Charleston Animal Society

National Kitten Day

This Friday, July 10th, is no normal Friday. It’s National Kitten Day! A day entirely dedicated to appreciating and adopting our furry feline friends. And what better way to celebrate than by giving a kitten a home? Stop by one of the many places where you can adopt a kitten in Charleston on this year’s National Kitten Day!

Charleston Animal Society

As the official animal shelter in SC, Charleston Animal Society houses pets of all shapes and sizes, including kittens! Their easy adopt system is in place from 12 a.m. – 5 p.m. on weekdays, and 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. on weekends. In response to COVID-19, they’re minimizing the number of people allowed at once and require a face mask to be worn.

Pounce Cat Cafe

Though they’re no longer serving food and Bev to visitors, the Pounce Cat Cafe is still open and filled with cats. Patrons are required to wear a face mask and sanitize before entering the cozy cat sanctuary. While walk-ins are available, they encourage you to book a visit so you can secure a slot. The best part? All of their cats are ready for adoption! Fall in love with one of their felines and take em home all in the same day.

Petfinder

The online searchable database is a means for connecting animals with new homes. With updates daily, Petfinder shows you everything you need to know about a purr-fect new addition to your home. Filter through their search bar to get paired with a cat in line with your needs. This easy to use website is a great option for those wanting to adopt from the comfort of their home.

Hallie Hill Animal Sanctuary

The non-profit Animal Sanctuary in Hollywood, SC is known for housing many animals on the older side. If a laid back cat is more your style, then Hallie Hill has got you covered. Meet and greets and adoptions are available appointment only through their online selection process. If it seems a good fit, the shelter pairs you up with your perfect match.

Events

Have A Howl Of A Day At The Black Dog’s “Howliday” Adoption Event

Dog lovers unite!

The Black Dog and Charleston Animal Society are partnering up for a “Howliday” Adoption Event at The Black Dog Charleston on Saturday, November 30th.

After you recover from turkey overload, head down to The Black Dog, which will have coffee, treats, and several dogs looking for loving homes this holiday season! In addition, The Black Dog is donating 20% of their sales that day to the Charleston Animal Society.

Whether you’re looking to adopt a new best friend or just do a little shopping that helps a great cause, make sure to stop by!

We’ll see you there!

Learn more here.

News

Joe Elmore To Step Down As Charleston Animal Society CEO

Featured Image Credit: Charleston Animal Society/ Facebook

In late 2018 or early 2019, Joe Elmore will be stepping down from his position as Charleston Animal Society CEO.

Elmore was with the Charleston Animal Society for 6 years and in those 6 years, he managed to take the mission of CAS from saving animals and finding them a home to doing the work of radical animal activists organizations by attacking the carriage industry.

But what was is his reasoning for stepping down?

“My goal was to lead the organization out of crisis and bring the Board’s dream of the first No Kill Community in the Southeast to realization,” Elmore said. “Charleston County has been a No Kill Community for five full years now. Our fire is out; It’s time to fight fires elsewhere.”

Sure, Elmore has done some good work for the animals at the shelter, but he has also added carriage industry attacks to the CAS agenda as well. Ever seen those ridiculous “Just Say Neigh” billboards on I-26? Those were paid for and placed there by an organization with close ties to the CAS. We wonder how much money they could have put towards the animals in their care and resources for their facility instead of a ridiculous billboard?

While we’re on the topic of the carriage industry, did you know that carriage tours in Charleston have been operating under some of the highest standards in the country since 2007? Palmetto Carriage Works has been working closely with the City’s special study committee reviewing everything from weight restrictions to temperature standards. Palmetto Carriage Works has provided all available data from these studies to this committee. They take it very seriously.

Despite all of the facts, Joe Elmore used the Charleston Animal Society to spread misleading and false information that horses were falling due to exhaustion, overheating, dehydration, etc. His behavior is and was extremely alarming.

Now that Elmore will be out of the picture, we hope that CAS gets back to their mission of truly saving animals and not attacking another industry that cares just as much, if not more, about the animals in their care.

Featured

BREAKING: Local Business Follows Business Regulations

Featured Image Credit: Mike Ledford/ Charleston City Paper

Horse carriage tours were taken off the streets two times on Thursday, August 18 due to high temperatures clocking in at 95 degrees and above. In March, an ordinance was passed by the city that lowered the heat limits for carriage horses to be on the streets to 95 degrees, three degrees lower than the original limit. These new temperature regulations were demanded by Charleston Animal Society, now they complain when they are followed.

The Charleston Animal Society is now accusing the carriage companies of using a “loophole.” They believe the carriage companies ignored protocol and kept the horses on the street for a full hour after the temperature was above 95 and took them back out within a half-hour of being stable.

That wasn’t the case.

Image Credit: Palmetto Carriage Works

Palmetto Carriage Works posted a statement on their Facebook page to provide some clarity on the situation: “Just a quick update about today. At around 11:50 am this morning we received word from the city that they had 4 consecutive temperature readings indicating 95 degrees. Following proper procedure, we stopped all carriage tours until we received further word from the City of Charleston.”

Well, that statement definitely clears the air. However, Charleston Animal Society thought not only did they not pull them, but they the horses back out. Palmetto Carriage Works also provided a timeline of the event.

“At 12:50 pm we received word that the temperature had dropped below 95 degrees. At that time we also received clearance from the City of Charleston to resume tours. At 1:35 pm we received word that the temperature reading went back up to 95 degrees. Again following proper procedure we made sure that no new tours went out. All tours were off the street by 2:30 pm.”

A story released by ABC News 4 confirmed the carriage companies version of events: “City of Charleston spokesman Jack O’Toole confirms the horses were ordered off the streets Thursday at 11:50 a.m. and 1:35 p.m. After the first instance, it was 45 minutes before the horses were cleared to work again (12:35 p.m.). It was an hour and 10 minutes before the horses were allowed back to work after the second shutdown (2:44 p.m.), according to O’Toole.

Image Credit: Old South Carriage Company Facebook

So since when did abiding by the law become a “loophole?” The carriage companies followed regulations while completing their usual examinations and procedures on the horses, taking individual temperatures after every tour. The carriage companies want to ensure the safety of the horses and obey the City of Charleston regulations, something they have done for years and take very seriously.

What's Trending

Part One: Here Are The Facts About Big John’s So-Called “Collapse”

Image Credit: Charleston Carriage Works

Part one of the series looking at the carriage industry and all players involved…

Just so there is no confusion here, let us start off by saying that as Charleston locals, we support the carriage industry. We are here to give you the facts. We are here to do all the research for you.

So as you may know, Big John is a carriage horse that works for Charleston Carriage Works. On April 19, 2017, Big John tripped and fell to the ground at 323 Meeting Street, in front of FIG Restaurant, at the start of his first tour of the day.

Image Credit: Charleston Carriage Works

Tourists and locals alike took crowded around to snap photos and videos as the horse was seemingly calm and resting on the ground. Both tourism enforcement officers and Charleston Carriage Works employees worked to help remove the animals harness and get him back on his feet.

And so, naturally, organizations like Charleston Animal Society and Charleston Carriage Horse Advocates immediately pushed those videos and photos out to the public, telling the world that Big John “collapsed” from heat exhaustion and from being overworked.

As a result, both Charleston Carriage Works and the carriage industry as a whole received a new wave of backlash and harassment when in reality, a “collapse” from heat exhaustion or being overworked or whatever other lie you may have heard – was not the case at all.

By law, all horse carriage incidents must be reported immediately.

Image Credit: Charleston Carriage Works

“City tourism enforcement officers are then dispatched to the scene to investigate the incident, work to ensure the horse’s well-being, and file an official report, which is then made available to the public,” according to Jack O’Toole, the Communications Director for the City of Charleston.

This case was no different. The very next day after the 11 minute incident, the city released a full report, which also included a report from the city equine manager, who O’Toole says is one of only two people in the county who has been trained as a certified animal abuse specialist who can detect incidents of abuse or mistreatment. On top of that, a report from the veterinarian on the scene was also included.

The report and the veterinary exam both showed Big John only worked 30 minutes that day, meaning he was not overworked that day, contrary to what you read in the headlines.

In the video above, you can see Big John minutes after his stumble walking around.

The reports also stated that Big John did not “collapse,” he “stumbled and fell” to the pavement. Which, might we add, happens from time to time…to all of us…

The Charleston Police also released a statement that same Wednesday that said Big John slipped while rounding the corner from Meeting Street onto Hassel Street. They were able to make this statement because of eye witness accounts from numerous officers on the scene.

According to the Dan Riccio, the Director of the City of Charleston Department of Livability and Tourism, Big John suffered minor scratches, and was cleared by veterans to continue working that very next day.

Want to learn more about Big John, his love for popsicles and his semi-retired life at Charleston Carriage Works? Click here.