Charleston Animal Society at ‘breaking point’ due to influx of animals

Credit: Provided — Charleston Animal Society

Charleston Animal Society (CAS), one of the Lowcountry’s most popular charitable organizations, says it’s at a breaking point.

CAS, which takes in more than 90% of the county’s stray, abandoned, injured and ill animals, is quickly approaching 1,000 animals in its care — four times the shelter’s humane capacity of 250. The shelter now has 400 kittens in its care alone, leaders said.

“The situation is dire,” said CAS President and CEO Joe Elmore. “Please make room for one more in your homes and hearts, either fostering or adopting, to save these wonderful, adorable, innocent animals.”

The North Charleston shelter is pleading for people across the region to foster kittens or adopt this weekend. Recent expansions of the shelter — now in its 150th year of caring for animals — brought additional trailers to house animals in need, but that capacity also has been exceeded. Additional kittens are being housed temporarily in hallways, according to a press release.

To help mitigate the overcrowding, the shelter issued three pleas to the community:

Stop bringing in kittens. According to CAS, mother cats do not abandon their kittens. You may not see them, but they are around, probably watching you from afar. Separating newborns from their mothers increases the likelihood of the newborns not surviving, as it is difficult to replicate the critical nutrients in a mother’s milk. If you see kittens this summer, watch them from a distance. When they begin to move away from their nest, that is the time to obtain a trap and capture the mother and the kittens.
Become a foster kitten parent. Visit the Animal Society to learn about how you can help by fostering kittens. New foster families will receive an orientation and a support network of seasoned foster families who can help provide guidance and support. The Animal Society said it would provide all of the supplies necessary to foster kittens.
Adopt. CAS is overwhelmed with dogs over 1 year old and kittens. The Animal Society is waiving and greatly discounting adoption fees to ease any financial pressure on those willing to adopt.

Anyone who wants to adopt can visit the animal shelter from noon to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

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Keep your furry friends safe in the heat

With summer temperatures soaring this year (and summer humidity not helping), it’s important to remember that your pets are feeling the heat just like you. So here’s a short list of tips from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and other animal advocacy groups:

Give pets plenty of fresh, clean water. When it’s hot or humid, pets can get dehydrated quickly. Make sure to give them plenty of shady places to get out of the sun when outside, and be careful not to over-exercise them outdoors when it’s extremely hot.
Keep unscreened windows closed. Though the breeze may feel nice on summer days, unscreened windows and doors can offer an escape to unsupervised pets. Make sure adjustable screens are also tightly secured.
Trim, never shave, long hair. The layers of dogs’ coats actually protect them from overheating and sunburns. Brushing cats more often than usual can help prevent problems caused by excessive heat.
Be aware of concrete and asphalt temperatures. Being so close to the ground, your pets’ bodies can heat up very quickly due to the radiating heat from sidewalks — and sensitive paw pads can even burn if temperatures are too high. Keep walks during these times to a minimum, or spend more time walking in the grass when possible.
Never leave your pets in a parked car. Don’t do it — even for a minute, even with the car running and even with the air conditioner on. Why? Because temperatures in a vehicle can rapidly rise to dangerous levels. Pets can suffer irreversible organ damage or even death. If you see a pet left alone in a parked car, do not hesitate to call local law enforcement for help.

Even if you’re following the above tips to the letter, pets can still overheat when temperatures rise. It’s important to know the symptoms, and take your pets to the vet if they persist: