Dorchester Paws plans to start building a low-cost spay/neuter clinic
Summerville, SC – Dorchester Paws has been awarded a $25,000 grant from the Petco Foundation to support the first low-cost spay/neuter clinic in Dorchester County. The clinic will be located on the campus of Dorchester Paws at 136 Four Paws Lane in Summerville, SC and Dorchester Paws hopes this critical piece of the puzzle will help the pet overpopulation crisis in Dorchester County.
“We see the good, the bad and the very bad in the shelter environment”, says Kim Almstedt, Executive Director. “Since we are the only open admission shelter in the county, we see it all. The funds from this grant will not only help Dorchester Paws purchase equipment to enable us to start a spay/neuter clinic; it will help us with hiring a veterinarian.”
Every animal adopted from Dorchester Paws is spayed or neutered first. Currently, the shelter partners with Doc Williams SPCA and Charleston Animal Society to complete these surgeries. In 2017, the shelter took in nearly 3,200 animals and spent nearly $70,000 on spay/neuter surgeries.
“This shelter has never had a spay/neuter clinic. We are extremely grateful to Petco Foundation for awarding us this grant,” states Natalie Hutt, Dorchester Paws President, Board of Directors. “The clinic would serve as a low-cost resource to area pet owners as well,” Hutt adds.
“Spaying and neutering your pets is important to help combat the pet overpopulation crisis. In May alone, the shelter has admitted nearly 300 animals and will be close to 350 admissions in one month. With only 177 adoptions, there are more animals than there are homes.” Almstedt said.
The shelter recently began a new initiative to provide more resources to pet owners. Pet owners can make appointments with Dorchester Paws to have their pets microchipped, vaccinated and get their nails trimmed. Currently, appointments are offered on Sundays from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. To make an appointment, call (843) 871-3820.
Dorchester Paws is open Sunday through Thursday from 12:00 to 5:00 p.m., Friday from 1:00 to 7:00 p.m. and Saturday from 12:00 to 7:00 p.m. The public is able to come any day of the week to adopt a dog or cat.
For more information about Dorchester Paws or the Petco Foundation, visit www.dorchesterpaws.org or www.petcofoundation.org.
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About Dorchester Paws
Established in 1972, Dorchester Paws is the only open-admission shelter in Dorchester County serving all the lost, abandoned and abused dogs and cats. Dorchester Paws is committed to instilling humane principles into society through the prevention of cruelty to animals and taking every animal that comes to the shelter on the journey from victim to victory.
About the Petco Foundation
At the Petco Foundation, we believe that every animal deserves to live its best life. Since 1999, we’ve invested more than $200 million in lifesaving animal welfare work to make that happen. With our more than 4,000 animal welfare partners, we inspire and empower communities to make a difference by investing in adoption and medical care programs, spay and neuter services, pet cancer research, service and therapy animals, and numerous other lifesaving initiatives. Through our Think Adoption First program, we partner with Petco stores and animal welfare organizations across the country to increase pet adoptions. So far, we’ve helped more than 5.5 million pets find their new loving families, and we’re just getting started. Visit petcofoundation.org to learn more about how you can get involved.
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