Pets, Pets, Pets
COLUMBIA ANIMAL SHELTER
Sheltercare is the name of the humane organization that works to help the thousands of lost and castoff dogs or cats, kittens and puppies that pass through Columbia's Animal Shelter. The Humane Society has an office located next to the shelter but they take no responsibility for the shelter animals. The shelter handles 10,000 animals a year. They try to relieve the suffering of the animals and find homes for them. This is done through a volunteer network that works on improving the conditions of the shelter. The shelter's volunteers provide a number of different programs during the year. One of the most successful of these programs is one called pet therapy. Volunteers take shelter animals to local area hospitals and nursing care facilities for hour long visits with the patients. These visits not only bring a smile to the patients but they also provide a way to socialize the shelter animals making them better suited for adoption. Sheltercare also has a petting zoo with a variety of different animals for the children to see. Teachers wishing to take their class to the zoo should call 776-PETS. If you are no longer able to care for you pet, you can call animal control to pick up you pet and take it to shelter free of charge.
Donations of time and money are accepted. Every dollar you contribute to Sheltercare goes directly to benefit shelter animals. They have no paid staff, no overhead, no compensated fund-raiser. They rely solely on a dedicated core group of volunteers and donors to sustain their efforts. Items that are in needed are:
•airline approved pet carriers
•Clorox bleach
•Doggie and kitty treats
•feed for chickens, geese, ducks and rabbits
•bales of hay
•lawn and leaf bags
•old towels and blankets
Many more items are also needed contact shelter at numbers listed below if you have something you would like to donate.
•Spaying/Neutering Clinic.........(803)776-8084
•Adoption....................................(803)776-7387
•Licensing...................................(803)776-7387
•Richland County.......................(803)735-7322