The Berkeley County Animal Center in Moncks Corner has made strides in addressing overcrowding issues with a recent adoption event called PickMe.SC. This weeklong initiative, sponsored by Petco Love, aims to facilitate adoptions across shelters in the region. The event comes at a critical time, as the center prepares for an influx of animals during the peak of “kitten season,” which has yet to reach its height.
Opened in the summer of 2021, the $1.7 million facility spans 11,500 square feet and includes a main building, intake kennels, and adoption kennels. The new center was established to replace an outdated shelter that struggled to meet the needs of the local animal population. Since its opening, the center has taken in approximately 650 animals. Despite improvements, challenges persist as the facility continues to manage a constant flow of new arrivals.
On June 24, the adoption event successfully placed several animals into loving homes, including a Beagle mix named “Baguette.” Dezi Baldeagle, the animal center manager, remarked on the importance of the event, stating, “It helps us make more room here at the shelter. Here in Berkeley County, we have so many animals that come in. So, with people adopting and people fostering, that helps us make some more room.”
Currently, the shelter houses more than 200 animals daily, with an additional 650 kittens and 100 dogs in foster care. Baldeagle emphasized that fostering plays a vital role in managing the population, allowing the center to provide better care for each animal.
In a significant development, starting July 1, the Charleston Animal Society will oversee operations at the Berkeley County Animal Center. This partnership will bring current staff under the society’s policies and procedures while assuming the center’s annual operating budget of approximately $1.6 million. The Charleston Animal Society already serves around 2,000 residents from Berkeley County each year, and this collaboration aims to enhance animal welfare through shared veterinary services and sheltering expertise.
Baldeagle acknowledged the transition has had its challenges but remains optimistic about the future. “It’s going pretty good. We have got some things, some quirks to kind of work on, but we will get it running, and it will be a great thing for Berkeley County,” she said.
As the shelter continues to navigate the pressures of overcrowding, initiatives like the PickMe.SC event and the partnership with the Charleston Animal Society are crucial steps in promoting animal adoption and ensuring better outcomes for the animals in their care. The community’s involvement through fostering and adopting not only eases the burden on the center but also offers a brighter future for countless animals awaiting homes.