Charleston Women-Summer 2021

www. Char l es tonWomenPodcas t . com | www. ReadCW. com | www. I ns tagram. com /Char l es tonWomen CW - 19 the doors daily through no fault of their own. You would not only be giving a better life to the animal you take home, but you would open a space at the shelter for another animal who needs it.” Laurel Greer, chairwoman of the Board of Charleston Animal Society, added, “I understand people wanting a specific breed, but I ask them to consider adopting from an animal shelter to save a life. If that doesn’t work, I suggest that they at least adopt from a breed-specific rescue group. We are killing too many adoptable animals in this state. “ Maddie Moore, co-executive director of Dorchester Paws, went on to say, “Getting a new pet is a lifelong commitment, and everyone should do their research before starting on the journey. The best part of adopting, besides the lifesaving, is the cost savings. You are getting a fully vaccinated and spayed/neutered animal for a fraction of the cost of the resources that went into that animal to make it ready for a forever family. “ I wanted to know how these leaders felt about fostering and the common perception that it’s too hard to let the animals go, causing many people to shy away from fostering. Heather McDowell, director of Berkeley Animal Center, shared, “I don’t know where we would be without the help of our foster parents. They have so much love to give and feel fulfilled just knowing that they got to be part of an animal’s journey to a loving home. Debbie Allen, our shelter manager, is amazing at encouraging people to foster. She is passionate and knows how to effectively communicate with others the importance of fostering. Since she has become manager, our number of animals being fostered has more than quadrupled — and she fosters, too.” As a foster-based rescue group, Carolina Coonhound Rescue relies heavily on fostering to successfully continue its mission, and Kelly Postell, founder and director, added her thoughts. “You won’t fall in love with every one of your fosters, believe me. Most rescues work extremely hard to match you with a good fit, but sometimes it doesn’t work out. Try to volunteer with a group that supports foster families and can swap animals if needed. It’s better to cry a little when they charleston women