My first document

JOIN TEDDY!

2,000 animals available for adoption July 14-23 at a shelter or Petco near you!

You go the extra mile for your pets; we go to even greater lengths for medical excellence. Let us show you our commitment to being worth the drive.

SERVICES

Publisher: Charleston Animal Society

Editor-in-Chief: Dan Krosse

Managing Editor: Joe Elmore

Sponsorships: Erin Nosker, Ted DeLoach

Graphic Design: mclaughlin design

Copy Editors: Joe Elmore, Cristina Guillermo, Anna Lanford, Natassia Donohue, Will Howell, Sarah Baskin

Writers: Dan Krosse, Sarah Baskin, Anna Lanford, Aldwin Roman, Natassia Donohue, Will Howell, Josh Marthers, Missy Dewing

Photographers: Jeanne Taylor, Dan Krosse, Will Howell, Kay Hyman, Alexandra Rostad, Abigail Appleton, De Daltorio, Audrey Mabie

For inquiries regarding advertising, distribution or suggestions in Carolina Tails contact:

2455 Remount Road North Charleston, SC 29406 (843) 747-4849

CarolinaTails.org

Executive Committee & Officers

Laurel Greer, Chairwoman

Gerri Greenwood, Vice Chairwoman

Martin Deputy, Vice Chairman

Aussie Geer, Vice Chairwoman

Patricia Henley, Secretary

Jane Graham, Treasurer

Donald M. Smith

Louise Palmer

Edward “Ted” Corvey, III, Esq.

Luigi Bravo

Hank Greer, Immediate Past Chairman

Members of the Board

William Asche, Esq. Linda Bakker

Cara Bibbiani Catherine Brack

Luigi Bravo Caroline Clark

Edward “Ted” Corvey, III, Esq. Martin Deputy

Jane Graham Aussie Geer

Hank Greer Laurel Greer

Gerri Greenwood Patricia Henley

Shelly Leeke,

Dear Friends,

This summer got off to a roaring start with Celebrity Paws in the Park presented by Crews Subaru on June 10. 3,000 participants and hundreds of dogs made this the largest animal festival in South Carolina. While I was there, so many of you came up to me to ask how you could get involved with Charleston Animal Society. You shared your concerns about animal cruelty and wanted to know what you could do. I’m excited to say we have some impactful options for you!

Have you heard about Rescue Brew beer? Get ready to sip on a cold one while supporting a great cause. We are hosting a beer label contest where your pet could become the face of a specially crafted Rescue Brew beer! Submit your adorable pet’s photo and you stand a chance to win this unique opportunity to immortalize your furry friend. See all the details on pg. 18.

31 Days to End Cruelty runs the entire month of August. When you donate to help us fight cruelty, your gifts will be matched up to $50,000 thanks to generous donors.

Our Applause for Paws Gala committee is fast at work buttoning up details for our Mystical Moonlight Ball – October 14th from 6pm – 10pm at the Gaillard Center. This glamorous affair promises to be an enchanting evening filled with live entertainment, delicious cuisine, and fabulous auctions. By attending, you not only indulge in a night of celebration but also contribute to the vital funds needed to support Charleston Animal Society.

Need another way to help? Get involved with Pick Me! SC. The largest annual statewide dog and cat adoption event in America. Our honorary chairs, social media sensations, the adorable duo @aguyandagolden Johnathan and Teddy, will be leading the charge in finding homes for 2,000 deserving animals across our state. Be prepared to fall in love and bring home a new family member at a shelter or Petco store near you. From hurricane season (pg. 7) to heartwarming success stories, we cover it all. Discover how Charleston Animal Society professionals are not only saving lives locally but also spreading their knowledge and expertise across the country (pg. 10). Plus, read about the miraculous reunion of Mr. Mojo, a 10-year-old cat who returned to his owner after a decade of separation and became famous around the world in the process (pg. 29).

No Kill South Carolina’s commitment to animal welfare extends beyond shelter walls. Learn about the Florence Cat Project, a remarkable initiative aiming to spay or neuter 1,000 free-roaming cats by the end of the year (pg 8). Additionally, explore the captivating tale of saving the Guinea Hens who live

South of Broad in Charleston, a unique conservation effort that brought together an entire neighborhood (pg. 20).

Last but not least, we celebrate the overwhelming success of Celebrity Paws in the Park presented by Crews Subaru, which took place June 10th. The festival brought together animal lovers and their dogs for a day of fun, music, food and philanthropy. Don’t miss all the photos on pg. 16 of this unforgettable day.

As summer rolls on, we invite you to join us on this remarkable journey as we work together to create a brighter future for all creatures, great and small. Thank you for everything you do for the animals!

Board of Directors Chairwoman

Hank and Laurel Greer hosted the VIP Hospitality House at Celebrity Paws in the Park presented by Crews Subaru June 10 at Riverfront Park in North Charleston.

Pet Pointers

NKSC $1 MILLION CHALLENGE

The countdown is on for No Kill South Carolina 2024. Petco Love has pledged to give shelters across the state $1 million when they meet the goal of becoming a No Kill state by 2024. “We have made tremendous progress, but we still have work to do to get where we need to be,” said No Kill South Carolina Chief Project Officer Abigail Appleton, PMP, CAWA.

Since No Kill South Carolina began seven years ago, animal shelters across the state have worked together to save more than 600,000 animal lives, something the Society said was unheard of in the South, a region historically plagued with high euthanasia rates.

A No Kill community is one where all healthy and treatable dogs and cats are saved — usually that means less than 10% of animals entering shelters are euthanized. No Kill communities use data-driven and research-based strategies to bring euthanasia rates down while simultaneously improving the quality of care for animals in shelters.

But with a veterinarian shortage and an unpredictable economy, shelters around the state and across the nation are currently finding themselves overcapacity. “The challenge just as we near the finish line is growing more intense,” said Appleton.

You can help meet the goal by getting involved with your local shelter, donating to a shelter, fostering an animal, or adopting. Stay tuned for Pick Me! SC, July 14-23, where you’ll find great adoption deals at a shelter or Petco store near you (see pg. 14)!

KEEP PETS WITH FAMILIES

Lawmakers have introduced the Pets Belong with Families Act to remove overly broad and unfounded restrictions on pets in public housing. This important bill would ensure that affordable and stable housing is available to eligible families regardless of their pet’s breed or size. The Pets Belong with Families Act would still allow for discretion on potentially dangerous individual animals but would remove housing barriers for thousands of responsible pet owners, keeping companion animals out of overcrowded animal shelters and in their loving homes. Sign a petition at secure.aspca.org/action/usa-housing.

GOODBYE GUMBY

He was Charleston Animal Society’s favorite escape artist. Gumby the hound first came to the shelter in 2014 as a stray. After that, each time he was adopted, he would jump his new family’s fence and find his way back to the shelter! After it happened 11 times, his story made the pages of Carolina Tails (Spring 2018) and even the news in Korea. It seemed no one could keep the loveable hound content.

But Gumby had a plan. The reason he was escaping? Gumby’s favorite human worked at the shelter! John Martin was with Charleston Animal Society’s Behavior Team and as Martin worked to understand the inner-workings of this hound’s brain – he came to realize the obvious – Martin was the guy for Gumby!

Gumby would go on to help shelter animals in amazing ways, becoming a “greeter dog” to introduce new dogs to play groups and even donating his blood for a special treatment to help kittens with eye problems. Martin saw the light and adopted Gumby. When Martin moved to New York with his wife Joanna, Gumby went along for the ride as a new member of the family. In a city of 8.5 million, there wasn’t one escape attempt, Gumby was all in, even starring in his own Instagram (@gumbstagram).

Late this Spring, Gumby’s kidneys weakened, and the Martins had to say goodbye. His life was an inspiration to so many people that we didn’t want his passing to go unnoticed.

In the words of Martin, “Gumby has touched so many lives in his own special way; and this has been a better, more beautiful world because of the impact he’s had on the people and animals he’s met, helped, and loved.

To everyone that has ever had the privilege of knowing Gumby, or who’s heard his bark, took care of him, spent time with him at the shelter, at a vet clinic, a daycare, a grooming salon, or experienced any number of his unique quirks – know that he inherently trusted you, and he saw the good in you, because that’s just Gumby.

Thank you so much for following him on his journey, and for being a part of his story. We hope you’ll always remember him, and please know that we’re both just so grateful for the love you showed him.”

Watching the Atlantic

Hurricane Season 2023

With nearly 15 years of experience in the Lowcountry, Emmy award-winning meteorologist Josh Marthers helps you plan for the day ahead each morning on News 2 Today. Marthers took time to share tips on weathering this year’s Hurricane Season.

IT’S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN, HURRICANE SEASON IS HERE.

Colorado State University’s hurricane guru, Dr. Philip Klotzbach, released his team’s updated 2023 outlook on June 1 and predicts a fairly normal hurricane season, as far as the number of storms are concerned, in the Atlantic basin (15 named storms with seven becoming hurricanes).

So what does that mean for your level of preparation? In short: nothing. You should prepare the same, regardless of whether the forecast calls for an above normal season or next to nothing. I always remind folks about 1992 when Hurricane Andrew, the first named storm of the season, didn’t strike south Florida until late August as a

By JOSH MARTHERS

category five storm. I’m pretty sure those living in Miami-Dade county at the time would not call 1992 a “quiet year.”

When the time comes for us to pay attention to a storm, it’s important to remember a few things to keep your anxiety at bay while still preparing for a possible hit.

JUST BREATHE

We get hurricanes, but the odds of a direct hit are VERY low for any given storm.

BACK AWAY FROM THE SPAGHETTI

Computer models (sometime called Spaghetti models) change every run, sometimes wildly! Some do well, others don’t. Meteorologists are trained to know what to look for and when to look for it. Remember it’s guidance, not gospel.

OFFICIAL TRACK & INTENSITY FORECASTS WILL CHANGE

Don’t get stuck on being in “the cone”

past three days. Trust me, it’s going to change and you will drive yourself nuts.

MAKE SURE YOUR HURRICANE KIT IS READY, JUST IN CASE

You don’t want to be caught up in the hysteria if something heads our way.

COUNT ON 2

Let us worry about it, so you don’t have to. If things get bad, we are here for you around the clock.

If the threat of a direct hit becomes high enough, the governor will likely issue evacuation orders. Before that happens, have everything done on your hurricane checklist, including a plan for your pets. Many don’t evacuate because of that, but it’s important to note many shelters and hotels are pet friendly now. So no excuses! If an evacuation order is issued, head on out of here because it probably won’t be very pleasant.

Florence Area Community Cat Project

LIFESAVING IMPACT

The Florence Area Community Cat Project is a collaborative program to humanely and effectively reduce Florence County’s community cat population through Trap-Vaccinate-Alter-Return (TVAR). Instead of being picked up and held in the shelter or euthanized, cats are spayed or neutered (“altered”) and returned to their outdoor home where they were found. The key is to alter cats at a high volume before they have the opportunity to reproduce.

In February, Florence County Council passed an ordinance allowing the humane and effective method of TVAR for free-roaming cats. This ordinance replaces the traditional “trap and kill” method of population control, which has

proven to be ineffective in reducing the number of stray cats in a community.

Before the end of the year, the Florence Area Community Cat Project will spay or neuter 1,000 free-roaming cats. The project will focus on areas where the majority of cats entered Florence area shelters last year, providing a muchneeded alternative to euthanasia for these cats, but more importantly, reducing their population as has been done in other communities across South Carolina.

“We’ve been so thrilled with the community response to this project. People have wanted a way to reduce the number of cats roaming around but they don’t want to see the cats suffer. TVAR

is not just effective, it’s humane, and Florence residents are excited to see TVAR happening in their community,” said No Kill South Carolina Chief Project Officer Abigail Appleton.

The Florence Area Community Cat Project is a joint effort between Charleston Animal Society’s No Kill South Carolina initiative and the two public shelters: Florence County Environmental Services and Jayne Boswell Animal Shelter. The Florence Area Humane Society provides significant support to the program, even donating the use of their SNIP clinic for surgeries to take place. Lucky Dog Animal Rescue also provides support, and the entire project is made possible thanks to Best Friends Animal Society’s Shelter Collaborative initiative.

To learn more or to find out how to participate, visit NoKillSouthCarolina. org/FACCP

ABOVE: Charleston Animal Society’s Chief Veterinary Officer Dr. Lucy Fuller and Dr. Becca Boronat spay and neuter cats in Florence. RIGHT: A feral tomcat waits to be neutered in Florence.

No Kill South Carolina 2024’s launch of the Florence Area Community Cat Project has been a bright spot in the effort to reduce unwanted litters of kittens in the Pee Dee.

ABIGAIL APPLETON ABIGAIL APPLETON

Coming Soon: More Accessible Treatment for Your Pet?

By DAN KROSSE

Call it a win for veterinary care access! Lawmakers in Columbia passed regulations that gives veterinary aides the ability to offer more treatments to animals under the indirect supervision of veterinarians.

“This is critical since there is a shortage of Veterinarians and Licensed Veterinary Technicians (LVT),” said Pawmetto Lifeline CEO and chair of South Carolina Animal Legislative Coalition Denise Wilkinson. “The majority of our clinics and shelters in South Carolina are staffed with unlicensed veterinary aides.”

What this could mean to people with animals is faster service at the vet office when it comes to routine treatments like vaccinations and even some emergency medical situations. If a veterinarian is providing indirect supervision, more services from an LVT or veterinary aide can be provided.

“In shelters, we are often caught between a rock and a hard place when it comes to deciding what medical care can be offered due to whether a veterinarian is readily available,” said Charleston Animal Society President and CEO Joe Elmore, CAWA, CFRE. “These regulations now allow veterinary aides to give some vaccines as long as a veterinarian, who may be doing a spay-neuter at the time, is able to provide indirect supervision.”

The revised regulations allows for a broader scope of practice for an LVT, who study a minimum of two years for their license. The hope is these new regulations will elevate the status of LVTs while also enticing more people interested in becoming LVTs to move to South Carolina, according to Charleston Animal Society Chief Veterinary Officer Dr. Lucy Fuller, “We are catching up with other states who already have these regulations. When they were passed elsewhere, there was a bump in the number of LVTs, because this

“We are catching up with other states who already have these regulations.”

Dr. Lucy Fuller

places a value on the services that an LVT can provide.”

People shouldn’t worry that LVTs or veterinary aides are going to replace veterinarians. The law prohibits LVTs and veterinary aides from

• Making any diagnosis or prognosis,

• Prescribing any treatments, drugs, or medications,

• Performing surgery,

• Identifying as a licensed veterinarian

A veterinary aide must clearly identify himself or herself as such to ensure that

he or she is not mistaken by the public as a licensed veterinarian or licensed veterinary technician.

Rabies vaccines will still need to be administered under the direct supervision of a veterinarian at all times, but Wilkinson said she hopes that could change in the future by allowing certified vaccinators to administer rabies vaccines. “Getting anything passed to improve access to care in the short term is a huge achievement for pets and their families,” she said.

DAN KROSSE

Licensed Veterinarian Technicians and Veterinarian Aides are key members of the lifesaving teams at vet offices and animal shelters

Charleston Animal Society Shares Expertise

By NATASSIA DONOHUE

experts in compassion education, here are just some of the places staff have presented so far in 2023:

CAROLINAS UNITE 2023

On February 28th, Charleston Animal Society’s No Kill South Carolina (NKSC) Chief Project Officer, Abigail Appleton, PMP, CAWA, presented the opening session at Carolinas Unite. “The State of Animal Welfare in North and South Carolina” shared data illustrating the current situation of animal shelters in both states. Appleton was one of three presenters. Carolinas Unite is an annual conference that brings animal welfare professionals together for education and networking.

HSUS ANIMAL CARE EXPO 2023

things like operational details that can be easily overlooked, but once implemented drastically increase lifesaving. One example is cleaning methods for kennels with a specific order of operations to reduce disease transmission.

APHE 2023 HUMANE EDUCATION CONFERENCE

Charleston Animal Society’s Humane Education team presented at the annual Association for Professional Humane Educators (APHE) conference on April 19th. Chief Education Officer De Daltorio, Director of Humane Education Heather Grogan, and Humane Education Manager Kylie Wiest presented a session called “Get Off the Struggle Bus: Work Smarter, Not Harder.” The session showcased their compassion curriculum to help other educators replicate initiatives and lessons.

Charleston Animal Society’s expert staff isn’t just saving lives in the Lowcountry but helping animal shelters across the country. Driven by the “paw it forward” principle, expert veterinarians and members of the lifesaving team have shared knowledge and resources to continue the mission to end animal cruelty.

“Credentialing, leadership, and exemplary experience — not mere experience — have built Charleston Animal Society into a ‘go-to’ provider for leading practice education in the animal welfare field,” said President and CEO Joe Elmore, CAWA, CFRE. “Giving back through education is an organizational value of the Animal Society, one that our entire community and state can be proud of.”

From veterinarians, to Certified Animal Welfare Administrators (CAWA), to

Four members of Charleston Animal Society’s staff presented at the annual Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) Animal Care Expo held from April 3rd through April 6th, which is the largest international conference for animal welfare professionals. Vice President of Operations and Strategy Aldwin Roman, CAWA, presented “Comprehensive Community Assessment: Data Driven Strategy,” with two co-presenters. Roman has presented at previous HSUS conferences in 2016 and 2018.

Appleton was joined by Chief Veterinary Officer Lucy Fuller, DVM, and NKSC Veterinarian and Project Director Becca Boronat, MV, CAWA, to present “Humane Care On a Shoestring: Leveraging ASV Guidelines for Care Without Breaking the Bank.” This day-long session focused on shelter assessments using the Association of Shelter Veterinarians (ASV) guidelines (See Carolina Tails Spring 2023 issue) and identified no-cost strategies to improve the quality of care for animals. Appleton explained that the guidelines include

In May, APHE also awarded Grogan the APHE Best of 2022 Humane Educator of the Year.

Louie Three Legs, one of Charleston Animal Society’s Humane Education Ambassadors, received the Best of 2022 Most Accomplished Animal Ambassador award.

SOUTH CAROLINA SUMMARY COURT JUDGES ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE

Also in May, Charleston Animal Society provided education at the South Carolina Summary Court Judges Association Conference. Elmore, Roman, and Dr. Boronat provided animal-specific training that will allow the judges to better understand and oversee animal cruelty cases. This year’s training focused on equine information and relationship building. This training for judges is state mandated and is critical to the successful enforcement of anti-cruelty laws.

Charleston Animal Society Humane Education Director Heather Grogan and Louie (foreground) were honored at the Association of Professional Humane Educators Conference in Minneapolis.

Clemson Moves Forward with $285m Vet School

Soon to be the first and only veterinary college in South Carolina

PAWSOME!

Following a historic approval by its Board of Trustees in June, Clemson University is preparing to launch the first College of Veterinary Medicine in the State of South Carolina. The approval follows the completion of the annual state budget, which includes $103 million in support toward the $285 million new college.

The University’s first professional school, the Clemson University College of Veterinary Medicine plans to enroll the first students in Fall 2026 with the first class of veterinarians graduating in 2030, and the college will leverage the University’s existing animal health programs and infrastructure to create a veterinary medicine workforce to fill a statewide shortage of veterinarians.

“Today is a historic day. We are thrilled that Clemson University has received landmark funding to establish the state of South Carolina’s first college

of veterinary medicine,” said Clemson University President Jim Clements.

“Clemson University is continuing its mission of positively impacting the lives of our students and the citizens of South Carolina. The new college will continue to elevate the state of South Carolina by meeting the needs of our communities, retaining top talent, supporting the state’s economy and protecting animal and human health.”

Animal advocates hope the new college will help thwart an ongoing statewide and national shortage of veterinarians. The new college will use a distributed model of clinical teaching, where students learn their basic sciences, anatomy, preclinical skills and communication skills during their first three years on campus, after which students conduct clinical learning in distributed learning sites throughout the state.

WHAT PROMPTED THE COLLEGE

The approval of the new college follows the creation of a steering committee comprised of experts in veterinary and human health and an independent feasibility study conducted over the past 18 months.

The feasibility study found:

• 33% of South Carolina counties have fewer than five veterinarians.

• 48% of the state’s counties have fewer than 10 veterinarians.

• Nearly 200 South Carolina students were actively enrolled at 13 veterinary colleges outside the state (2022).

• The qualified pool that was not admitted to a veterinary program is estimated to be 500–1,000 (2018).

The feasibility study also found Clemson University to have the academic and regulatory programs, land, and oncampus animal science farms and infrastructure to position it ideally to support and contain a veterinary college. Currently, the state provides tuition coverage for 46 students to pursue veterinary education at Tuskegee University (seven), Mississippi State University (10) and University of Georgia (29) at a cost of over $6 million per year.

Clemson students will soon be able to pursue a degree in veterinary medicine after the Clemson Board of Trustees approved a $285m vet school.

CONGRATULATIONS ON BRINGING HISTORY TO LIGHT.

Pictured above is Reverend Richard Carroll. A South Carolinian born in 1860 and a well-known advocate for African-American interests and animal protection with the American Humane Education Society.

Since 1874

Unleash the Love! Get ready for the most thrilling, tail-wagging event of the year as Pick Me! SC returns to a shelter or Petco near you from July 14th to 23rd. Brace yourself for an extraordinary lifesaving extravaganza as more than 40 shelters, rescue organizations, and Petco locations across the state unite for this monumental adoption affair — the largest of its kind in the entire country.

Powering this sensational 10-day event is none other than Petco Love, teaming up with BOBS from Skechers. Pick Me! SC is led by No Kill South Carolina 2024, a lifesaving initiative of Charleston Animal Society.

“This year’s goal is to save 2,000 animals,” said Chief Project Officer of No Kill South Carolina 2024, Abigail Appleton, PMP, CAWA. “During summer, animal shelters and rescue organizations face their greatest challenges, and our mission is clear: to find as many dogs and cats safe, loving homes as possible.”

Pick Me! SC IS BACK

SOCIAL MEDIA SENSATIONS STEP IN TO HELP

The Honorary Co-Chairs of Pick Me! SC are the dynamic social media duo @aguyandagolden, Johnathan Lower and his Golden Retriever Teddy. “We are so excited to be a part of this year’s adoption event,” said Lower. “If we can inspire just one family to go to their hometown shelter and adopt — it will make everything worth it.”

Teddy has more than one million followers on social media and videos showing him in his custom-built doghouse with a TV and couch have amassed more than one billion views! Johnathan and his team were recently featured in People Magazine after they launched “Shelter Dog Saturdays” to spotlight dogs less fortunate than Teddy and help them find homes.

PETCO STORES ARE TAKING PART

Most shelters are offering free or “lowfee” adoptions throughout the 10-day

adoption extravaganza. Petco stores are throwing open their doors to welcome shelters and rescue organizations, creating an unrivaled opportunity to connect with potential adopters. Nearly every Petco location across South Carolina is joining the cause. For a complete listing of participating shelters and Petcos go to PIckMeSC.org

Pick Me! SC is also offering lifesaving spay-neuter surgeries to over 200 animals, ensuring their readiness for adoption. “Many smaller, rural shelters face financial obstacles in providing these crucial procedures, but Petco Love has generously provided funding, enabling our team to travel across the state and host these spay-neuter events for shelter pets,” shared Appleton.

Countless individuals who participated in previous Pick Me! SC events have confessed that they had never set foot in their local shelter until they took part in this campaign.

So, mark your calendars, gather your family, and brace yourselves for an aweinspiring experience as Pick Me! SC takes center stage through July 23. Teddy hopes you’ll head out to your shelter and give a dog or cat the second chance they deserve at a happy life.

Johnathan Lower built a dog house complete with flatscreen TV inside his South Carolina home and soon went viral with his “Teddy Tuesday” videos. Teddy is a loveable Golden Retriever who seems oblivious to his fame. He’s a co-chair of this year’s Pick Me! SC statewide adoption campaign.

JEANNE

Helping the Street Animals of Havana

CUBA CONNECTION

Somewhere roaming the streets of Havana, Cuba is a dog or a cat who has benefited from medical supplies donated by Charleston Animal Society. Actually, make that many dogs and cats.

The Spanky Project is an organization designed to “help Cubans help their animals.” Founded by Canadian Terry Shewchuk in 2003, the Spanky Project (named for Shewchuk’s late dog) is an allvolunteer effort to bring free spay-neuter, vaccinations, flea medicine, heartworm treatment, and collars with tags to pets in poor Cuban families as well as to the street dogs and cats in Havana – Cuba’s capital. Havana, with a population of more than two million people, has dogs freely roaming the historic streets day and night.

CONNECTING TWO LIFESAVING ORGANIZATIONS

Charleston Animal Society Chief Advancement Officer Sean Hawkins,

By DAN KROSSE

visited in 2001. She says the outlook for animals is equally bleak. “Everything we need to help these animals, we have to bring in,” Mabie said. “You can’t even buy a cotton ball in Cuba!”

Many of the institutions in Cuba do “adopt” a street pet and provide some with IDs that tell the animal’s personality traits. However, Mabie says most of the street animals are invisible to Cubans, despite the myth that dogs are considered “sacred” in Cuban culture.

THE PROTECTOR NETWORK

CAWA, CFRE connected the organization to the Spanky Project shortly after he arrived in Charleston in 2020. “Soon after I got here, I met with Dr. Lucy Fuller, the Animal Society’s Chief Veterinary Officer, about organizing supply drives for the veterinarian projects in Havana,” Hawkins said. “I visited Cuba in a Global Exchange humanitarian project many years ago with Charleston Animal Society donors Peter Bender and Anne Ostberg. We all fell in love with the people and animals there.”

About twice a year the Spanky Project receives supplies from Charleston Animal Society. The supplies are ones that are no longer able to be used for animals here.

OVERCOMING CHALLENGES

It’s estimated that one out of four Cubans lives in poverty. Audrey Mabie is the President of Spanky Project USA. She says the conditions for people in Cuba are the worst she’s seen since she first

To make sure these animals don’t stay invisible, the Spanky Project enlists a network of “Protectors” around the country who watch over the street animals. “A Protector is an animal lover that feeds and takes care of all the animals in a given area of their neighborhood. When we come in for a campaign, they help us capture the animals for spay-neuter surgeries and then return them afterward,” Mabie explained. “Our goal with each campaign is to complete a minimum 500 spayneuter surgeries in six days.”

Beyond medical supplies, the Spanky Project also offers educational opportunities for Cuban veterinarians and medical staff. The Veterinary University of Havana allows students to work with The Spanky Project in their lifesaving efforts. The students get hands-on experience that they aren’t receiving at the University. Keeping these dogs healthy in a thirdworld medical system is a huge challenge that the Spanky Project has been steadily working to improve since it began. Mabie says it’s donations from organizations like Charleston Animal Society that keeps their mission moving forward, “Charleston Animal Society has provided supplies that we could never afford. The lives of so many animals have been improved because of these donations.”

Charleston Animal Society donates medical items it can no longer use to the Spanky Project in Cuba which started in 2003. Veterinary students from Cuba receive hands-on training through the program.

Celebrity Paws in the Park Walk for Animals

Celebrity Paws in the Park

The largest animal festival in South Carolina was presented by Crews Subaru

Crews Subaru announced as Presenting Sponsor celebrating animals and the people who love them.

WHAT A DAY!

They walked, jumped, sat, stayed and played all day! On June 10, it was all about the animals at Celebrity Paws in the Park presented by Crews Subaru. Over 3,200 people and their pets participated in raising funds and community awareness for Charleston Animal Society at Riverfront Park in North Charleston. Before expenses, the event raised almost $480,000 with cash and in-kind donations to support the lifesaving work at Charleston Animal Society. We thought photos told the story best!

CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: People were blown away by the music acts The Midnight City Band and Bullets Benign. • Balloon Rides added another dimension to the festival. • The Charleston County Aviation Authority and Mount Pleasant Police held K9 demonstrations.

• Charleston Mayoral Candidate Clay Middleton spoke with many voters

MARIE RODRIGUEZ

PHOTOS BY JEANNE TAYLER (JTPETPICS.COM)

CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: Dogs of all sizes were seen everywhere across Riverfront Park in North Charleston. • Donna Moeckel and her dog Pip (left) receive the top award for team fundraising from Crews Subaru’s Ken French (center) and Charleston Animal Society Board Chairwoman Laurel Greer. • Charleston Mayoral candidate Peter Shahid visited with attendees. • A Walk for Animals to end cruelty kicked the festival off with a special meaning. • People drove five hours in some cases to meet social media sensations, Johnathan Lower and Teddy (@aguyandagolden), the honorary co-chairs of Celebrity Paws in the Park. • Even dogs on wheels were welcome at the largest dog festival in South Carolina!

SEAN HAWKINS

Rescue Brew Beer Contest is Back!

By WILL HOWELL

Another summer has arrived in Charleston and that can only mean that it’s time for the return of one of Charleston Animal Society’s most beloved fundraisers – the Rescue Brew Beer Contest.

For the fourth year in a row, Charleston Animal Society is teaming up with Palmetto Brewing Company for a star search for the cutest cats and dogs South Carolina has to offer. Each year, the competition functions in two phases: nominations and voting. Just go to CharlestonAnimalSociety. org/Rescue-Brew to get involved!

MAKE YOUR PET FAMOUS!

During the nomination phase, pet owners must submit the cutest pictures of their cat or dog along with a write-up explaining why their pet would make the perfect model to grace this year’s can and a $10 donation. Then the real competition begins. During the voting phase, entrants take to social media and the streets to gather votes for their pets. Each $1 donation to your pet’s profile counts as one vote, with the proceeds benefiting Charleston Animal Society’s No Kill South Carolina initiative.

“I had a lot of fun with the voting phase, calling up friends and family, sending emails, and posting my favorite Mr. T moments on Facebook,” explained Catherine Brack, proud owner of 2020 Spokescat Winner, Mr. T. “It all led up to the last night of voting, where I hosted all of my friends and made our final votes to win it all for Mr. T!”

In 2022, there were a record number of 709 entrants who raised a total of $81,699 for Charleston Animal Society’s No Kill South Carolina initiative, helping make our state a friendlier place for

SPOKESPET

animals. When the voting phase closed in September, the public selected three cats and three dogs as the finalists in the running for Spokescat and Spokesdog respectively.

VOTES COST $1

Each $1 donation is counted as one vote to the dog or cat of the voter’s choice. From sharing their cutest pictures, making hilarious TikToks, and fundraising tirelessly in the final days of the contest, entrants employed all manner of creativity as they campaigned for their pets to be selected as finalists. A total of 561 dogs were able to raise a combined $56,888, with 148 cats entering to raise $17,715 in the race to be named the official Spokespets for Rescue Brew 2022.

Beaux, a 10-month-old Maine Coon from Kiawah Island received an incredible 3,415 votes and had his photo on Rescue Brew. As for the dogs? Wally, a seven-year-old West

Highland terrier-mix rescued during Hurricane Matthew, managed to get 5,051 votes and saw his sweet face on Rescue Brew!

“We are honored to be a part of this program for a fourth year—it has been an amazing opportunity to give back to the community and show our passion for a common cause,” said Ian Berg, VP of Commercial Operations for Palmetto Brewing Company.

Rescue Brew Beer 2023 will go on sale near the holidays. Last year, Rescue Brew could be found in Charleston area Harris Teeters and Bottles stores and at select retailers in Columbia and Greenville. Rescue Brew Beer is perfect for holiday parties and a portion of sales from each six-pack sold is donated to local No Kill South Carolina partners: Charleston Animal Society, Pawmetto Lifeline, and Greenville Humane Society.

Beaux and Wally were Rescue Brew 2022 winners.

FOR THE BIRDS :: Guinea Hens

Saving a Charleston Treasure

Guinea Hen flock almost goes extinct … until …

By MISSY DEWING

ABOVE: A few of the “Ladies of Lamboll” enjoy time with the Guinea Hens they helped save. (L-R): Missy Dewing, Lois Lane and Amanda Flynn. Tourists often see Guinea Hens walking South of Broad on Lamboll Street.

IT’S A MYSTERY HOW GUINEA HENS CAME TO LIVE IN DOWNTOWN CHARLESTON, WANDERING ACROSS THE BATTERY AND UP AND DOWN KING STREET. TOURISTS STROLLING DOWN LAMBOLL STREET CAN’T MISS THESE STUNNING POLKADOTTED BIRDS ROOSTING IN TREES, SQUAWKING A PIERCING ALARM WHEN PREDATORS ARE ABOVE OR BELOW.

It is said there was one original Guinea Hen couple in Charleston and their names were Gus and Ginny. No one knows or no one will say how this couple arrived. One story claims it was a prank, letting these loud birds loose to entertain and cause a little havoc. Another story says Gus and Ginny were someone’s pets and they moved away, letting the pair stay behind. All we know is that they have become a tourist attraction and most of the residents

welcome them as they strut down the streets with their quirky, hesitant gait, calling out to one another.

But these South of Broad treasures almost disappeared from the peninsula.

LAMBOLL LADIES TO THE RESCUE

The Ladies of Lamboll Street were facing a dilemma about a year ago. Only one Guinea out of a flock of roughly fourteen was left.

Each Spring the hens would hatch quite a few ‘keets’ as the chicks are called, but in early 2022 only one female was left. Where did the Guinea Hens go? What predator could be killing them off?

The Ladies of Lamboll hatched a plan. Two of the neighbors got together and brought in three new birds from elsewhere in South Carolina to live in a coop to make a total of four. In the meantime more Lamboll Ladies had

PHOTO: DAN KROSSE

organized to bring eight birds down from North Carolina.

Before the Guinea Hen crisis, the neighbors did not know each other well, but this was a cause and a passion they all shared ... love of the Guinea Hens. They banded together and made new friends in the process.

There was one large logistical problem — in order to create a flock out of birds who were not raised together, the twelve birds would need to be locked in a large pen for weeks and let out slowly. So, the Lamboll Ladies got together to make schedules for feeding and watering these flapping creatures.

At times it was scary getting into the cage with twelve large birds in order to change the water and put down the grains, cabbage and their favorite kale. More neighborhood ladies appeared and wanted to help; entire families joined the ranks.

THANK YOU LADIES!

After a month of being literally “cooped up,” it was time to let a few out at a time, to strut their days away. But at dusk, neighborhood bedlam would ensue. Each evening, one could see several ladies, gentlemen and children running across bewildered neighbors’ lawns holding brooms high in the air to swish the Guineas back down Lamboll and into the coop, all without letting the other inmates out. No easy feat! I am not sure if drinks were needed before or after the chases, but it was harrowing at times. Finally the seven week lock-up period came to an end and the Guineas were free to roam. They still come back to Lamboll Street every day around cocktail hour to find a good branch for their nightly roosting. They loudly parade by their Lamboll Ladies who made this flock of twelve birds possible — a “thank you” that the Ladies will always remember.

When not saving hens, Missy Dewing is an artist and resident of Lamboll Street.

ANCIENT BIRDS WITH A DOWNTOWN FLAIR

Guineafowl have been on this earth since the dawn of civilization. Paintings of these birds have been found in the Egyptian pyramids and the Romans feasted on them at their banquets. They originated in West Africa and no one is sure how they made their way to America, perhaps during the Atlantic slave trade or perhaps the Spanish brought them during their conquests in the early 1500’s. These birds are sometimes called “pet speckled hens” or “original fowl.”

Lamboll Street is located South of Broad in downtown Charleston. One of the Ladies of Lamboll is writing a children’s book on the Guinea Hen rescue, so stay tuned!

PHOTO: MISSY DEWING

A Minute with Joe

CAROLINA TAILS: Tell us about the South Carolina Animal Legislative Coalition.

JOE ELMORE: Over the past decade, the South Carolina Animal Legislative Coalition (SCALC) has worked hard to ease the plight of companion animals in South Carolina through meaningful legislation.

CT: Why was it formed?

JE: South Carolina is perennially ranked in the bottom 10 states for animal cruelty laws by two independent sources that rank states each year — the Animal Legal Defense Fund and The Humane Society of the United States. Paralleling this unflattering ranking is that, disturbingly, many other aspects of animal care and control are far inferior to what they should be. For example, there are no shelter or rescue group regulations, no required reporting of government shelters (only nonprofit shelters), no standards for animal shelters, no required minimal training for animal control officers, and the list goes on.

