Something to Bark About - Charleston Animal Society

Something to
Bark About
The Lowcountry’s Largest Animal Rescue Organization
Special Edition: No Kill Charleston 2015
IN THIS ISSUE
No Kill Strategy: Breaking
Records & Saving Lives.
3
No Kill Charleston 2015
Charleston Animal Society makes history building
the first No Kill Community in the Southeast.
You did it! Through your determination
and support of our mission -Charleston County is now the first
No Kill Community in the Southeast.
Under the guidance of the ASPCA, we
started on this road five years ago and
have saved every healthy and treatable
animal over the past year. We know this
initiative (page 3) will continue to save
more animal lives than ever before.
Firefighter Calendars On Sale!
How to Order Yours Today.
4
Charleston is now No Kill.
Can we sustain it? It’s up to
you. Can we count on you?
Olivia & Luke with Delilah the Super Kitty! One
of 338 happy adoptions at at our October MegaMatch-a-Thon Adoption Event. Fee-waived
adoptions are one of our life-saving strategies.
Largest Cruelty Bust
Ever in the South.
5
14th Annual Celebrity Chili
Cook-off & Oyster Roast
5
Presented By:
Charlie Brown came to us shot and emaciated.
Charleston Animal Society volunteers and staff
worked tirelessly to save him and find him his
new, loving home. He is one example of our
commitment to treating the most critical cases.
LEADING THE WAY
All eyes are on Charleston.
Communities across the nation and
from as far away as France and Australia
have reached out to us to learn
about our success, which has been
highlighted in national publications
from the the ASPCA, PetSmart Charities,
and the Humane Society of the United
States.
ADOPTION RECORDS BROKEN
When our shelter and foster care system
reached beyond capacity in June &
October, we put out the crisis call for
help. You responded in an amazing
fashion! 338 animals were adopted
in October and 530 found new
homes in June, shattering adoption
records across South Carolina. When
our community comes together,
nothing is impossible. Learn more
about our programs on our website at
www.CharlestonAnimalSociety.org
Charleston Animal Society Newsletter • Fall 2013
2
No Kill: The Truth and the Cost
Charleston is at a crossroads in sustaining a No Kill Community: either move
forward with research-driven, life-saving strategies -- or stay stuck in the past.
On April 2, 2013, Charleston Animal Society announced and
There are over 30 nonprofit animal organizations active in
launched the boldest animal rescue initiative ever undertaken in Charleston County; however, Charleston Animal Society is
the Southeast – No Kill Charleston 2015.
charged with caring for 90% of the community’s animals,
which amounts to roughly 10,000 animals each year. Further,
When we opened our new animal care campus over five years
Charleston Animal Society is the only organization in the county
ago, we told the community that the expanded facilities would that does not turn animals away, meaning we get the most
allow us to make our neighborhoods and communities safer
difficult cases in overwhelming numbers.
and healthier for both people and families. Ultimately, that’s
what all of us want – a safe and healthy environment in which
Most of these sheltering organizations do not proclaim
to raise and nurture our families, including our pets.
themselves as “no kill” organizations, understanding that
when you turn the most at-risk animals away by the hundreds,
Through focus, strategy, determination and old-fashioned hard perhaps thousands, leaving only Charleston Animal Society as
work, our staff, volunteers and foster families have brought
the sole refuge to accept the injured, ill, abandoned, abused and
the Charleston area to the forefront of the companion animal
aggressive ones, “no kill” simply is not an honest description of
movement. Most importantly, the community has responded
who you are.
to our call to action, whether it is an appeal to adopt, spay/
neuter or seek proper veterinary care. Charleston Animal
When a shelter turns away local animals in favor of “cuter,”
Society is leading not only our community, but our state and
healthier, or more “desirable” animals from other parts of the
region, in saving the lives of homeless animals and reducing
state to generate more revenue, it is inaccurate to proclaim itself
their numbers. When we announced, “It’s Time,” in the spring,
“No Kill.” Importing animals into our community while local
we knew it would be a difficult journey for us and a challenge
animals remain unwanted is plain wrong!
for our community to become “No Kill” and sustain it.
Charleston Animal Society spends over $500,000 each year
to treat ill, injured and aggressive animals, both medically
and behaviorally and this does not include the daily costs of
sheltering and feeding. We embrace them all, even the ones
who are rejected by other organizations.
This year, we have made Charleston County the first No Kill
Community in the Southeast, but it will cost us much more than
we can sustain. We currently are running a $500,000 deficit by
saving all of the healthy and treatable animals.
The graph above shows amazing Charleston Animal Society progress
over each of the past 7 summers. The summer months are universally
the most difficult time of year for animal shelters.
