“It’s a bad situation.” Jasper animal shelter in trouble, Beaufort team to their rescue

Lost or abandoned pets in Jasper County are getting some help from their friends from the east as Beaufort County stepped up in mid-July to assist Jasper Animal Rescue Mission in continuing animal control operations in their county after they stopped animal intake in early July.

“I mean it’s...not good,” said Jasper County Councilmember Chris VanGeison during their July 21 council meeting. “The animals are in the heat during the storms, cold, they’re in the rain. And we’ve got to step up as a county.”

The Jasper facility reportedly has been taking in five animals a day, equally 1,800 a year and their facilities are “overwhelmed,” VanGeison said.

“I’m going to push hard for a new animal center to be with Beaufort County over on that property over there,” VanGeison said in the council meeting. “Where the animals are today, they’ve got parasites. I mean you can’t rebuild and remodel what’s there. It’s been there for so long. The ground is terrible, the drainage is terrible and it’s a bad situation.”

In 2023, the JARM accepted outside help from the Florida State Animal Response Coalition after community complaints of overcrowding and poor conditions.

“Conditions of the shelter are horrendous to say the least,” Former vice president of JARM board Robin Artz, who left the board the summer of 2023, said in her resignation email. “There are volunteers, mostly elderly individuals who are putting their health at risk by giving of their time. Most importantly we are putting our own employees and animals at risk for disease, illness, or worse. WE [sic] owe the humans that help us and the animals more.”

Beaufort County began assisting with the shelter early July, especially during a time of high animal service need during fourth of July celebrations. Beaufort County approved continued assistance in Jasper County later in the month to help keep their Animal Control operations up for a year.

Animals currently in the Jasper County facility will be behaviorally assessed by the nonprofit American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Based on the outcome of these assessments, they will either be transported to the Beaufort County facility in Oaktie, remain in Jasper County or be transported to another rescue organization for adoption.

As for addressing the staffing issues, Beaufort County employees will be taking over the Jasper facility.

The partnership that began in July has enabled animal-control services to continue in both counties, allowing Jasper County to plan methods for keeping its shelter open in the future.

“We’re dedicated to helping our neighbors through a challenging time to lay the groundwork for a unified approach to animal services and welfare,” said Tallulah Trice, Beaufort County Animal Services Director, in a press release. “JARM has done an excellent job over the years taking care of an increasing number of animal needs.”

Additionally, Trice said it is important to spay and neuter animals in the area to help fight the overpopulation issue of strays in the Lowcountry.

Medical cases and all spay and neuter surgeries will be handled through Beaufort County’s continuing partnership with Hilton Head Humane, which is expanding its capacity to meet regional demand. “By working together, we can raise the standard of care for animals across our region,” said Andrew Fulghum, Jasper County Administrator said in a press release. “This partnership will ensure that our community has the tools to manage animal welfare effectively and humanely. We are grateful to the staff and volunteers at JARM for their years of service in this effort.”

Adoptable animals will be routed through rescue partners and out-of-state placement network

This story was originally published July 31, 2025 at 1:07 PM.