Time has brought about improvements for Lowcountry rescue pups and animal shelters

Back in the day, before animal shelters existed, it was not uncommon when driving through a rural, country community, to spot several “hound-mix” dogs roaming around in a yard or taking life easy under a shade tree, untethered and not on a leash — just plain freedom.

They were mostly yard dogs, curling up in a favorite spot under a house or in a lean-to shed. Meal time for them was scraps from the table of their owner’s breakfast, dinner and supper leftovers

But that was then. Now, there are more rules and regulations, animal shelters and commercially-purchased dog food.

Change was started when Henry Bergh founded the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in 1866 in New York City.

Then in 1877, delegates from 27 humane organizations from 10 states joined together in the first forum where they could combine their strength and unite their missions. It was at this meeting that American Humane was founded, its website says.

The Humane Society of the United States was founded Nov. 22, 1954 as a nonprofit organization to focus on animal welfare and oppose animal-related cruelties.

Area animal shelters

Locally, the Hilton Head Humane Association was incorporated in 1976 with a sheltering capacity of 29 dogs and 15 cats. Today, more than 2,500 are helped yearly.

Checking out its website, this statement was posted: “During this challenging time with coronavirus, all adoptions will be by appointment. Also, during this time, our Litter Box Thrift Store will be closed.” For appointments, call 843-681-8686.

Palmetto Animal League opened its first Adoption Center on Oct. 30, 2010 after eight years of managing a network of loving foster families to house and care for abandoned and homeless animals. PAL is a private, nonprofit, 501-c-3, no-kill animal rescue organization and can be reached at 843-645-1725.

Other shelters in our area include the Beaufort County Animal Shelter, 843-255-5010; and Maranatha Farm in Ridgeland, 843-816-6676.

Fosters for animal shelters saves lives. Fosters are people emotionally invested enough to welcome a string of animals into their homes, yet rational enough to let them go when it’s time.

“If you adopt, you save one animal’s life; if you foster you can save hundreds,” says Jill Walters, vice president of the board of directors and wearer of many hats at Alley Cats and Angels in Apex, North Carolina.

Dogs are a meaningful part of our lives, as illustrated recently on a morning news program. Researchers are studying the possibility of medical detective dogs to be trained to sniff out the coronavirus.

Famous for their sense of smell, dogs have already been successfully trained to spot disease such as cancer, Parkinson’s, malaria, diabetes, narcolepsy, migraines, fear and stress, and bacterial infections.

A small 2019 study found that dogs were able to discriminate a general epileptic “seizure odor.” This study only involved a handful of dogs, so more extensive testing is needed.

Rescues

I have a “keeper” Island Packet column, “Greatest gifts not under a tree” by David Lauderdale from Dec. 16, 2015. Since it concerned a puppy, I contacted him to inquire about his pups.

Turns out, one of his three pups is Brae, a rescue large black dog adopted by David and Sybil from Maranatha Farm shelter in Ridgeland. Brae was featured in the May 14 edition of the Island Packet, “proof-reading” David’s work as he works from home during these “shelter-at-home” days.

Other “rescuers” to be mentioned are relatives Richard and Christa Fortenberry who have three German Shepherd’s from the German Shepherd Rescue in Raleigh, North Carolina. With Gracie, 11 years of age; Echo, also 11 years of age; and Finn, 10 years of age, Christa says, “They are my heart! My fur babies!”

Theresa Westerman, a friend and newcomer to Bluffton, has four rescue pups and some rescue cats that traveled across country from California to their new home in Bluffton.

She has Lola, a one-eyed little Pug adopted from Petco; RubyTuesday, adopted from Pet Smart, who gives lots of love, and when excited sounds like an elephant; Louie, adopted from Martinez Animal Shelter, is a super cuddle bug; and Morgan, adopted from the San Francisco Animal Shelter, loves a swimming pool.

Theresa says her fur babies are real troupers. Unlike humans, they don’t hold grudges, they don’t look for faults, are always happy and give unconditional LOVE!

Granddaughter Cheryl and husband, Camilo Bolivar, have three rescues they adopted and she shares her thoughts:

“We’ve always been an advocate for shelter pups. Nearly 10 years ago we adopted our first one, Sassy, from Palmetto Animal League, after fostering her for a while, and couldn’t see life without her.”

A few years later, thinking she’d enjoy some company, we adopted Bella from Three Black Dogs shelter after hearing her story about being found in a commercial Dumpster. Sassy loved her immediately and we knew she was meant to be a part of our family.

Years later, a friend of ours asked us to help him with his Boxer. We obliged, but the Boxer never left. Ha! So now we have Sam too. We never knew we needed him, but we would be lost without him. We may be partial, but we couldn’t ask for a better “fur family.”

In talking with owners of multiple pets, I found out that among their circle of family and friends that have pets, they all come together when needed, to “pet-sit” each other’s “fur babies” in case of an emergency or a couple of vacation days out of town, so they very rarely have to rely on the option of boarding them out.

Writer, Jim Mize, mentions in his article “Reasons for owning a dog” in the March/April 2020 South Carolina Wildlife magazine, that, “In general, dogs only have two moods: happy and asleep!”

He says if he could copy one habit of dogs it would be their ability to “chill” because a dog can sleep anytime, curl up anyplace and be ready to go at the drop of a tailgate.

Dogs make great companions.

“You can’t buy love, but you can rescue it!”

Jean Tanner maybe reached at jstmeema@hargray.com.

This story was originally published May 20, 2020 at 11:00 AM.