The mainstream definition for “No Kill” is to save every healthy
and treatable animal. Once a community is saving the
overwhelming majority of its animals, the measure of success
must be qualitative rather than quantitative; however, by every
measure, our community has met that standard over the past
12 months and has kept the euthansia rate below 10%. “No
Kill” is about communities, not organizations. That is why you
will not hear Charleston Animal Society touting itself as a no kill
shelter. No Kill is a vision of what a humane community looks
like, not a ploy to be misused as a fundraising or marketing
strategy.
It will take each of us reaching much deeper into our pockets to
continue treating these broken but adorable animals.
Remember, a shelter can not be “no kill” if it turns animals away.
Only communities are “no kill” and we believe in our
community.
Joe Elmore
Joe Elmore, CAWA, CFRE, PHR
Chief Executive Officer
Charleston Animal Society Newsletter • Fall 2013
3
Our No Kill Charleston Community Strategy
To move forward we will continue leading the Charleston area toward strategies
and tactics that save lives. Much of this will be challenging to implement, but we
are confident with your increased support, we will achieve this goal.
Finding Homes for
Homeless Animals
Fighting Animal Cruelty
Wherever it Exists
Reducing the Number
of Free Roaming Cats
Impact: 5,000 Animals
Cost: $977,500
Impact: 275 Animals
Cost: $27,500
Impact: 1,500 Animals
Cost: $120,000
Preventing Births of
Unwanted Animals
Containing Outbreaks
of Deadly Diseases
Fighting Hunger with
our Food Bank
Impact: 12,000 Animals
Cost: $900,000
Impact: 14,500 Animals
Cost: $145,000
Impact: 1,000 Animals
Cost: $10,000
Saving Lives of
Abused, Sick &
Neglected Animals
Reuniting Loved Ones
with Their Families
Teaching Children About
Science and How to
Become Humanitarians
Impact: 4,000 Animals
Cost: $500,000
Impact: 1,000 Animals
Cost: $25,000
Impact: 2,700 Children
Cost: $145,000
Charleston Animal Society Newsletter • Fall 2013
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Where You Can Buy
Your Calendar
Charleston
Charleston Visitors Center
Croghan’s Jewel Box
Lotus Flower
Earthling Day Spa
Rising High Café
WildFlour Pastry
Charleston Fire Central
Station
Charleston Fire Station 6
Dog & Horse Fine Art
James Island
All is Well
Head to Tail Day Spa & Inn
West Ashley
Dolittle’s
Consign Charleston
Animal Helpers ReTAIL Store
All Is Well
Five Eighth Seams
North Charleston
Charleston Animal Society
Mt. Pleasant
Dolittle’s
Palmetto Paws
Max Muscle
The Shoe Fairy
All Is Well
Blackbeard’s Cove
Folly Beach
Crosby’s Fish & Shrimp
Summerville
Dolittle’s
Charleston Firefighter Josh Turner is one of 13 area firefighters in the 2014 Calendar.
Firefighter Calendars On Sale Now
All Proceeds Go to Toby’s Fund -- the Charleston Animal Society Medical Fund.
The 2014 Charleston Animal Society
Firefighter Calendar is on sale now!
Featuring 13 of the area’s bravest
animal-loving firefighters, this is
one calendar you are going to love
checking the dates on throughout the
new year.
A huge thank you to all of the
firefighters who donated their time
and good looks to raising money for
Toby’s Fund! This is Charleston Animal
Society’s medical fund that pays for the
life-saving treatment of thousands of
animal every year.
You can buy the
calendar online at
CharlestonAnimalSociety.org
or at several area retailers we
have listed on our website. Toby’s Fund provides $500,000 in
medicine, treatment and recovery
therapy to animals who are brought
to us homeless, abused and
neglected.
We see it all – dogs who have
outgrown their collars, which
become embedded in their necks;
dehydrated and starved animals and
pets left on the side of the road by
hit-and-run drivers.
Toby’s Fund allows us to treat animals
that other animal organizations would
turn away.
North Charleston Firefighter Corey Bates
showing off two kittens from Charleston
Animal Society.
The typical animal in our shelter
receives $242 worth of care before
being adopted. Nearly 20,000
animals come to us each year!
Ducking behind the helmet is Charleston
Firefighter Eric Glover with a pair of hound
pups rescued by Charleston Animal Society.
The efforts of all of the firefighters
who gave their time to this
year’s calendar will make a huge
difference in countless animal
lives. We hope you’ll buy one and
support Charleston Animal Society.
Get Your
Calendar Now!
›› $20 per Calendar
›› Available at Area Retailers (Listed
Above)
›› Purchase Online at
CharlestonAnimalSociety.org
›› Visit us at 2455 Remount Road
Charleston Animal Society Newsletter • Fall 2013
5
FIGHTING ANIMAL
CRUELTY
In August, Charleston Animal
Society leant its expertise to the
FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office
as authorities rescued 406 dogs
in the second largest dog fighting
ring bust in U.S. history.
Seven staff members from
Charleston Animal Society were
dispatched to help with the crisis
and several are still deployed.
After a three-year investigation,
13 search warrants were executed
throughout Alabama, Mississippi,
Georgia and Texas. Ten suspects
were arrested and indicted on
felony dog fighting charges.
Many of the dogs are receiving
treatment for injuries and
malnutrition. “It feels great
knowing these dogs will never be
chained again,” said Charleston
Animal Society Anti-Cruelty &
Outreach Manager Aldwin Roman.
Charleston Animal Society AntiCruelty & Outreach Manager Aldwin
Roman comforts a rescued dog.
Charleston Animal Society is
always on standby, ready to assist
the ASPCA Field Investigations
and Response Team in cruelty and
disaster relief cases. Our staff
members who go are ones with
the most experience and we know
their abilities will help make a
difference when needed most.
Chili Cook-off is Going
to be Bigger than Ever!
14th annual event is more interactive, more fun and
promises to be a great time for everyone.
Over 1,000 animal supporters from
all over the Lowcountry will fill the
grounds of Joe Riley Ballpark on
November 23rd from 1pm - 5pm.
We hope you’ll be there to taste
award-winning chili, shuck endless
oysters and enjoy local beers and
beverages. This is our largest
fundraiser each year.
Our family friendly event includes
a kid zone, photo booth, adoption
zone, a redneck horseshoe
tournament, and a TV football zone
(so you won’t miss any of the matchups!). Tickets: $20 in advance.
We need you now! Please
form a team and compete, or
buy a ticket, today.
secret recipe! (Right now we have 50
teams signed up). On the day of the
competition, bring your chili and our
judges will sample and score it.
TEAM FUNDRAISING:
To enter, each team will raise money
with our easy-to-use online donation
system.
You can sign up as an individual, an
organization or a business. It will be
fun for everyone.
Teams use our website to sign up
a team, fundraise and sell tickets.
We are available to help set you up
and give you ideas on how to ask for
donations. See you November 23rd!
CHILI TEAM COMPETITION
The competition for the Best Chili
in Charleston has never been hotter!
There is still time for you, your
company or your friends & family to
form a team and show the world your
Forming a Team
››
››
››
››
CharlestonAnimalSociety.org
Call Kay Hyman: (843) 329-1544
Visit Us: 2455 Remount Road
Tickets: $20 Advance / $25
at Door
6
Charleston Animal Society Newsletter • Fall 2013
2013 Barktoberfest
CHARLESTON
ANIMAL SOCIETY
HOSTS NATIONAL
CONFERENCE
Charleston Animal Society’s
Veterinary Science Initiative (VSI)
Program has gained national
attention. September 18 - 20,
educators from around the country
came to Charleston to learn about
how VSI works and to take the
program home to their communities.
VSI engages high school students
in science by using veterinary
medicine as a platform for learning.
Area teachers are already using the
curriculum in classrooms around the
Lowcountry!
Educators learn about the VSI Lesson Plan
focusing on animal cruelty.
Charleston Animal Society Veterinary
Director of Continuing Education
Initiatives, Dr. Brittany Watson Tisa,
VMD/Ph.D., our Director of Humane
Education De Daltorio and VSI
Facilitator Mara Niefer organized and
led the conference.
Once educators implement VSI
in different parts of the country,
the data collected will be used in
education research being conducted
by Dr. Watson Tisa. “Our research
finds students involved in VSI have
proven changes in knowledge,
attitudes and behavior involving
science and animals,” Watson Tisa
said.
For more go to www.vsiprogram.com
Visit us on Facebook and Twitter too!
Charleston Animal Society Newsletter • Fall 2013
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FOSTER SPOTLIGHT:
THE HEINS FAMILY
Did you know fostering saves more animal lives than
almost every other strategy we have? The Heins family
in Mt. Pleasant has saved more than 100 kittens over
the year they’ve been fostering for Charleston Animal
Society! “We love it. It’s like having a kitten all the time,”
said Donna Heins. Donna, along with her two sons,
Jonah and Evan enjoy naming the cats based on their
unique personalities. They thought the hardest part
of fostering would be letting the kittens go, “But we
reminded ourselves that if we keep on fostering, we can
save even more lives,” said Jonah. The Heins are one very
important member of our 300+ foster family network.
From all of us at Charleston Animal Society -- Thank you!