The concept of SCALC generated from a meeting of animal welfare leaders across the state in 2010. The Coalition was formalized in 2012 to protect companion animals, provide stiffer penalties for those convicted of animal cruelty, and to identify a means of collecting costs for the care of animals seized as part of an animal cruelty case.

CT: What is its mission?

JE: To enact legislation that effectively prevents animal cruelty in South Carolina.

CT: What are SCALC’s legislative priorities?

JE: What we hope to end through meaningful legislation is –

• Overpopulation of companion animals

• Overcrowded and under-resourced shelters

• Companion animal cruelty

• South Carolina’s veterinary shortage crisis in shelters and affordable spay/neuter clinics

As shelters across the country, especially in the south, struggle with placing big dogs into homes, we must act now to create public policy that will ease this tremendous pressure that is leading to the suffering and deaths of so many animals.

CT: You are encouraging other shelters to get involved in SCALC. Why?

JE: Public policy legislation is needed to protect companion animals. It is too difficult to pass legislation in 271 incorporated municipalities and 46 counties across our state. Issues that affect

WHAT SCALC?IS

all of us in South Carolina can be best addressed at the state level. Every community needs to participate in this uphill battle. Each of us is a critical voice for animals in our communities. Elected officials in the South Carolina House and Senate rely on local constituents for input. Only you can be the champion for animals in your community. Will you be their champion?

CT: How much time will an organization need to devote to be a member?

JE: Recognizing the understaffed crisis in animal shelters, a participant can expect to meet in-person about once each quarter, with in-between meetings held via Zoom and correspondence through email.

CT: Is there anything else important to point out?

JE: Although there are a myriad of issues facing companion animals in our state, SCALC is focusing on reducing the population of big, adult dogs to save these wonderful animals from unnecessary euthanasia.

With the rapid population growth of residents in our state, we also struggle with animals entering shelters at a pace that is unsustainable. Through effective legislation, SCALC has surveyed statewide shelters for input, leading to a fertile dog registration bill aiming to incentivize spay/neuter of large (40+ pounds) dogs. However, lobbying groups were able to turn back this legislation earlier this year.

To join SCALC, email jelmore@charlestonanimalsociety.org.

CAROLINA TAILS RECENTLY INTERVIEWED CHARLESTON ANIMAL SOCIETY PRESIDENT AND CEO JOE ELMORE ABOUT AN IMPORTANT ORGANIZATION CALLED THE SOUTH CAROLINA ANIMAL LEGISLATIVE COALITION.

LEAVE A LEGACY OF COMPASSION

Because of generous people like you, animals across South Carolina can have a strong advocate well into the future.

We’ve partnered with FreeWill to make leaving a bequest easy. With this free tool, you can create a legal will to ensure peace of mind for yourself and make a meaningful impact for animals as part of your legacy. It’s 100% free, there is no minimum gift required, and most people finish their will in 20 minutes or less. Visit FreeWill.com/CharlestonAnimalSociety to get started.

Anniversary Coming in 2024

The Animal Allies Lifesaving Machine

By ANNA LANFORD

Nestled in the Upstate of South Carolina, Animal Allies is a low-cost spay and neuter clinic that’s having a big lifesaving impact. Last year alone, Animal Allies performed 19,667 spay-neuter surgeries and the team hopes to reach 20,000 in 2023. Beyond spay-neuter, Animal Allies also offers a range of services, including a vaccine clinic, flea and heartworm prevention and exams, to ensure that cats and dogs across the Upstate get the care that they need. Located in Spartanburg, South Carolina, Animal Allies opened its doors in 1998 with the goal of “ensuring that the four-legged members of your family do not become a burden to your family or the community.”

Both the spay-neuter clinic as well as the vaccine clinic are open to pets belonging to anyone in the community. The only requirement for the dogs and cats attending the vaccine clinic is that they must be spayed or neutered prior to their visit. Heartworm tests, fecal exams, and deworming treatments are provided at a low cost and without the charge of an office visit, to make veterinary care more accessible to the community. This allows pet owners to keep their animals happy and healthy and save money for any more extensive vet care that may be necessary down the road.

HITTING THE ROAD

Recently, Animal Allies’ work has expanded to include transports of pets from the Humane Society of Greenwood and York County Animal Shelter, as well as Community Pet Center in Rutherfordton County North Carolina.

Animal Allies is located in Spartanburg, SC and completes almost 20,000 low cost spay-neuter surgeries each year and also provides exams and other treatments for other conditions including heartworms.

And their work towards creating a community of healthy animals does not stop there. Animal Allies is also a partner organization of No Kill South Carolina, an initiative of Charleston Animal Society designed to save every healthy and treatable animal and create a No Kill community across the entire state. In addition, Animal Allies recently joined the South Carolina Animal Legislative Coalition (SCALC), a group that serves as a voice for animals, seeking changes in legislation to further support animal welfare (see pg. 23)

FACING CHALLENGES HEAD-ON

The biggest challenge currently facing the organization continues to be staffing. Accommodating the large volume of surgeries that Animal Allies sees every day requires a dedicated staff. With a schedule that includes owned pets as well as feral cats and shelter animals, the organization

needs the right team to ensure success. “Right now, we have one of the best teams that we’ve ever had,” says Executive Director Christina Richards. “Everyone always looks out for one another and anticipates each other’s needs.”

Recently, when the organization was down to only two doctors, they were still able to complete over 100 surgeries in a single day!

In looking towards the future for Animal Allies, Richards’ hope is to spread the message about the importance of spaying and neutering while also reducing the need for such high-volume spay and neuter facilities. To do so, the team is focused on working with their collaborating partners and spreading the word about the full lineup of services that they offer.

Access to veterinary care remains a top priority, ensuring animals across the Upstate and beyond can live long and healthy lives.

A Bright Spot. A Bright Shirt.

Charleston Animal Society says goodbye to a shining star.

By ALDWIN ROMAN, CAWA

Riding down Rivers Avenue in a bright green van, you could spot Patrick Allen a mile away. He always wears his bright green Charleston Animal Society shirt.

“OUTREACH” is stamped on the back of it but his trademark flannel shirt, a throwback to his years working in Asheville, usually covers it up.

The shirt doesn’t really matter because the bright spot isn’t the shirt, it’s Patrick. In the five years he worked at Charleston Animal Society, the place you would most often find him was sitting in the woods talking to people who could fit their entire life in a shopping cart. For the unhoused population of Charleston who have animals, Patrick was their bright spot.

When he first moved down here from Asheville, he came with a car full of camping supplies. Those are all gone now, given away to help those less fortunate than him. A tent here to help a family who lost their home, a camping stove there to help someone cook a warm meal for once. Piece by piece, family by family, Patrick did what he could well above and beyond his role as Director of Community Outreach at the Animal Society.

Life has been hard for many people in our community the past few years. The truth is life was hard even before then for many families. And we know that when families are struggling, their animals struggle too. Even before the current economic hardships, families have struggled to make ends meet with the resources available to them. Charleston, although known for its beautiful buildings and streets is not immune to the housing crisis gripping this country. Just five years ago, North Charleston had the highest eviction rate in the entire country.

Back then, 10 families a day were losing their homes. Pet survey data tells us that six out of 10 of those families had animals. When families lose their homes, the animals lose their homes too. Charleston

PATRICK

the Simon Greer Mobile Spay and Neuter Clinic, the Helping Hands program helped over two thousand families and three thousand animals. He connected families across our community to the veterinary services they wanted and desperately needed for their animals.

ANSWERING THE CALL

Only ever pausing to make sure he had his lucky flannel shirt, Patrick was always ready to help if he could. When the call for help came from down the street when a family lost their home, Patrick answered. And then when the call came from three states over from a shelter facing a life-threatening hurricane, Patrick answered too.

Animal Society isn’t taking on the economy and the housing crisis, but behind the scenes there is a bright spot for families who need a little support.

PEOPLE AND ANIMALS

While leading the Community Outreach department, Patrick worked from small to big. His passion was helping the unhoused population, but his work grew to be much more than that.

He managed the Pets for Life program which goes door-to-door in neighborhoods situated in resource deserts in North Charleston, offering veterinary services and more to families.

He worked with the tri-county sheriff’s offices to participate in the Extending Branches events, helping the unhoused and finding more ways to connect people to the resources they need. And finally he led the Helping Hands for Rural Paws program, a mobile access to veterinary care program that reached across Charleston County from Edisto Island to McClellanville, eventually pushing into Dorchester and Berkeley Counties.

Thanks to WaterShed Animal Fund and PetSmart Charities, over the course of four years, with Patrick behind the wheel of

South Carolina has been lucky enough to avoid any major impact from recent hurricanes but other states have not. In 2019, when the call came from New Orleans to help move animals out ahead of Hurricane Barry, Patrick answered. In 2021, when the call came from Mississippi to move animals out ahead of Hurricane Ida and drop them off to partner shelters across the Southeast, Patrick answered. And in 2022, when the call came from Florida to pick up evacuated animals in Alabama and take them to partner shelters in the Northeast, Patrick answered again. For the people and animals in our community and across the Southeast, Patrick has always been there.

NEW CHAPTERS

With pride and sadness, Charleston Animal Society is now watching one of its bright spots move on. Patrick left the Animal Society in June to move out to the West Coast. I know if we are ever looking for him, he will be easy to find. Wherever there will be people and animals in need, Patrick will be there, flannel shirt and all, doing whatever he can to help. We all wish him luck on his next adventure.

Patrick Allen (R) led Charleston Animal Society’s outreach programs and is now moving to the Northwest.

Mr. Mojo Finds His Family and Fame

By SARAH BASKIN

MICROCHIP MIRACLE

In early May 2023, Charleston Animal Society staff bore witness to something amazingly heartfelt: a long-lost cat was reunited with his tearful owner. However, this was not your ordinary reunion story. This cat, Mr. Mojo (aka Mr. Kitty), was picked up by local animal control and brought to Charleston Animal Society where his microchip was quickly scanned as per protocol. Much to everyone’s surprise, Mr. Mojo’s owner had been looking for him for ten years!

A decade ago, the little black cat had recently acquired a new canine roommate — much to his displeasure. One day, Mr. Mojo demanded to be let outside, as per usual for his routine, but little did his owner Erin know that she would not see him again for a very long time. Hours turned to days, days turned to weeks, and soon, ten years had passed by with no sign of Mr. Mojo. But all it took was one microchip scan for a long overdue reunion.

MR. MOJO GOES GLOBAL

Charleston Animal Society first covered the details of this heartwarming story in social media posts on May 2, but it quickly garnered local news coverage that would snowball into an explosion of media attention on a global scale.

The details of the sensational story of Mr. Mojo finding his way

It was a tearful reunion for Mr. Mojo, who spent 10 years away from his mom Erin. A microchip is the size of a grain of rice and it was the key to reuniting Mr. Mojo with his family.

back home after a decade of searching by his owner touched the hearts of more than just the local community; it spread to numerous news outlets from the New York Post to international news sites in Japan and elsewhere.

Everyone was enamored by this endearing reunion that was a decade in the making — who wouldn’t be when such a reunion is the hope of any pet owner missing their furry companion.

THE MIRACLE OF MICROCHIPS

Mr. Mojo’s successful homecoming can be boiled down to one thing: his microchip. Mr. Mojo never would have been able to be reunited with his heartbroken owner if not for this grain-sized implant, and it would have been made significantly harder — if not impossible — had Erin not kept the information up to date.

Getting a microchip is easy — just ask your vet for one at your next appointment. There are other options to keep your pet from getting lost. Petco Love Lost is online, it’s free and it uses facial recognition technology to reunite you with your pet. Signing up is easy — just go to PetcoLoveLost.org and upload your pet’s photo.

If your pet is lost, be sure to post signs in your neighborhood and post photos on social media. Ten years is too long for any pet to be without his or her family.

KAY HYMAN

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Hill’s has helped over 13 million shelter pets find a home, and we’re just getting started.

healthy. happy. home.

Hank & Laurel Greer

Thank you for making Celebrity Paws in the Park a huge success!