Charleston Animal Society

My boyfriend and I moved here with my cat who has helped raise multiple kittens and, since his siblings didn’t move with us (my mom’s cats) we decided to get him a companion. We went to this shelter spontaneously and hoped that we could find an older sweet kitty to bond with our baby. We found Shadow, a sweet tuxedo with a bubbly personality. The shelter was absolutely amazing, super friendly and supportive, and very informative to make sure Shadow was finding the perfect home. The kitties have been desperate to hang out and warmed up much quicker than we expected. Thank you so much and we will take very good care of this baby!

The sweetest place! Just stopped in to look, and ended up leaving the same day with an adorable pair of bonded kittens. The adoption process was so easy, and we are so happy with our newest little babies!!!!

To Charleston Animal Society, thank you for all the love during my time there. Wanted to write a review and let you know that my new family is very happy with me. I have been very good. A couple of accidents but each and every day they work with me so that I can be the bestest version of me! They dance for me, I get to run around this big yard with my cousin Shelby and yes, yes,yes,dad has me posing for the camera. Loving life and hoping that all of my old friends get to go to a great home like mine. I even got to see my sister Rose at Petsmart. My dad says to tell you thank you for all you do for all of the animals, thank you to the kind staff amd also want to let everyone know that if you are looking to add a furry guy/gal to the family, @charlestonanimalsociety is a great choice. A Happy New Year to all! Sincerely, Stella Eve foremerly just Stella and my new family, The Rivera's

Took black cat living on my front and back porch today. Nope , return cat as it has an owner. A senior cat, who last year was 15 and is still 15. (Though City of Charleston Animal Services Officer said cat was 18 a year and a half ago) I am not to feed or water a cat in need. So, I will bring him back when he can’t function. WHY is a senior cat outside 24/7 no matter the weather. No shelter or care. Should not a senior cat have veterinary care, special diet, flea treatment?!?!?! What’s that?!?! Oh, black cat is still on my porch with I wonder who owns the orange and white cat in photo?!?!?!? Help people who want to HELP animals. These animals can’t help themselves.November 8, 2024. Now, November 9, 2024 black cat still here. I legally can do nothing for him. I WILL pet him and tell him I love him.Sunday, November 10, 2024- 4:15 am Good Morning Little Guy. Still here by my porch. The photo is how I found him back in October 2021 living under a building, fur missing, hopping around like his skin was burning. No one calling him, feeding him or looking for him. I called for help for him as I was unable to quickly catch him. I called again for him to be transported to CAS for help as he came back first time with a tipped ear and was losing fur again. I feared he would be as bad as first time. I took him to CAS in December 2023 and they took him in. Within a month he was looking for help. I have cleaned up dead animal carcasses from the cat eating in my yard. He clearly can’t get his own food anymore. I was informed after second time looking for help for him that this is a pet.(I believe that was beginning of 2023) November 10, 2024. November 11, 2024 10:10 am Good Veteran’s Day morning. I don’t know how much longer you will be able to stand. You are the sweetest, toughest, and unbelievably resilient cat!!!! You still purr even in the rain. November 12, 2024 Empty food dish, empty water dish and empty promises. November 15, 2024 With a bit of rain and cooler weather senior kitty is now sneezing. More information on The City of Charleston Animal Services website in the review section.Teamwork gets animals help and helps cutdown on pet population. November 17, 2024 Black senior cat is still sneezing and sounds congested. He also smells of urine. December 6, 2024 7pm Waiting on my porch for the freezing temperature. December 9,2024 I am so SORRY that the City of Charleston has not been helping to fund Charleston Animal Society!!!! CAS Needs support from donations and fundraisers AND the government jurisdictions that citizens need help for animals. UNACCEPTABLE!!

First, I think Charleston Animal Society as a concept is a champion for a noble cause and I grew up supporting their organization. I held this organization in high esteem. However, I think somewhere between then and now, something has gone awry. I know when you adopt an animal, you are ultimately setting yourself up for an eventual heartbreak. However, when I adopted sweet little Sparrow (formerly Futon) in July of this year, I did not foresee that I would be saying goodbye to her in October. I was told at adoption that Sparrow had recovered from a respiratory infection, that she was no longer sick, and no longer needed any medication beyond a specialized diet designed for cats with a sensitive stomach. I mistakenly assumed that your staff would be honest with me. I took Sparrow to her first physical with my vet expecting to talk through caring for an animal with dietary restrictions, and learned that she was gravely ill with a disease called Feline Infectious Peritonitis, which has a 100% fatality rate without medication. I returned to the shelter that afternoon to request more detailed medical records as they would not answer the phone. I was told by a staff member, “I’m not surprised she’s so sick. We almost named her Nebula because she was on the Nebulizer all the time.” I should also state that there was no mention of the nebulizer in her medical summary from CAS. I emailed your veterinarian trying to get more detailed records. I was given her bloodwork, then told that no other records existed for her, which I doubt. My vet and I tried to fight the FIP. I crowdfunded as well as received compensation for the first half of her treatment from your organization, for which I was very grateful. That’s where you earn your 1 star here. To be blunt, I have lost all trust in your organization and its veterinary staff. My heart is shattered. At adoption, I was asked to sign a contract in which I vowed to give her "freedom from discomfort...injury, pain, or disease...[and] freedom from fear and distress" and I tried so hard to keep this promise. She was so brave. I held her in my arms when they told me that despite our best efforts, she wasn’t going to get better. I held her in my arms when she left us. In a few days’ time, I will hold her urn in my hands and mourn that all of the brightness of her life, her joy, her sweet little purrs have been reduced to ash. We were supposed to have a future together. How am I supposed to carry on after this? It was a shocking breach of trust to discover that Charleston Animal Society did not at least give me all the necessary information to know that Sparrow wasn't being turned over to my care free of injury, pain, or disease. The magnitude of this betrayal makes it impossible for me to trust them again. It was a Charleston Animal Society veterinarian that signed off on Sparrow's adoption readiness despite the fluid pooling in her abdomen, fluid which they made several notes about in her medical summary, as well as her low blood lab results. It was Charleston Animal Society veterinary staff that provided me with a medical summary in place of detailed records and claimed no other records exist when I inquired about them. It was Charleston Animal Society veterinary staff that either knew she was seriously ill and ignored it in favor of adopting her out, or missed it entirely. I urge anyone considering adoption from this shelter to read this review as well as the countless others that detail bringing home a pet only to discover their new family member is sick and may never recover. I think there is an issue with this animal society’s health and hygiene and the standard of care they provide, despite their best intentions. I wish I had known when I brought her home that she was a sick little kitten instead of the healthy adult cat I was promised. Reader, if you’re comfortable taking that risk when adopting from this shelter, be my guest. If you’re prepared to be hospice care within 3 months of adoption, be my guest. Otherwise, look elsewhere for your new family friend.