CCAS: from fur to scales to you

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Laura Clark started with FoCCAS in 2010 and moved over to the animal shelter in 2017 which gives her a comprehensive perspective on both organizations that are working toward the same goal; the well-being of animals in Colleton County. The official status of CCAS is that they are not a “no kill” shelter, but Clark points out there are two aspects to that designation. The animal shelter is a municipal shelter funded by the county and they are open admissions. This means the shelter has to take anything and everything that comes to them. Currently, they do have a pig and a horse and at one time there was even a salamander that called the shelter home. Naturally, that makes space at a premium at the facility. So being open admission can sometimes mean there are more pets than there is physical space and then choices have to be made. She further elaborates that, “we’re basically just an ecosystem of our community...and so our community needs to be no kill. These are the types of things that really feed into that. So when our community cares about pets, and they want to come out an learn more about them and come out the events like Walk & Wag and support the efforts of the nonprofit (FoCCAS) that’s putting this on, it really shows that people in our community care about pets.”

As part of proper care for pets, as Bob Barker used to say, “help control the pet population. Have your pet spayed or neutered.” The shelter, partnering with FoCCAS offers different ways to spay or neuter your pet. The first opportunity is to get a $35 voucher from the animal shelter. They can take that voucher to local vets and the $35 is deducted from the price of the procedure. They also have the SNAC (Spay Neuter Alliance and Clinic), located in Okatie, that offers low-cost spaying and neutering on graduating pricing depending on the procedure and pet owners can call and make an appointment themselves and pick up their pet the next day. They also have the option of scheduling on the shelters once a month transports. The pet is brought to the shelter and they are transported via the shelter van and brought back to the shelter. There is also, PETSinc a mobile spay/neuter clinic. They come to the shelter once a month. People can make an appointment for that service. They can come anytime during the mobile clinics operating hours. They also do a vaccine clinic and can even provide heartworm prevention. Pricing is very reasonable.

For stray and feral cats, the animal shelter has the TNR (trap, neuter, release) program. People can make an appointment at the shelter and borrow traps free of charge. The community members can set the traps, catch the cats, and bring the animal to the shelter on the day of the appointment. Right now, they take the cats to Charleston, the spay/neuter procedure is performed, and the cat is brought back the same day. The cats can then be taken back to where they were caught and released and the traps returned to the shelter. This is completely free.

The biggest need at the shelter right now relates to having too many dogs and cats. Fostering would help with this situation. Clark comments, “for people who already have their limit of pets and don’t feel they can make a lifelong commitment, we have a wonderful foster program. People can sign up to foster and we supply all of the things that they need whether it’s cages, food, and/or all the veterinary care. All the foster person has to do is provide that daily care, bring them to the shelter for different things such a medical needs. Volunteers are also very much needed at the shelter. They are open 24/7, 365 and it gets overwhelming at time when animal to staff ratio is so disproportionate. If it is just coming in once a week to clean cages, walk dogs, doing laundry or dishes, or anything that can be done by a volunteer it would be of great help.

The Colleton County Animal Shelter tries to promote the value and benefits of responsible pet ownership. Clark notes the studies about the benefits of pet ownership and how the animals help their humans emotionally and physically and having a healthy pet population can only benefit everyone. For more information on the Colleton County Animal Shelter services or to volunteer please call 843-893-2651 or e-mail lclark@colletoncounty.org.