Welcome

DEAR FRIENDS,

As you receive this issue of Carolina Tails, we are just days away from the 2022 Celebrity Paws in the Park presented by Crews Subaru on March 19! It is going to be an amazing day of fun for the entire family, and I can’t wait to see each and every one of your smiling faces!

The event will be held at Riverfront Park in North Charleston. It’s a beautiful location set on the Cooper River. Everything starts with a competitive 5K race, followed by a second 5K fun run/ walk that you can do with your dog! After that, it’s a day-long festival that will include the world-famous DockDogs™, great food, Rescue Brew and a whole lot of family fun including pet adoptions. Animal Planet’s Pet Expert and Dog Trainer Travis Brorsen will headline the day with on-stage activities for kids. See all the details in our special section starting on pg. 12.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

As the owner of three cats, you know I couldn’t wait to read our article on “What to Do if Your Pet is Lost.” There are important, easy steps all of us need to take to make sure we don’t lose our furry family members (pg. 8). We also have a fascinating article on how a newly adopted pet helped a young girl with autism in a very special way (pg. 10).

We are extremely proud that cities on both sides of the Cooper River have received the official Better Cities for Pets™ certification, as part of the Mars Petcare Better Cities for Pets program, showcasing their commitment to creating a pet-friendly community (pg. 18). Congratulations to North Charleston and Mount Pleasant for being on the forefront of creating vibrant communities where pets are not only welcome but thrive.

Is it just me? Or have you also looked out over the ocean or harbor and wondered how many dolphins are living out there? Now’s your chance to get involved to help find the answer – see details on the Charleston Dolphin Count coming up April 23. Kids and adults are welcome to get involved (pg. 23)!

Meet a deputy with a big heart who’s given a loving home to a cruelty victim she met on a burglary call (pg. 32) and learn what the biggest issues are facing animal shelters around the state (pg. 28).

All this said, be sure to save the Kleenex box for the column by Appalachian State College student Kailey Allen. Kailey first came to Charleston Animal Society for her birthday party in 3rd grade. After that, she did summer camps and many other offerings through our Humane Education Program. The tribute she writes to the three women who run our Humane Education Department is nothing less than inspiring (pg. 24).

MIKE REQUIDIAN

Charleston Animal Society Board Chair Laurel Greer and Executive Committee Member Hank Greer celebrate winning No Kill South Carolina 2024 license plate #1 at the Charleston Animal Society Gala October 16, 2021. You can now purchase a No Kill Specialty plate! Details at CharlestonAnimalSociety.org/specialty-plate.

OUT OF THE BLUE

As you’ll see in our Year in Review (pg. 20), so much came at us in 2021 out of the blue – and yet here we are dedicated as always to the love, caring and protection of our community animals.

For a brief moment last year, it looked as though the pandemic was lifting, then we were hit with Delta, then Omicron. Our lifesaving work at Charleston Animal Society continued.

Cruelty cases, a vet shortage, a national employee shortage – all coming out of the blue – yet thanks to your support, we persevered. As we look ahead to 2022, we are going to keep our heads up, our hopes high, yet always be set to plan for another crisis or opportunity – because almost 20,000 animals each year are counting on us.

Thank you for everything you do for the animals.

Sincerely,

LAUREL GREER BOARD OF DIRECTORS CHAIRWOMAN