America in 1977. These “smallest apes” are rescued from medical labs, zoos and other situations – and brought to safety at IPPL. There are currently more than 30 Gibbons living in safety and solitude on 40 acres, provided by Dr. McGreal. She received several international honors for her work with Gibbons, including the Order of the British Empire from Queen Elizabeth II.

Upon receiving Charleston Animal Society’s Humanitarian Reward, McGreal remarked, “I’ve been to Buckingham Palace but being recognized in your own backyard is very special.” The International Primate Protection League (IPPL) sanctuary is a secret to many locals. It is situated on over 40 acres of land surrounded by lush woods. Neighbors are lucky enough to hear the songs and great calls of these interesting primates throughout the day, but by night, these primates are kept indoors. McGreal’s passing was noted around the world, including an obituary in the New York Times. She will be missed by animal advocates everywhere.

ANDERSON COUNTY PAWS IS NKSC 2024 ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR

Anderson County PAWS has been named the No Kill South Carolina 2024 Organization of the Year. The organization received the award in recognition of its tireless efforts to save animal lives throughout South Carolina. “I’m truly honored to have PAWS receive this incredible achievement,” said Dr. Kim Sanders, PAWS Veterinarian and Director. “I know how hard my team works each day but for the entire state to recognize all that PAWS does to save lives makes me extremely proud. This award is proof that when an entire community comes together to do what is best for the animals, everyone comes out a winner.” Dr. Sanders thanked her incredible PAWS team for the dedication they show every day for the animals. She and her team mentored shelters in the Upstate and beyond, helping NKSC 2024 to change the reality of animal welfare in South Carolina. This visionary leader joined PAWS in Oct 2016, in the middle of a crisis with euthanasia rates of 21% for dogs and 60% for cats. By the end of 2017, euthanasia rates dropped to 6% and 3% respectively, and have been that low since. Dr. Sanders attributes such success to her passion for saving lives! From the very beginning, she decided to save every animal that they could and her incredible staff have gone above and beyond for every animal in the shelter and community. Dr. Sanders says the support from the County Administrator, Deputy Administrator, County Council and Sheriff has been overwhelming. It has taken the entire community working together to make PAWS such a success story. With Anderson County doing well, Sanders realized that she could help stop the unnecessary euthanasia occurring in surrounding counties. Her solution was for the PAWS team to mentor and share leading practices with these shelters, with the goal of preventing the euthanasia of healthy and treatable animals.