The Charleston Animal Society is launching a challenge for South Carolina: to become a state that does not kill by 2024. If the state achieves that goal, the Petco Foundation will donate $ 1 million to Carolina animal welfare organizations southern.
To qualify as a deathless state, all healthy and treatable dogs and cats must not be euthanized. This generally represents about 90% of the animals that the shelters control, said the Charleston Animal Society in a press release on March 14.
A 2020 study by the nonprofit Best Friends Animal Society listed South Carolina as the 16th largest animal killed in its shelters. About 28 of the state’s shelters were not for killing, according to the survey. Delaware was the only state listed as without killing.
The Charleston Animal Society started a “No Kill South Carolina” initiative in 2015 that says it has saved more than 500,000 animal lives in the past six years. The initiative, also funded by the Petco Foundation, meant 30,000 less animals to be euthanized, the statement said.
According to the initiative’s website, South Carolina has 350 animal welfare groups and 82 shelters. In 2020, 92,000 dogs and cats entered these shelters, the initiative said.
Kill South Carolina lists several strategies for reducing euthanasia and promoting animal welfare. Aggressive adoption programs, sterilization and sterilization and promotion programs are among the forms listed.
The Charleston Animal Society’s 150th anniversary is March 14, 2024.
“The trend shows that we can make this innovative initiative a reality by 2024,” said Joe Elmore, president and CEO of the company, in the press release.
“Unnecessary euthanasia, such as homelessness, illiteracy, hunger and other social issues, are community issues that require everyone to work together to overcome it,” said Elmore.
According to the Charleston Animal Society, when its non-killing initiative began, 19 percent of dogs and 47 percent of cats were being euthanized in shelters in South Carolina. Those numbers dropped to 8% for dogs and 18% for cats , said the society.
Community members can be involved in this effort by adopting, volunteering or donating in their local shelters.
Talk to Fleming Smith at 843-937-5591. Follow her on Twitter at @MFlemingSmith.