BECOME A FOSTER FAMILY
Jodi Osborne: [email protected]
(843) 329-1543
NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT
STAFF SPOTLIGHT
Word of our No Kill Charleston 2015 Initiative success has prompted
Our staff’s continual push for excellence includes furthering their academic
and professional education.
management staff to speak at numerous national rescue conferences. ›› Dr. Sarah Boyd Awarded ASPCA/University of California at Davis Koret
WHEN: 24/7
WHEN: Daily
Shelter Medicine Fellowship.
›› Charleston Animal Society holds National Veterinary Science
WHERE:
Online
& WHERE: Exchange
›› Dr. Brittany Watson Tisa graduated in August with her Ph.D. through the
Initiative
Conference
In Stores
Park
Ladson
School of Educational Leadership at the University of South Carolina.
›› Humane Society of
thein
Unites
States Animal Care Expo (largest
›
›
CEO Joe Elmore named Certified Animal Welfare Administrator Mentor.
animal
education
conference
in
the
world)
WHAT: Buy a
WHAT: Coastal
Charleston
AnimalNo More
Carolina
Fair! Pets
Come
›› Best Friends
Homeless
Conference
Society
Firefighter
visit our booth
and Summit
›› ASPCA
Partner Communities
Planning
MEDIA SPOTLIGHT
Calendar!
buy a Firefighter
›› Southeastern Animal
Controlplus
Association
Calendar,
meet Conference
›› ASPCA Action Magazine (twice)
some of the actual
›› Carolinas Unite Conference
›› PetSmart Charities National Newsletter
calendar
models!
›› North Carolina Animal
Rabies
Control Association Conference
›› Humane Society of the United States Animal Sheltering Magazine
Now
requests
- January
from around the
Octcountry
31 - Nov
for our
11veterinarians and
Save the Dates!
November 23
December 7
December 7
WHEN:1p - 5p
WHEN:10a - 6p
WHEN:11a - 4p
WHERE: Joe Riley
Ballpark (Riverdogs
Stadium)
WHERE: Consign
Charleston, West
Ashley
WHAT: 14th Annual
Celebrity Chili Cookoff & Oyster Roast!
All you can eat
Chili & Oysters at
our biggest annual
fundraiser. Live
music, horseshoes,
cornhole & Kids
Zone!
WHAT: Consign
Charleston is
hosting its “Shop n
Shuck” benefitting
Charleston Animal
Society. All of the
entrance fees help
animals!
WHERE: PetSmart in
Mt. Pleasant.
WHAT: Ho! Ho! Ho!
Come have your
favorite pet’s photo
taken with Santa at
PetSmart in Mount
Pleasant! Promises to
be fun for everyone!
December 8, 15
& 22
WHEN: 1p - 5p
WHERE: King Street,
Downtown
WHAT: Holiday
Sundays on King!
Come buy a
Charleston Animal
Society Firefighter
Calendar and join
us for a holiday
celebration of animals,
shopping and food!
December 14
December 16
WHEN: All Day
WHEN: 12p - 2p
WHERE: Subaru of
Charleston
WHERE: Charleston
Animal Society
WHAT: Subaru
Share the Love
Adoption Event
We’ll bring animals
ready for adoption
to Subaru in North
Charleston. Come
car shop and take
home a new furry
family member!
WHAT: Volunteer
Orientation. Come
learn what’s involved
in being a Charleston
Animal Society
volunteer! We’ll be
sure to give you all of
the tools you need to
be successful.
2455 Remount Road * North Charleston, SC 29406 * 843.747.4849 * www.CharlestonAnimalSociety.org
Charleston Animal Society Newsletter • Fall 2013
8
Charleston Animal Society
2455 Remount Road
North Charleston, SC 29406
843.747.4849
www.charlestonanimalsociety.org
Let Us Train Your Dog!
CLASSES AVAILABLE
FOR ALL YOUR NEEDS
While most of our classes will still
be held at the Animal Society,
we are also offering classes at
county parks in Mount Pleasant
and soon on James Island. Also
look for classes on Kiawah,
Seabrook & Johns Islands!
Charleston Animal Society Behavior and
Training Manager CC Casale works with a
student and his dog.
Reintroduce yourself to your
pet and experience the real joy
that comes from spending time
with your furry friend. We offer
training for all ages and breeds
of pets from puppies to adults.
We even offer specialty classes!
Charleston Animal Society
trainers have earned their
credentials as Certified
Professional Dog Trainers
(CPDT-KA) and also hold other
certifications and honors from
the professional training world.
Classes include: Obedience 101,
Puppy Kindergarten, Wag It
Games & Therapy Dog Training.
Just visit our website to find the
class you and your dog or puppy
need to take and register online.
It’s that easy. We’ll see you soon!